Eisenberg+and+Berkowitz

Mike Eisenberg and Bob Berkowitz, two long-time educators, worked together to develop the Big6. Described as the most "widely-known and widely-used approach to teaching information and technology skills in the world," the Big6 is an information and technology literacy model that has been taught in thousands of k-12 and post secondary schools all across the country. The Big6 can be defined as an "information problem-solving strategy" that can help students navigate the often overwhelming world of seemingly endless information. Berkowitz and Eisenberg assert that with the Big6, "students are able to handle any problem, assignment, decision or task" that might be required of them in school and ultimately in life. Basically, the Big6 breaks the critical thought and problem solving process into six clearly, defined steps. They are as follows:

1. __Task Definition__ -Define the problem and identify the needed information. 2. __Information Seeking Strategies__ - Determine all possible sources of information and select the best sources. 3. __Location and Access__ - Locate sources and find information within the sources. 4. __Use of Information__ - Engage with (read, hear, view, or interact with) and extract the most relevant information from the best sources. 5. __Synthesis__- Organize the relevant information from the best sources and present the information in an appropriate format. 6. __Evaluation__ - Judge the effectiveness of the format and presentation of the discovered information and then judge the effectiveness of the process as a whole. Make appropriate changes as needed. You can find much more information, strategies, worksheets, and interesting slide shows like this one media type="custom" key="4622190" on the Big6 official website, [|http://www.big6.com]. I found an enormous amount of information while exploring the Big6 webpage, and I actually used the Big6 research steps to complete this assignment. Though most of these steps are automatic for those of us who interact with information on a daily basis, they are not for students. Students are easily overwhelmed when exposed to the limitless information that is available to them via the internet and other media sources. Consequently, they need a clear cut guide like the Big6 to teach them how to best approach solving a problem. The Big6 is easy to understand, explain, and use. If taught and used consistently, I believe the Big6 would make our students more savy consumers of information.

I found that the conclusion learned by using the internet users should be how to find information, but how to evaluate it and how to determine the original source, and determine if that source is trustworthy or authoritative.st.

The workshop began with the concept of change and planning for change. “Education is all about change. We can no longer rely on the old ways of doing things.” In order to effect change, several elements must be in place: • Compatibility – change must be compatible with current practice • Complexity – change must be easy to understand and to explain to others • Observability – change must be observable • Try-ability – change should be easy to try without too much risk-taking We can't be afraid of doing things differently. JD

Yes, I learned about the Big6 last year when doing research on literary skills. It does sound like the steps most of us have learned to take when conducting research. However, one of the big steps that I don't think most students use is the evaluation step. A lot of students want to get it done quickly. They don't like to proofread and they don't want to critique and do it over. However, in all of our processes for research or learning there needs to be a time of evaluation of how we are doing and if we are using the best resources. I also agree with Berkowitz and Eisenberg that becoming critiques of digital information must happen at a young age. It cannot wait until 7th or 8th grade or high school. Students need to become independent thinkers about using the internet before this age. DM

Berkowitz and Eisenberg would do well to spend even more time on #2 "__Information Seeking Strategies__ - Determine all possible sources of information and select the best sources." As a librarian, this is what I see as the biggest hole in the research process as conducted in the 21st century. We have so very much information at our fingertips with so little editorial control that the validity of data can be easily called into question. Further, with the plethora of metadata and the focus on collaboration, there are a tremendous amount of "cooks in the kitchen" generating all of the available data. With our 21st century students, we must train them well to "select the best sources" and how to know what makes a source not only a valid one but the best one. EH

I believe we are going to be using Big6 as our guide for completing our final computer technology paper. This format is well organzied into six distinct steps. It seems as though it should be easy to organize and evaulate information, but it is actually difficult when faced with such large volumes as found in libraries, the internet, etc. Berkowitz and Eisenberg are innovative thinkers who were able to simplify a complex task into 6 well organized tasks. BG

The steps seem like they would be a very good tool for students to learn. I think the evaluation step at the end is a big one that often gets pushed aside but it very important to the process. I also agree these ideas need to be introduced to students much younger so they know how to use and gather correct information. KG

I have honestly never heard of this strategy. One of my concentrations is langauge arts so I'm surprsied this technique has never come up in any of my undergrad classes. I think these steps would be beneficial to refer to when completing any task. MP

I had never heard of this strategy prior to entering the Library/Media program, but I've heard a great deal about it since then! I think it's an excellent idea. The more streamlined and uniform you make the research and problem solving process, the more efficient and effective our teaching will be. Best case scenario would be an entire school adopting a model, such as the Big 6, to give students consistency. They have great lesson plans as well. The Big 6 lesson plan for using the Big 6 to make banana splits was actually one of the top 100 websites in an OELMA session this year! (I'm looking for the website!) CNR

This was useful information for me since I'd never heard of The Big 6 and Dr. Berg mentioned using this as a research model for completing the Nov 12 assignment. CW