The Big6 Skills model helps with information problem-solving

Title: The Big6: A Clear Roadmap for Information Problem-Solving in the Media Center

If you’ve ever stared at a mountain of sources and wondered where to start, you’re not alone. In classrooms, libraries, and learning hubs everywhere, the Big6 provides a practical map for turning information chaos into clear, useful insight. It isn’t about memorizing facts; it’s about solving information puzzles so students can research confidently, evaluate what they find, and share conclusions that matter.

What the Big6 is really about

Think of the Big6 as six stops on a reliable journey. Each stop helps a learner move from identifying a question to delivering a well-formed answer. The heart of it isn’t flashy tricks or shortcuts; it’s a steady, structured approach that works whether you’re putting together a history project, planning a science fair display, or curating a class newspaper. In short, the Big6 helps people solve information problems—systematically, ethically, and with growing independence.

The six steps, in plain language

Here’s the framework, with a practical lens for a media center:

• Step 1: Define the problem

What exactly needs to be answered? A clear question saves time and headache later. Example: A student asks, “How did renewable energy usage change in our state over the last decade?” The task is not just to collect facts but to understand the change over time and the best way to show it.

• Step 2: Determine the information needed

What kind of data, sources, or perspectives will help answer the question? Do you need statistics, primary documents, expert opinions, or multimedia examples? In our example, you might want historical data, charts, and perhaps a couple of expert analyses to explain trends.

• Step 3: Locate the sources

Where can you find trustworthy material? This is where the library shines. Use catalogs, academic databases, government sites, and reputable journalism. Mix in encyclopedic overviews for context, but plan to verify details with primary or specialist sources. Students often start with a general search, then pivot to targeted databases such as ERIC, ProQuest, or state archives.

• Step 4: Use the information

What can you take from what you found, and how will you put it to work? This is where notes, quotes, and data extraction happen. Teach students to summarize in their own words, to record bibliographic details, and to organize material by themes or questions. In our example, you might draft a timeline, draft a chart, and collect key takeaways from each source.

• Step 5: Evaluate the information and sources

Not every source is equal. Check credibility, relevance, date, authorship, and potential bias. Ask: Who wrote this? What’s the purpose? Is the data current enough for the question? This step helps prevent the “I found it on the internet, so it must be true” trap. It also reinforces digital literacy—recognizing credible signals in a sea of content.

• Step 6: Present the information

Share findings in a clear, responsible way. This could be a slide deck, a poster, or a short report. Include sources, show your reasoning, and offer a takeaway that’s easy for peers to grasp. The goal is to communicate not just facts, but how those facts fit together to answer the question.

A real-world spin: why this matters in a media center

Medial centers aren’t just storerooms of books; they’re evaluating engines that help students grow as curious, informed thinkers. The Big6 fits naturally here. It gives students a repeatable method for almost any research task—whether they’re assembling a biography, curating a digital exhibit, or crafting a news-style article for a school website.

In the digital age, information comes at you from every direction. A well-worn path through that forest—one that keeps you oriented and safe—beats wandering aimlessly. The Big6 helps students become digital citizens who can spot credible sources, understand data visuals, and explain their thinking in a way that peers and teachers can follow.

A few handy analogies

• The Big6 is like assembling a meal. First you define what you’re hungry for (a light snack, a hearty dinner, a dessert-only challenge). Then you gather ingredients, check their freshness, cook with care, taste, and finally plate it nicely for others to enjoy. Each step matters; skipping one can leave you with half-baked results.

• It’s also a bit like detective work. You frame the question, collect clues from reliable places, evaluate the reliability of each clue, and then present a reasoned conclusion. No dramatic leaps—just careful questioning and solid evidence.

Practical tips for bringing the Big6 to life in classrooms and libraries

• Model the process out loud

Let students hear your thinking. Narrate the steps as you search for ideas, select sources, and weigh the credibility of what you find. A little transparency goes a long way in building trust.

• Create clear, kid-friendly prompts

When you assign a project, give a concrete version of Step 1’s question. A crisp prompt reduces confusion and helps students focus. For example: “Explain how energy use changed in your state from 2010 to 2020, and show one chart to illustrate the trend.”

• Build a simple source checklist

Offer a short rubric or checklist: author, date, purpose, audience, and source type. If facts are contested across sources, encourage noting those disagreements.

• Use a mix of sources

Show how a balance of databases, government reports, and news outlets gives a well-rounded view. Then teach how to triangulate information—show how different sources confirm or challenge each other.

• Promote smart note-taking

Encourage paraphrasing over copying, and require bibliographic details as you go. A quick note on where to find each source helps later when assembling the final presentation.

• Integrate mini-labs or studio time

Give students a block where they can practice a single step—like locating sources or evaluating credibility—using a small, guided task. Short, focused sessions often yield better retention than a long, unfocused sprint.

• Foster ethical use and citation habits

Make it normal to credit all ideas that aren’t original. A short dialogue about why citations matter helps learners resistant to the habit understand its value in real life.

• Tie the Big6 to project-based learning

Whenever possible, connect Big6 steps to actual classroom projects—history fairs, science exhibitions, or school publications. Real tasks give meaning to the method and keep motivation high.

Common missteps (and how to avoid them)

• Skipping steps to save time

Rushing through Step 3 or Step 5 leads to fragile conclusions. Take the time to locate solid sources and check credibility, even if it slows things down a bit.

• Relying on a single source

One source rarely tells the whole story. Encourage cross-checking and exposing students to different perspectives.

• Failing to document sources

If you can’t trace a fact back to a source, you can’t verify it later. Make citations part of the workflow from the start.

• Treating sources as interchangeable

A quick blog post isn’t the same as a peer-reviewed study. Teach students to weigh source type and context.

Big6 in a world of fast searches and smart tools

Tools like library catalogs, academic databases, and trusted encyclopedias are the backbone of solid information work. But the Big6 isn’t about depriving students of speed; it’s about ensuring speed comes with accuracy and understanding. Teach them to use search operators, filters, and subject headings to narrow results—without letting the thrill of a quick hit derail the careful work that follows.

A quick note on staying curious and cautious

The digital landscape is full of helpful resources, but it’s also full of noise. The Big6 helps learners stay curious while remaining cautious. It’s okay to ask questions like, “Who published this, and why?” It’s not just about finding answers; it’s about building a trusted method for finding them.

Looking ahead: lifelong information problem-solving

The Big6 isn’t only for school assignments. It’s a lifelong toolkit. Whether you’re evaluating a local news story, researching a hobby, or helping a community group draft a report, this framework keeps you organized and thoughtful. It’s a steady, dependable partner in a world where information travels fast and accuracy matters more than ever.

Bringing it all together

The Big6 is more than a checklist. It’s a flexible, student-friendly approach to information problem-solving that fits neatly into today’s classrooms and libraries. By defining the problem, identifying what’s needed, locating credible sources, using and evaluating information, and presenting findings clearly, learners gain independence, judgment, and confidence. They learn not just to find answers, but to understand how those answers were built—piece by piece, step by step.

If you’re helping students navigate a research task, keep the Big6 close at hand. Treat it as a conversation starter, a project scaffold, and a daily habit all rolled into one. The payoff isn’t just good grades or a tidy report; it’s a mindset—a practical, hopeful way to engage with the world’s information, thoughtfully and responsibly. And that, in a world overflowing with data, is a skill that never goes out of style.