Information Literacy Process Models An analysis of The Big6, Pathways to Knowledge, and I-Search By: Tammy Duvall
What are Information Literacy Process Models? Models for teachers to use to help their students access and process information gathered through internet research
The Big6 An information problem-solving strategy Six steps: Task definition, Information Seeking Strategies, Location & Access, Use of Information, Synthesis, Evaluation Appropriate for middle and high school students Follows normal problem-solving or decision making process Can be used as a linear model, or steps can be done out of order A study done at Yale University found that students using this model outperformed students who used other models Aligned with Bloom’s taxonomy and Piaget’s three stages of cognitive development
Pathways to Knowledge A constructivist model that requires students to use knowledge from a variety of sources to create an end product Six Steps: Appreciation, Presearch, Search, Interpretation, Communication, Evaluation A non-linear process model. Students use the evaluation step throughout the process to revise their searching. You don’t have to use all of the stages!
I-Search An affective model that requires students to find their own research topic. Five steps: Let a topic choose you, Search for information, Test the information, Write a paper in first person, Edit the paper Final product tells what the student wanted to know, why they chose the topic, how they searched for information, and how they used the information to answer their question Motivating, and non-threatening to students who struggle with research, or special-needs students
Similarities All models are resource based Holistic Appropriate for middle and high school students Support information literacy acquisition Align with AACPS curriculum All models allow students to chose their topic
Differences Big6 and Pathways are non-linear, I-Search is linear Big6 and I-Search focus more on final product Pathways to Knowledge focuses more on the process I-Search requires students to chose their topic. Pathways and Big6 could be used with an assigned topic.
AACPS Curriculum Alignment Standard 2.0 Comprehension of Informational Text Students will read, comprehend, interpret, analyze, and evaluate informational text.
References Education Development Center, Inc. (2000). Make it Happen: The I-Search Unit. [Online] Available http://www2.edc.org/fsc/mih/i-search.html, December 8, 2008. Eisenberg, M. and Berkowitz, R. (2008). The Big6. [Online] Available http://www.big6.com/, December 8, 2008. Milam, P. (2004). “Destination Information: A Road Map for the Journey.” Library Media Connection. Accessed online December 8, 2008 at http://tuila.collectivex.com/uploads/files/x/000/00f/0fb/roadmap.pdf. Pappas, M. and Tepe, A. (2008) Pathways to Knowledge. [Online] Available http://www.pathwaysmodel.com, December 8, 2008.