Response to the “Big 6”

Response to the “Big 6” By Kathryn Muñoz CED505.20

Definitions • The Big6 is a process model of how people of all ages solve an information problem. • The Big6 is an six stages information and technology literacy model which has two sub-stages as part of each main category which enables students to handle any problem, assignment, decision or task.

The Big 6 Skills • 1. Task Definition • 2. Information Seeking Strategies • 3. Location and Access • 4. Use of Information • 5. Synthesis • 6. Evaluation

Task Definition & sub-stages • 1.1 Define the information problem • 1.2 Identify information needed (to solve the information problem) • What task am I asked to complete? • What questions do I need to answer? • What will I need to already know? • Determine what the numerator and the denominator tells you in a probability situation. • What is probability? • Is there a formula to use?

Information Seeking Strategies & sub-stages • 2.1 Determine all possible sources (brainstorm) • 2.2 Select the best sources • What references are available? • Which references are useful? • Textbook dictionary internet peers

Location and Access& sub-stages • 3.1 Locate sources (intellectually and physically) • 3.2 Find information within sources • Where can I access these references? • Where can I access the specific information within these references? • Classroom school Library public library • Textbook: Table of contents Chapter Subtitles Index

Use of Information & sub-stages • 4.1 Engage (e.g., read, hear, view, touch) • 4.2 Extract relevant information • What am I specifically looking for in these references? • What’s useful or not? • What is the formula that tells how to determine the outcome? • How can examples be useful? • Does the examples illustrate the process of determining the outcome?

Synthesis sub-stages • 5.1 Organize from multiple sources • 5.2 Present the information • What format will I use to organize my findings? • What format will I use to present topic? • Listing: using reference as subtitle • PowerPoint Presentation

Evaluation & sub-stages • 6.1 Judge the product (effectiveness) • 6.2 Judge the process (efficiency) • Did I follow the criteria required? • Did I incorporate each element the Big6 Stages sufficiently? • Did I determine the purpose of the numerator and the denominator in a probability situation written as a fraction? • Did I include all six of the big6 stages? The probability of event A is the number of ways event A can occur divided by the total number of possible outcomes. P(A) = The Number Of Ways Event A Can Occur The total number Of Possible Outcomes

The Super3 • The Super3 contains the same basic elements as the Big6, but is written for younger students to understand. • Plan- (Beginning) • Task Definition • Information Seeking Strategies • Do- (Middle) • Location and Access • Use of Information • Synthesis • Review- (End) • Evaluation

1. Plan - (Beginning) When students get an assignment or a task, BEFORE they start doing anything, they should think: • What am I supposed to do? • What will it look like if I do a really good job? • What do I need to find out to do the job? • In order to measure probabilities, mathematicians have devised the following formula for finding the probability of an event. • A spinner has 4 equal sectors colored yellow, blue, green and red. After spinning the spinner, what is the probability of landing on each color?

2. Do - (Middle) In the Middle the students DO the activity. This is where they read, view, tell, make a picture, etc. A spinner has 4 equal sectors colored yellow, blue, green and red. After spinning the spinner, what is the probability of landing on each color? • Outcomes: • The possible outcomes of this experiment are yellow, blue, green, and red.

3. Review - (End) Before finishing the product and turning it in, students should stop and think— Is this done? • Did I do what I was supposed to do? • Do I feel ok about this? • Should I do something else before I turn it in? Probabilities: P(yellow) = #of way to land on yellow = ¼ total # of colors P(blue) = #of way to land on blue = ¼ total # of colors P(green) = #of way to land on green = ¼ total # of colors P(red) = #of way to land on red = ¼ total # of colors

Resources • Big6™ Handouts • http://www.big6.com/ • http://courses.fontbonne.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab=courses&url=/bin/common/course.pl?course_id=_28017_1 http://www.mathgoodies.com/lessons/vol6/intro_probability.html Billstein, Rick, and Jim Williamson. Middle Grades MathThematics. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell, 2005. 236-240. Print.

Response to the “Big 6”