Information Literacy Initiative

The Super3 and the Big6

* Literarcy Initiative

We hope that by now all of you have heard about the Information Literacy Initiative in the Howard County Public School System. This program which began as a review of the state of student research in our schools has evolved to providing instruction to all of our students in how to seek and use information effectively.

One problem that was discerned in a local study of student research was that students were being taught to conduct their research in a wide variety of ways. The committee determined that for greater student success, the school system should adopt a common problem-solving model to use at all grade levels so that students would be able to recognize a common vocabulary and common strategies.

* Super3/Big6

The problem-solving model selected is the Big6 that was developed by two educators, Mike Eisenberg and Bob Berkowitz. This is a simple 6-step strategy that can be used for solving problems and making decisions. There is a simplified version, the Super3, that is intended for use with preK through grade 2 students.

* Rearranging the Plate

Since summer 2005, various curriculum content areas have been writing curriculum that incorporates the Super3 and Big6 problem-solving strategies. The model can be found at all instructional levels. This summer, additional curricular programs will be adding components of the Super3 and the Big6 to their curriculum. It is important to note that much of what is being done with information literacy is not necessarily changing the curriculum, but changing how we teach students to handle problem-solving. Teachers are not being asked to add something to their already full teaching loads; instead, they are asked to apply the Super3/Big6 model to what they are already doing. Not every part of the process is done for every lesson; sometimes the objectives hone in on a particular skill. By adopting a common approach and a common vocabulary to problem-solving, we are helping our students to make curricular connections and to develop a more thorough understanding of how to seek and use information effectively.