CONSTANTLY KEEP

KIDS QUESTIONING
Effective Research and
Avoiding Plagiarism
Presented by: Regina Townsend
August 12, 2009
 AGENDA

1. PECS Library Scavenger Hunt Warm-up

2. Introduction to Destiny
3. Introduction to Big 6
4. Research planning
 List 1 or more research projects that you can
remember from elementary, middle or high
school.
 Why can you remember it?
EFFECTIVE RESEARCH NEEDS:

 A Clear Plan
 Youas the teacher must be able to see the end
results and what you want students to walk away
with.
 Self-management tools
 Rubrics,Worksheets, Models of a Correct and
Incorrect final product.
 Reciprocal Teaching
 Giving
students an opportunity to dialogue with
you about what they will be researching.
WHAT IS THE BIG 6?
1. Task Definition
2. Information Seeking Strategies
3. Location & Access
4. Use of Information
5. Synthesis
6. Evaluation

Created by Michael Eisenberg and Robert

Berkowitz
1.TASK DEFINITION
1.1 Define the Problem
1.2 Identify the information needed.

Be Clear!

DON’T ask students “Compare and contrast the

holidays celebrated in the United States to those
celebrated in Indonesia.

DO ask students “What are some ways that cultures

celebrate? Are there differences between
cultures?
PLAGIARISM PROOFING

 Avoid questions that give students “easy

answers”.
 Hold students accountable for utilizing a
format that documents their sources and
citations.
 Avoid traditional “reports”. Engage students
in new ways of synthesizing their
information.
 Make students aware and concerned about
the importance of intellectual property.
THINK OF AN OBJECTIVE
 Remember: The verb YOU use in your
objective for student research, states YOUR
goal for the level of thinking you want
students to achieve.

www.wordle.net
2. INFORMATION SEEKING
STRATEGIES
2.1 Determine all possible sources
2.2 Select the best sources

DON’T expect students to automatically know

where to look for information.

DO meet with Mrs. Townsend DURING your

planning so that when you introduce your
project, you can clearly brainstorm tools
with students.
3.LOCATION & ACCESS
 3.1 Locate Sources
 3.2 Find Information within Sources

Indexes Keyword Searching

Dictionaries Boolean Searching
Atlas Identifying Synonyms
Almanac Internet Search Tips
Newspapers Interviewing
Databases
Magazines
4. USE OF INFORMATION
 4.1 Engage(read, hear, view)
 4.2 Extract Relevant Information

 DON’T expect students to sit with a book or

tool and successfully receive the experience
you’d like for them to.

 DO plan extensively and provide students

with a clear expectation and accountability
process, (note cards, forms, etc)
Example of Big 6 Rubric
5. SYNTHESIS
 5.1 Organize Information from multiple
sources.
 5.2 Present the Result

Essay
Short Story
Poem
Commercial
PSA
Poster
Brochure
Webpage
6. EVALUATION
 6.1 Judge the result (effectiveness)
 6.2 Judge the process (efficiency)

Our Goal at the end of a research project is for

the students to KNOW and be able to convey that
they have gained an answer to their question or
an ownership to their understanding.
RESOURCES!
 Buzzeo, Toni. Our Librarian Won't Tell
Us Anything! Fort Atkinson, WI:
Upstart Books, 2006.
 Charbeneau, Michael and Valerie
Charbeneau. Rappin' Ronni, Research
Rat. Creative Alliance Press, 2001.
 Eisenberg, Michael B., et al. Teaching
Information & Technology Skills : The
Big6 in Elementary Schools.
Columbus, OH: Linworth Publishing
Company, 1999.
 Your Librarian!
PECS Library
 The Big6 Online - www.big6.com
 Barnes, Jeanne. Big6 Resources. 2007.
7 February 2009
<http://nb.wsd.wednet.edu/big6/big6_
resources.htm>.
 WI Department of Public Instruction.
Project Big6™ & Super3™ . 6 August
2009
<http://205.213.162.11/Project_big6/b
ig6/big6.htm>.
 Rappin Ronnie Resources -
www.big6rap.com
Online
BRAINSTORMING
 Think of some things that interest you, and
that you want students to research.
 Begin brainstorming research and project
ideas.
 Share