1. Information Literacy Process Models
An analysis of The Big6, Pathways to Knowledge, and I-Search
By: Tammy Duvall

2. What are Information Literacy Process Models?
Models for teachers to use to help their students access and process information gathered through internet research

3. The Big6 An information problem-solving strategy
Six steps: Task definition, Information Seeking Strategies, Location & Access, Use of Information, Synthesis, Evaluation
Appropriate for middle and high school students
Follows normal problem-solving or decision making process
Can be used as a linear model, or steps can be done out of order
A study done at Yale University found that students using this model outperformed students who used other models
Aligned with Bloom’s taxonomy and Piaget’s three stages of cognitive development

4. Pathways to Knowledge
A constructivist model that requires students to use knowledge from a variety of sources to create an end product
Six Steps: Appreciation, Presearch, Search, Interpretation, Communication, Evaluation
A non-linear process model. Students use the evaluation step throughout the process to revise their searching. You don’t have to use all of the stages!

5. I-Search
An affective model that requires students to find their own research topic.
Five steps: Let a topic choose you, Search for information, Test the information, Write a paper in first person, Edit the paper
Final product tells what the student wanted to know, why they chose the topic, how they searched for information, and how they used the information to answer their question
Motivating, and non-threatening to students who struggle with research, or special-needs students

6. Similarities All models are resource based Holistic
Appropriate for middle and high school students
Support information literacy acquisition
Align with AACPS curriculum
All models allow students to chose their topic

7. Differences Big6 and Pathways are non-linear, I-Search is linear
Big6 and I-Search focus more on final product
Pathways to Knowledge focuses more on the process
I-Search requires students to chose their topic. Pathways and Big6 could be used with an assigned topic.

8. AACPS Curriculum Alignment
Standard 2.0 Comprehension of Informational Text
Students will read, comprehend, interpret, analyze, and evaluate informational text.

9. References
Education Development Center, Inc. (2000). Make it Happen: The I-Search Unit. [Online] Available December 8, 2008.
Eisenberg, M. and Berkowitz, R. (2008). The Big6. [Online] Available December 8, 2008.
Milam, P. (2004). “Destination Information: A Road Map for the Journey.” Library Media Connection. Accessed online December 8, 2008 at
Pappas, M. and Tepe, A. (2008) Pathways to Knowledge. [Online] Available December 8, 2008.