Reinventing the Wheel: The Big6 and Super 3 Approach to Problemsolving

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Reinventing the WheelThe Big6 (and Super 3)
Approach to Problem-solving

• SAISD Library Media Services
• Maverick ES
• October 12-13, 2004
• Presenter Laura Alfaro
• lalfaro_at_saisd.net

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Question

• What would re-inventing the wheel require of you?
• Time
• Energy
• Creativity
• New materials
• A plan

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Alternatives

• Use someone elses wheel
• Modify a wheel to make it your own
• Dont use a wheel come up with another solution
  to your problem!

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What Do YOU Have in Mind?

• Super 3 (PK-2)
• Plan
• Do
• Review

• Big6 (2-12)
• Task Definition
• Information Seeking Strategies
• Location Access
• Use of Information
• Synthesis
• Evaluation

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Everyday Problem-solving Begins

• In the classroom
• Deciding who will do daily classroom jobs
• Student-created classroom rules, social
  contract
• Making whole class decisions of community service
  projects
• Solving classroom disruptions between students,
  or groups of students
• Keeping track of assignments and homework
• Learning to be safe and responsible
• Remembering to think of others

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Academic Problems

• Selecting a topic for a research project
• Learning to be a leader of a group assignment
• Working with others to reach a goal, or complete
  a task
• Following directions and completing assigned work
  efficiently and neatly
• Learning to handle difficult situations

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But theres a PATTERN to Follow

• Use the Big6 steps to model problem-solving.
• Explain each step during the problem-solving
  situation.
• Think your thoughts aloud.
• Later in the day, discuss a simple experiment, or
  research problem, and use the same pattern of
  behavior as you did earlier.

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So WHAT IS THE BIG6?

• http//www.big6.com
• Discuss each step.
• Discuss simplicity.
• Discuss the extras.
• Questions
• Notes
• Rubrics
• Self-evaluation and insight towards improvement.

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Practice Makes Almost Perfect!

• Facilitator will demonstrate the activity.
• Each person has a problem to share.
• Put together your thoughts as you would if you
  were explaining the steps to your students.
  Follow the Big6 steps! Make notes!
• Give your presentation.
• Self-evaluate and listen to class evaluations.