Grade Level Goals for Research Skills

The Big 6 Model

1.  Task Definition

2.  Information Seeking Strategies

3.  Location & Access

4.  Use of Information

5.  Synthesis

6.  Evaluation

 

Key :

I = Introduce

Demonstrate understanding of the ideas and concepts basic to each skill during grades indicated.

P = Practice

Use skills, when prompted, in increasingly complicated, indirect and subtle contexts from grade indicated to grade where mastery is indicated.

M

M = Mastery

Apply skill without prompting by end of indicated grade. Additional indications of mastery mean that students will demonstrate skills at increasing levels of complexity.

 

 

Task Definition

The learner will recognize that an information need exists and will construct an appropriate inquiry.

 

FORMULATE A FOCUS:

Grades

K-2

Grades

3-5

Grades

6-8

Grades

9-12

 

Select a broad topic; relate information needed either to prior knowledge or general sources

I

P

M

M

 

Select an aspect of the broad topic to narrow the focus

 

I/P

P/M

M

 

Create specific questions and use them to develop a thesis statement or hypothesis

 

 I

P

M

 

Explore availability of information on topic

 

 I

P

M

 

Follow parameters given by teacher for the research

I

P/M

M

M

 

Learner constructs parameters

 

 

I/P

M

 

 

 

IDENTIFY THE AUDIENCE AND PURPOSE OF THE COMMUNICATION:

 

 

 

 

 

Tailor communication to audience’s characteristics

 

I

P

M

 

Understand characteristics of communication’s stated purpose

 

 I

P

M

 

 

CHOOSE AN APPROPRIATE FORMAT FOR THE COMMUNICATION:

 

 

 

 

 

Select the most effective method of presentation for the stated purpose; know its strengths and limitations

 

I

P

M

 

Efficiently access, store, and transmit information using information technologies

 I

I/P

M

M

 

 


 

 

 

Information Seeking Strategies

The learner will plan a search for needed data recognizing the importance of locating data from a variety of sources and will read and record relevant information.

 

PLAN A SEARCH STRATEGY AND LOCATE RESOURCES:

Grades

K-2

Grades

3-5

Grades

6-8

Grades

9-12

 

Identify multiple persons as resources and a variety of potential sources and resource formats

I

I/P

M

M

 

Locate resources within and outside of the school

 I

P

M

M

 

Follow directions to use multiple sources of information

I

P

M

M

 

Recognize by self the importance of using more than one source

 

I/P

M

M

 

List key words, concepts, descriptors, or subject headings; narrow or expand as necessary

 

I

P

M

 

Determine what information is relevant

 

 I

P

M

 

 

Location & Access

 

SELECT RESOURCES:

Grades

K-2

Grades

3-5

Grades

6-8

Grades

9-12

 

Know basic operations, terminology, and proper care procedures for information technologies

I

P

M

M

 

Analyze the timeliness, authoritativeness and reliability of the information

 

 I

P

M

 

Identify the contributor’s/producer’s work for point of view, bias, or propaganda

 

 

I/P

M

 

Differentiate between primary and secondary sources

 

 I

P/M

M

 

Know basic operations and terminology of on-line services such as Dialog, Internet , Periodical Databases

 

 I

P

M

 

Voluntarily comply with District’s Internet Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) and proper telecomputing etiquette

 

I/P

M

M

 

 

CONDUCT PRIMARY RESEARCH WHEN NEEDED:

Grades

K-2

Grades

3-5

Grades

6-8

Grades

9-12

 

Gather information through observation

I

P

P

M

 

Write a letter, or use a survey or questionnaire

 

I/P

M

M

 

Conduct an interview to collect data

 

 I

P

M

 

Construct a survey or questionnaire

 

 

I

P/M

 

Compile data and summarize results

 

 

I

P/M

 

 

USE INTERNAL ORGANIZERS:

Grades

K-2

Grades

3-5

Grades

6-8

Grades

9-12

 

Use indexes, table of contents, menus, keywords, and graphic clues and icons, and hypertext links within electronic sources

I

P

M

M

 

Also legends, cross references

 

 I

P

M

 

Also Boolean connectors (and, or, not,) within electronic sources and Internet URLs or Search engines

 

 I

P

M

 

 

Use of Information

IDENTIFY AND RECORD RELEVANT INFORMATION:

Grades

K-2

Grades

3-5

Grades

6-8

Grades

9-12

 

Read, view or listen for major ideas and keywords to identify relevant information from a variety of sources

I

I

P

M

 

View, download, and open documents from WWW/Internet

I

P

M

M

 

Record relevant information by taking paraphrased notes using one or more of a variety of methods

I

P

M

M

 

Summarize, or quote important facts and details

 

I

P

M

 

Record bibliography data

 

I/P

P/M

M

 

Create a working bibliography

 

 I

P

M

 

 


 

Synthesis

The learner will analyze, organize and interpret new information and synthesize it with concepts already known to solve the information problem.

 

USE THINKING SKILLS TO MAKE SENSE OF THE INFORMATION:

Grades

K-2

Grades

3-5

Grades

6-8

Grades

9-12

 

Apply analysis strategies, including information technologies, to validate new information

 

 I

P

M

 

Categorize and sort the data; visually represent the classification scheme

I

P

P

M

 

Develop a formal outline to organize data

 

 I/P

P

M

 

Appraise the information gathered to see if it solves the information problem