1. BIG SIX RESEARCH SKILLS
A Systematic Problem-solving Process

2. He is educated who knows how to find out what he doesn’t know.
George Semmel,
German philosopher

3. they can use the process known as THE BIG SIX
Whenever students are faced with an information problem, or with making a decision that is based on information,
they can use the process known as
THE BIG SIX

4. An information problem involves
answering a question based on information gathered from various sources

5. THE BIG SIX SKILLS:
Can be applied to any information problem situation.
Doesn’t require all students to do things exactly the same way.
Are easily adaptable to all subject areas.
Develop critical thinking skills.

6. Components of the Big Six Skills:
Big Six #1: Task Definition
Define the problem
Identify the information needed to do the task
Big Six #2: Information Seeking Strategies
Brainstorm all possible sources
Select the best sources
Big Six #1: Task Definition
Students demonstrate the ability to:
restate the task in their own words.
define the requirements of the assignment.
ask relevant questions to solve the problem.
brainstorm related ideas.
understand oral directions.
determine a timeline and the order of tasks.
determine an appropriate task given the information problem.
Big Six #2: Information Seeking Strategy
identify the Library Media Center as a source of information.
consider the need for sources outside the library collection.
consider investigation, observation and personal interviews as sources of information.
determine the value of various journals and magazines.

7. Components of the Big Six Skills:
Big Six #3: Location and Access
Locate sources
Find information within sources
Big Six #4: Use of Information
Read, listen, view, browse, skim and scan to find facts
Take notes on relevant facts
Big Six #3: Location and Access
Students demonstrate the ability to:
use keywords to search the school’s electronic catalog.
find materials independently.
access the appropriate information system (e.g. online databases, Web sites, electronic multimedia, CD-ROMs).
use cross references.
Big Six #4: Use of Information
read, listen, view, browse, skim, and scan for keywords.
select the main idea and supporting details.
take notes.
properly cite.
read and understand graphs and visuals.

8. Components of the Big Six Skills
Big Six #5: Synthesis
Organize information from all sources
Create product
Big Six #6: Evaluation
Judge the product or performance
Judge the process for efficiency
Big Six #5: Location and Access
Students demonstrate the ability to:
organize information from various sources.
make an outline.
produce a rough draft.
produce a personally designed, appropriate media to communicate content. (video, slide show, poster, etc.)
prepare a bibliography.
Big Six #6: Evaluation
assess the completeness of their work.
review and critique the steps they took to solve the problem.
determine the effectiveness of their note-taking skills.
compare their product and process against a set of predetermined standards.

9. Check for Understanding
Use your Big Six handout to determine which of the Big Six Skills is being applied when the following activities are being performed:
1. Choose between an encyclopedia and a magazine for information on a recent election.
2. Interview a long-time community resident on the history of the area.
3. Compare final product to requirements before submitting it to the teacher.
4. Create a video or DVD of holiday celebrations in different
cultures.

10. Check for Understanding
5. Write questions that need to be answered to solve a problem.
6. Type appropriate notes from an on-line encyclopedia.
7. Create a graphic chart that compares the desert regions in the United States with deserts in other parts of the world.
8. Decide to use an on-line website.
9. Determine the effectiveness of note-taking skills.
10. Answer questions using a textbook.
11. Paint a mural of famous poets.
12. Select a topic for a science project.

11. Check Yourself: 1. Information seeking strategies
2. Use of information
3. Evaluation
4. Synthesis
5. Information seeking strategies
6. Use of information
7. Synthesis
8. Information seeking strategies
9. Evaluation
10.Use of information
11.Synthesis
12.Task definition

12. Practice using the Big Six to solve the following informational problem:
Mr. Williams lost his job when his company down-sized. He must find another job making approximately the same amount of pay as he did in his other job.

13. Big Six #1: Task Definition
Do I understand what is needed to answer the informational question?
Research the job skills Mr. Williams possesses.
Research the job market and match the job with the needs of Mr. Williams.
Locate a job for Mr. Williams

14. Big Six #2: Information Seeking Strategies
What are possible sources to be used?
Books, Internet resources, state employment commissions, newspapers, employment agencies, personal interviews
What additional sources can be introduced?
How reliable and current are the sources?

15. Big Six #3: Location & Access
Where will I locate sources?
Libraries, correspondence, Internet, books
What skills and instruction will I need to locate materials?
Knowledge of on-line databases, library skills, Internet and keyword search skills
Where will I find information within sources?
Table of contents, indexes, Internet searching, keyword searching, and locating related words

16. Big Six #4: Use of information
What will be the best way to use the source?
Read, view, listen to, touch
What method will I use to take the information from the source?
Note-taking, record, etc.

17. Big Six #5: Synthesis
How will I organize the information from all the sources?
Outline, written rough draft, sketch, map
How will I display or present my results?
Report, presentation, bulletin board, or other product
How will I give credit to my sources?

18. Big Six #6: Evaluation
Did I solve the information problem effectively?
Check using a predetermined set of standards by which to judge the product
Answer the following questions about your product:
What did I learn?
Did others understand the information?
Did I answer all questions?
What could I do next time to make my product or performance better?

19. The End