1. A K-12 Research Protocol Presented by the SOCSD Librarians
The Big6 and Super3
A K-12 Research Protocol
Presented by the SOCSD Librarians

2. What is the Big6?
developed by educators Mike Eisenberg and Bob Berkowitz in 1987
An inquiry and research model implemented in curriculum throughout thousands of K-16 schools
the most widely-known and widely-used approach to teaching information literacy in the world

3. Why use the Big6?
“Data collected from thousands of students showed that students who were taught informative nonfiction using the Big6 approach with a combination of analytical, creative, and practical activities, outperformed students who were taught two alternative approaches.”
— Linda Jarvin, Ph.D., Associate Director,
PACE Center, Yale University

4. 1 Task Definition 1.1 Define the information problem
1.2 Identify information needed
What exactly do I need?

5. 2 Information Seeking Strategies
2.1 Determine all possible sources
2.2 Select the best sources
What sources are available and which are the best for my need?

6. 3 Location and Access
3.1 Locate sources (intellectually and physically)
3.2 Find information within sources
How do I use each source effectively and ethically?

7. 4 Use of Information 4.1 Engage (e.g., read, hear, view, touch)
4.2 Extract relevant information
Am I meeting my information need?

8. 5 Synthesis 5.1 Organize from multiple sources
5.2 Present the information
How should I organize what I learned and present it to others?

9. 6 Evaluation 6.1 Judge the product (effectiveness)
6.2 Judge the process (efficiency)
How could I have met my need more effectively and efficiently?

10. What is the Super3?
a modification that makes the Big6 accessible to primary grades
1 Plan: What do I need to do?
2 Do: How will I do it?
3 Review: Did I do everything I needed to do?

11. Resources
This site is highly comprehensive. Basic Big6 and Super3 Overview Handout This is an excellent quick reference.