Eisenberg, Johnson & Berkowitz (2010) talk about how students who are taught the Big 6 approach with a combination of creative and practical activities outperformed students who were taught other approches. The big 6 tool seems to be a positive framework to help students problem solve and use information technology efficiently in the classroom. The process stages are task definition, information seeking strategies, location access, use of information, synthesis and evaluation. Following this framework can only help students stay on track when using technology as we all know that technology can be an information overload more often than not. This framework helps guide students and teachers to work smarter not faster and use their information findings appropriately. This is a framework that i could use in my future classrooms, however the terminology and language must be scaffolded in a thorough manner in order to see the overall benefits.
I like this framework as it share some similarities to the Dimensions of Learning in that it maintains a focus on learning and problem solving. (Marzano and Pickering, 2006) Both these frameworks connect in that they can both be adapted to any task, focus using knowledge meaningfully and consistent attention to learning.
Check out my conversation with Emma and Jasmin in regards to our opinions on the Big 6 framework -
click here
References: Marzano, R.J., & Pickering D.J. (2006). Dimensions of Learning: Teacher's Manual (2nd ed.). Heatherton, VIC: Hawker Brownlow
Retrieved August 10, 2010, from http://www.big6.com/
Hi Nina,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about the Big6 and how it can be used in the classroom. The Big6 allows students to work smarter not faster as it breaks down the process to solve an information problem in a common sense way. I can see how this process is used in everyday life and probably we don't even realise we are using it. It really makes sense to me once you read the 6 skills and also has helped me to help my learners in giving a clear direction and to not feel the information overload that we sometimes do at Uni. Guess we all know what that is like!
thanks
Natalie