Research allows people to learn new information, improve problem-solving skills, and challenge themselves. However, with an overwhelming amount of information available, it is important to determine the quality and reliability of sources. The Big 6 approach provides a systematic process for defining an information problem, locating relevant sources, extracting useful information, and evaluating the overall process and product.

1. “If we knew what we were doing it wouldn’t be called research.”
– Albert Einstein
Ap ro c e s s a p p ro a c h to info rm a tio n,
te c hno lo g y a nd re s e a rc h.

2.  Research allows you
 …to learn something new
 …to hone your problem-solving skills
 …to challenge yourself in new ways.
 …to learn “Information Literacy”
▪ To be "information literate" is to know why, when, and how
to use printed books and magazines, as well as online library
databases, electronic magazines, and Web pages.

3.  Due to the internet we are overloaded with
information….
 Today, a daily New York Times has more
printed information in it than a person would
come across in an entire lifetime in the 17th
Century.
 “More new information has been produced in the last
30 years than in the previous 5,000.” (Large, P., The
Micro Revolution, Revisited, 1984)

4.  The problem with all this information overload is the
QUALITY of information you find.
 In a study of 500 sites used by Colorado high school
students to do research, only 27% of the sites were
judged to be reliable for academic research!
(Ebersol, Samuel, “Uses and Gratifications of the Web among
Students,” Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 6(1):
September 2000)
 As a result, we must learn how to determine
what is the BEST information to use

6.  The Big 6 was developed by Mike Eisenberg
and Bob Berkowitz.
 It is the most widely-known and widely-used
approach to teaching information and
technology skills in the world.
 The Big6 integrates information search and use
skills along with technology tools in a systematic
process to find, use, apply, and evaluate
information to specific needs and tasks.

7.  Define the information problem.
 Identify the information needed
in order to complete the task.
 What am I supposed to do?
 What information do I need in order
to do this?

8.  First, you have to determine
your task.
The increased use of personal
communication devices in today’s
society is/is not improving people’s
lives.
 You will need to create a 5-
paragraph persuasive essay on one
side of the issue.

9.  Second, you must determine what
kind of information you need to
complete your task.
Wha t a re s o m e p o te ntia l
q ue s tio ns y o u m ig ht a s k a bo ut
te e ns a nd te c hno lo g y ?

10.  Determine the range of possible
sources (brainstorm)
 Evaluate the different possible
sources to determine priorities
(select the best sources)
 What are the possible sources?
 Which are the best?

11.  Which of these sources are my
best options to find information
on teens and technology?
 Use books, electronic databases
and some Internet sites for
historical topics.
 Use magazines, periodicals, and
some Internet sites for current
events.

12.  Locate sources
 Find information within
sources
 Where is each source?
 Where is the information in
each source?

13.  If I use the Internet, a
database or library
catalog, what are the
best keywords for you to
use?
 teens
 Technology

14.  Engage (read, hear, view,
touch) the information in a
source
 Extract relevant
information from a source
 How can I best use each
source?
 What information is each
source is useful?
 Is it “Hard Evidence”?

15.  Now that I have found my
information, what am I going to
do with it?
 Take notes on note cards
 Take notes on notebook
paper
 Take notes using a word
processor
 Take notes using a graphic
organizer

16.  Organize information
from multiple sources
 Present the information
 How can I organize all the
information?
 How can I present the
result?

17.  Once I have all my
information, how will I present
my final results? What are the
next steps in the “Writing
Process?”

18. The Writing Process
PUBLISHING
EDITING
REVISING
Big 6
DRAFTING
ORGANIZING
PRE-WRITING

19.  Judge the product
(effectiveness)
 Check paper with the Rubric
 Judge the information problem-
solving process (efficiency)
 Is the task completed?
 How can I do things better?

20. Prior to submitting my final project, I need to
evaluate it myself to make sure I have met all the
requirements.
 Does my final project match the
task?
 Does the information I match
what I need to know?
 Did I cite my sources?
 Is my work neat?
 Is my work complete?
 Am I proud of my work?

21.  An effective position paper:
 Clearly identifies and describes what is being
evaluated in a strong introduction
 Makes a clear judgment or takes a clear position
based on specific criteria
 Supports the judgment with logical and insightful
reasoning and uses effective examples/evidence
 Restates or reinforces judgment clearly in the
conclusion with a strong sense of conviction and
personal involvement

22. Writing Situation:
 Everywhere we look, people are talking and
texting—on cell phones, sidekicks, you name
it. Is all this technology improving people’s
lives or not? Using research and your own
experience, write a research-based position
paper that states a clear position on this topic
with specific details and data to support.

23. The increased use of
personal communication
devices in today’s society
is/is not improving people’s
lives.