Have you had your BIG SIX©?

One research method for teaching students to

become “digital citizens”

What is a digital citizen?

Students, adults, anyone that uses the Internet as a source of information use it in an ethically balanced way.

(such as citing sources, using more than one reference, evaluating and verifying information, etc.)

Digital Citizenship…

It is a process and cannot just be taught by one teacher one time and expect retention.

It must permeate all subjects in all grade levels just like reading, for increasingly it is reading.

Vicki Davis (the cool cat herself!)

From V. Davis edublog on digital citizenship…

“Students are missing out…Too many teachers talk about how students are coming

to them vastly uneducated about researching, validating sources, and using multiple sources of information.

Students are believing everything they read. Where is the skepticism? The investigation? The desire to double check things? It should be instilled as a part of what they learn, but specifically relating to Internet sources, thus the word digital.”

In such an information rich world… Students need help in knowing what is

of VALUE.

How to think for themselves!

How to collaborate with others.

Different ways to create and reflect.

Again, V. Davis… At the same time that we continue to use our

textbooks (or what ever they evolve into), reference works, databases, and our own expertise, we should also bring in, at every opportunity, content and resources that we have found, evaluated, processed, and prepared for teaching and learning, and that we should include conversations about how we found it, evaluated, and processed it. If they are seeing us, every day, asking the questions that are core to being literate today, then perhaps they will not only develop the skills of critical evaluation, but also the habits."

So, what does that mean here?

Librarians should (and often do) model and work with teachers to get kids to research effectively and ethically!

A proven method I like to use is called:

The BIG SIX©

Step 1:

Define your task:

•What do I have to do?

(Helps students in understanding and planning of assignment)

Step 2

Information Seeking Strategies: What can I use to find what I need?

(brainstorm sources and select the best one)

Step 3

Location and Access: Where can I find what I need?

(locate the source and find the information within it)

Step 4

Use of information: What information can I use?

(Engage the source– read, listen, view, touch, take out what is needed)

Step 5

What can I make to finish the job?

(Organize information from sources and present it)

Step 6

Evaluation: How will I know if I did a good job?

(judge your product/process)

If we give kids opportunity to:

Find resources by themselves and evaluate them…

Work with others to compare information (online or face to face)…

Reflect on their own product…

We are giving them skills to compete in a global

marketplace!

Some research methods that easily fit in the model… Wikis: Students create a

wiki page on a topic, become the expert, cite sources, and get immediate feedback from “the world”.

Concept jigsaw: learn a part of a large topic in depth, share with group to build an expert answer.

Compare and Contrast: practices higher order thinking. (can use Graphic Organizers)

Background to Question: investigate a topic, and building questions to narrow topic further.

Online Resources to SupportBIG6™ INFORMATION SKILLS

All sorts of stuff: http://nb.wsd.wednet.edu/big6/big6_resources.htm

Lesson ideas: http://www.big6.com/showcategory.php?cid=19

CRLS Research Guide: http://www.crlsresearchguide.org/Big_Six_Steps.asp

Sources

Loertscher, David V. , Carol Koechlin, Sandy Zwann. Ban those bird units: 15 models for teaching and learning in information-rich and technology-rich environments. Hi Willow Research and Publishing: Salt Lake City, 2005.

The "Big6™" is copyright © (1987) Michael B. Eisenberg and Robert E. Berkowitz. For more information, visit: www.big6.com