The Big Six

The Big Six is a way of thinking about information processing and research that provides meaningful contexts in which students can embed their development of inquiry skills. Creating substantive and powerful research questions and purposes for research is the launching pad for this approach, developed by Dr. Michael Eisenberg, now Dean of the Information School at the University of Washington. The Big 6 model has been around for almost a decade and is the cornerstone of the instructional practices advocated by the American School Librarians Association.
LFP teachers are learning about the model and working together to plan inquiry units that build on its principles. We have been privileged to have Dr. Eisenberg donate his time as a resident of Shoreline to consult with us and advise us in our staff development planning. The ‘steps’ of The Big 6 include:
1. Define the task and the central question(s)
2. Decide which resources are the best
3. Locate and access those resources
4. Use the information to illuminate the inquiry
5. Synthesize the important ideas and learning
6. Evaluate the quality of learning and work products


See the Big 6 Website for more information.