Information
Problem Solving
"The Big Six Skills"
Students in Edina Public Schools are taught research and information literacy skills following the Big Six curriculum. This page describes the six main research skills necessary to becoming a successful researcher. Each skill is broken down into several detailed steps that can be followed while researching a particular topic for any class. This planner willl help you to get organized.
| The six main skills are: |  |
| Task Definition | |
| Information Seeking Strategies | |
| Location and Access | |
| Use of Information | |
| Synthesis | |
| Evaluation |
Task Definition
I. Define the Problem
Read relevant background information.
Write a statement or question that clearly identifies the information problem.
Identify and define key words.
Create a concept map of the key words.
II. Identify the Information Requirements of the Problem
Acceptable Resources: How many? Types? How current? Is the author an authority
on the subject?
List tasks in order and create a schedule for accomplishing them.
Information
Seeking Strategies
I. Determine the Range of Possible Sources
Make a list of resources that you
know about and can use for the assignment.
Ask another person or group for other sources you may not already know about.
II. Evaluating the Different Possible Sources to Determine Priorities
Select the resources on your list that will give the best information for the
assignment.
Develop a priority listing of these selected resources based on importance to
the assignment and their availability.
Location
and Access
I. Locate the Sources
Identify the sources in your classroom
and home environments (i.e. textbooks, magazines, encyclopedias, Internet).
Find additional sources in the school or public libraries.
Use the electronic catalog to determine the location of each source and whether
or not it is available.
Write down the location number for each source.
Use the library map to determine the physical location of each source.
Go to the location of each source in the library.
II. Finding Information Within the Sources
Use the Table of Contents, Glossary,
and Index to locate specific information within each source.
Browse the shelves for your topic's location number to locate other source on
your topic.
For electronic sources: conduct subject and word searches to locate the specific
information you need.
Use of
Information
I. Engaging the Information in a Source
Read, hear, or view the information
in a source.
Identify the main ideas, key words, dates, names, etc. that will be important
for note-taking.
Evaluate the information for reliability and usefulness.
II. Extracting Information from a Source
There are many approaches to extracting information from a source.
If the source is written material, the Photocopy/Highlight note-taking method
can be used.
When using other types of materials like audio tapes and videotapes, listen
to or watch the whole presentation first. Next, listen to or view the presentation
again, stopping top write down important information.
For electronic sources of information, download appropriate files.
Write down bibliographic information for the sources you use.
Synthesis
I. Organizing Information from Multiple Sources
Put note cards (from multiple sources)
in logical order.
Develop an outline (storyboard, script, etc.) for the topic.
Write a bibliography and include it in your project. It is always important
to tell where you got the information you used.
II. Presenting Information
Choose the best way to present the information.
Allow enough time to do a good job.
Pay close attention to details (e.g. neatness, spelling, etc.) These things
can make or break a presentation.
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Evaluation
I. Judging the Product
Decide whether or not the assignment
is fully completed.
Decide if the project meets the criteria set up for the assignment.
II. Judging the Information Problem Solving Process
Determine whether the information need as originally defined is met.
State what you would do differently next time.
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The Big 6 is copyright ©1994, Michael Eisenberg/Robert Berkowitz
Use this planner to help with your assignment.