In School Project: Look over the assignment directions that your teacher gives you. Do you understand what you are being asked to do? If there are choices built into the project--which will you choose? Do you understand what the final product is supposed to be and look like (paper, presentation, etc)?
Out of School Project: What do you want to know? What is your information problem? How will you know if you solve it?
In School and Out of School Projects: Brain storm a list of sources you could look at for information. Suggestions: books, ebooks, newspapers, magazines, journals, audio clips, videos, interviews, tweets, web pages, encyclopedias, online databases, pictures and more.
Make a list and then decide which ones make the most sense.
In School and Out of School Projects: Start the process of collecting sources. Skim and scan the information. Keep the best.
Might need to visit the LMC or a public library. Might need to arrange internet access. Do you have the passwords for the databases?
The Big6™ Skills
The Big6 is a process model of how people of all ages solve an information problem. From practice and study, we found that successful information problem-solving encompasses six stages with two sub-stages under each:
1. Task Definition
1.1 Define the information problem
1.2 Identify information needed
2. Information Seeking Strategies
2.1 Determine all possible sources
2.2 Select the best sources
3. Location and Access
3.1 Locate sources (intellectually and physically)
3.2 Find information within sources
4. Use of Information
4.1 Engage (e.g., read, hear, view, touch)
4.2 Extract relevant information
5. Synthesis
5.1 Organize from multiple sources
5.2 Present the information
6. Evaluation
6.1 Judge the product (effectiveness)
6.2 Judge the process (efficiency)
In School and Out of School Projects: Earlier you skimmed and scanned sources keeping the best. Now it is time to read carefully and learn about your topic. Take notes and be sure to create a list of the sources used(bibliography, works cited, references). SEE ALSO: Citation and Formatting Guide
In School and Out of School Projects: It is time to start writing, creating the final product. Organize your thoughts in a logical flow. What did I know before? What did I learn? What was I hoping to learn? What did I learn? What did the teacher require?
Create the final list of sources used. Finalize the final product (paper, presentation slides, etc).
In School Projects: Compare your final product with the assignment description your teacher gave you. If a project rubric was given out compare your project to the rubric. How does your product match up? You should know your grade before turning the project in to your teacher.
Out of School Projects: Compare your original question/information problem with your final product. What did you learn? What decsion will you make? What action will you take? If you redid it what would you do differently? Did you get stuck on any of the steps? If so, what do you think happened?