What is the Big6

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What is the Big6?
The Big6 is a process model of how people of all
ages solve an information problem.
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Why use the Big6?
We all suffer from information overload. Theres
just too much "stuff" out there, and its not
easy to keep up. Often, we are surrounded by
information, but we can never seem to find what
we want, when we want it, and in a form we want
it so that we can use it effectively.
We need to think about working smarter, not
faster. There is an alternative to speeding
things up. Its the smarter solution, one that
helps students develop the skills and
understandings they need to find, process, and
use information effectively.
This smarter solution focuses on process as well
as content. Some people call this smarter
solution information literacy or information
skills instruction. We call it the Big6.
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Step One Task Definition

• 1.1 Define the information problem
• What is my current task? ?

1.2 Identify information needed What are some
questions Ill need to answer? What information
will I need?
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Step Two Information Seeking Strategies
?2.1 Determine all possible sources ?-brainstorm
2.2 Select the best sources What are the best
possible sources to check? What are the best
sources of information?
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Step three Location and Access
?3.1 Locate sources -intellectually -physicall
y ?
3.2 Find information within sources
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Step Four Use of Information
?4.1 Engage (e.g., read, hear, view, touch) ?
4.2 Extract relevant information What
information do I expect to find in this
source? What information in the source is
useful?
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Step Five Synthesis
5.1 Organize from multiple sources How will I
organize my information? ?
5.2 Present the information How will I present
my information?
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Step Six Evaluation
6.1 Judge the product (effectiveness) Did I do
what was required? ?
6.2 Judge the information/ problem-solving
process (efficiency) Did I complete the Big6
stages effectively?