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A Research Processby Mike Eisenberg and

Robert Berkowitz

TM

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The Big 6 (in short)

1. Define the Task

2. Use Information Seeking Strategies

3. Locate and Access Information

4. Extract the Information

5. Synthesis – Organise and Present

6. Evaluation

TMS/T

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1ST – Define Task

1.1 Define the problem

1.2 Identify information needed in order to complete the task (to solve the information problem) See Common curriculum elements

S/T

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Define Task

Questions to Ask

What is it exactly that I need to know?

What do I know already?

What do I need to find out?

What am I expected to do with it when I’ve found out?

DECIDING

S/T

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Define TaskInformation Skills

• Planning what you need to do in the light of:

what you know already

what you’re expected to produce / end result

S/T

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2ND – Information Seeking Strategies

2.1 Determine the range of possible sources (brainstorm)

2.2 Evaluate the different possible sources to determine priorities (select the best sources)

S/T

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Information Seeking Strategies

S/T

Questions to Ask

Where could I go to find out?

Person source?

Print source? (books, journals, magazines)

Non-print source? (A.V.)

Electronic source?

LOCATING

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3RD – Location and Access

3.1 Locate Sources

3.2 Find information within sources

S/T

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Location and Access

FINDING AND USING

Questions to ask

How do I retrieve the information I’ve decided is important?

S/T

Questions to ask

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Location and Access

Ability to use the catalogue, (manual and online) as an aid in retrieving stored information

Ability to use techniques like skimming, scanning, keywords and pictorial cues to identify and process specific information fast and selectively

Information Competencies

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Manual Research

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• Use the library catalogue (Alice inquiry) to identify useful parts of the collection.• Check a dictionary (423) if terms need clarification• Encyclopaedias (030), subject encyclopaedias at the appropriate number, are great for an overview of a topic.• As Reference books are being interfiled with the collection, remember to check both Reference and Non-fiction shelves• Ask for help, see your teacher or teacher librarian

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4TH - Use of Information

4.1 Engage (e.g., read, hear, view, touch) the information in a source

4.2 Extract relevant information from a source

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Use of InformationQuestions to Ask

What do these resources tell me about what I need to know?

What do I need to make a note of?

Have I got suitable ways of making notes?

S/T

USING

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Use of Information

Information Skills

Applying a range of critical and analytical information skills to extract information related to the information purpose (reading, listening, viewing, questioning, predicting, hypothesizing, analysing, comparing)

Note making from person, print, AV and electronic sources using charting, notation, technology.

S/T

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5TH - Synthesis  

5.1 Organize information from multiple sources

5.2 Present the information

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SynthesisQuestions to Ask

PRESENTING

Have I got suitable ways of organizing what I record?

How am I going to pull all this information together and present it as an answer to my original question –

“What is it that I need to know”

S/T

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Synthesis

Information Skills

Organizing the recorded information.

Presenting work in a variety of formats:

Print - e.g. essays, reports, articles

Graphic - e.g. drawings, diagrams, charts, pictures

Oral - e.g. Lectures, workshops, discussions, debates, talks

A.V. - e.g. Taped interviews, video, photos, OHT’s, databases

S/T

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6TH - Evaluation

6.1 Judge the product (effectiveness)

6.2 Judge the research process (efficiency)

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Evaluation

Questions to Ask

EVALUATING

Am I satisfied with the end result?

Am I satisfied with the way I got there?

Do I need more skills to make it easier next time?

S/T

Am I improving my ability to research effectively?

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More Information The Big 6TM Home Page - http://www.big6.com/

Assignment Organizer for Grades 7-12

http://www.standrews.austin.tx.us/library/Assignment%20organizer.htm

Research Projects at Kindred Public School

http://www.kindred.k12.nd.us/CyLib/ht.prj.html

Computer Skills for Information Problem-Solving: A Curriculum Based on the Big Six Skills Approach

http://ericit.org/digests/EDO-IR-1996-04.shtml

Applying Big6 Skills™, Information Literacy Standards and ISTE NETS to Internet Research

http://www.surfline.ne.jp/janetm/big6info.htm Power Point created by Nicole Slinger and Alison Winfield