The Big6 Skills

A Problem-Solving Approach
to
Information Skills Instruction
 The Big Six:
■ is a stage approach to information
problem-solving
■ may be research needed for a
school assignment or information
needed in your personal life
■ it has six broad skill areas
necessary for successful
information problem-solving
Using the Big6
Skills
In
P&P
Form 5

Electromagnetic waves
 Using the Big6
The Challenge:
Find the different type of
electromagnetic waves and their
effects.

Students follow the steps outlined in

the Big6 to solve the problem.
 1. Task Definition
Students ask:
“What do we need to do?”
Find the different type of electromagnetic
waves and their effects.
■ Define the information problem.
■ Identify the information needed to solve
the problem.
 2. Information Seeking
Strategies
Students ask:
“What can we use to find the
different type of electromagnetic
waves?”
■ Brainstorm all possible
sources.
■ Select the best sources.
 3. Location and Access

Students ask:
“Where can we find
information about
electromagnetic waves?”
■ Locate sources.
■ Access Internet
 4. Use of Information

Students ask:
“What information can I use?”

■ Engage (read, hear, view or

touch).
■ Take out needed information.
 4. Use of Information
Eg.
 4. Use of Information
Eg.

URL : http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/science/know_l1/emspectrum.htm
 4. Use of Information
Eg.
 5. Synthesis
Students ask:
“How can we put our information
together?”

■ Organize information from all

sources.
■ Make a decision. (Create a product or performance.)
5. Synthesis
The Product -
The Product -
 6. Evaluation
Students ask:
“How will we know if we did well?”

■ Judge the product (are we happy

with our presentation?).
■ Judge the process (efficiency).
 To sum up...
Information literate people are
those who have learned how to
learn. They are prepared for life
long learning because they can
always find the information needed
for any task or decision at hand.