Lesson Outline

Lessons One to Three

Lesson One

Introduction and Course Overview—the Big6 Skills Approach
Guiding Question: What are the Big6 Skills? Why is an information-processing model important to today’s students and their teachers?

Topics: Introduction to UW online tools EPost and WebQ; Overview of Big6 Skills in the context of contemporary literacy.

Lesson Two

Learning the Big6 and Super3
Guiding Question: What are the literal elements of the Big6 Skills and Super 3?

Topics: Interpretation of the Big6 Skills in a curricular context.

Lesson Three

Learning the Big6 and Super3 (More)
Guiding Question: How does the Big6 Skills model compare to other information skills process models?

Topics: Information skills process models; Official Big6 Web sites.

Lessons Four to Six

Lesson Four

Technology in a Big6 Context
Guiding Question: How can we use the Big6 Skills to provide a framework for incorporating technology applications and standards?

Topics: National Information Literacy Standards (AASL & AECT); National Educational Technology Standards for Students and Teachers (ISTE NET-S and NET-T); Technology in a Big6 Context.

Lesson Five

Big6 Skills in Depth: Stage 1
" Task Definition"

Guiding Question: How do you teach "Task Definition" in the context of subject area content?

Topics: Instructional design (and redesign); "Task Definition."

Lesson Six

Big6 Skills in Depth: Stages 2 and 3
"Information Seeking Strategies" and "Location & Access"

Guiding Question: How do you improve learning by introducing "Information Seeking Strategies (ISS)" skills in the context of subject area content?

Topics: Applying ISS to research on the Internet: using subject directories; Unit and lesson applications.

Guiding Question: How do you improve learning by introducing "Location & Access (L&A)" skills in the context of subject area content?

Topics: Applying "L&A" to research on the Internet: using search engines; Incorporation of pertinent state content standards and national technology standards.

Lessons Seven to Nine

Lesson Seven

Big6 Skills in Depth: Stage 4
" Use of Information"

Guiding Question: How do you incorporate "Use of Information (UI)" skills development strategies within project design to strengthen students' higher order thinking skills?

Topics: Note-taking; Applying "UI" to research on the Internet: evaluating Web pages; Unit and lesson applications.

Lesson Eight

Big6 Skills in Depth: Stage 5
" Synthesis"

Guiding Question: How do you incorporate "Synthesis" skill development strategies within project design to strengthen students' higher order thinking skills?

Topics: Project design to strengthen students’ higher order thinking skills; Curriculum Information; Action plans.

Lesson Nine

Big6 Skills in Depth: Stage 6
" Evaluation"

Guiding Question: How do you incorporate the development of appropriate levels of "Evaluation" skills by students in subject area content activities?

Topics: Assessment; Big6 Scoring guides for diagnosis and prescription.

Lessons Ten to Twelve

Lesson Ten

Big6 Skills and the Collaborative Effort
Guiding Question: How does the recursive nature of the Big6 set the stage for continuous improvement at the personal, school and district levels?

Topics: Partnership and collaboration; Parent connection—helping with homework activities.

Lesson Eleven

Putting It All Together—the Big6 Picture
Guiding Question: How does the Big6 process relate to individual student learning styles, and differing approaches to information problem-solving?

Topics: Problem-solving models; Applying "Curriculum Information" to project development.

Lesson Twelve

Final Project Incorporating Big6 Skills in Curriculum
Guiding Question: How do you determine whether your project design meets the requirements of the course objectives?

Topics: Rubrics for Peer Collaboration and Student Performance.

Participants will peer review each other's projects, and use the online environment to provide reflection, feedback, and suggestions.

The Big6