This seminar will prepare you to implement active, dynamic, and focused Big6 instructional programs across the K-12 curriculum. Mike Eisenberg & Bob Berkowitz, Co-creators of the Big6 Approach to Information and Technology Skills Instruction, invite you to join them for a unique learning opportunity. Mike & Bob, will present a two-day Big6 leadership seminar in Rochester, NY.

Sunday, July 26 and Monday, July 27, 2009.

Download: Registration Form 2008

Download: Brochure 2008

Or for registration information: Phone Gina: 585-249-4804 / Email: Gina Luke, gluke@rochester.rr.com

GROUP RATE! Save 15% on each registration if four (4) or more register from one district or one organization!

Who should attend?

• K-12 classroom teachers
• K-12 teacher-librarians
• Administrators
• Curriculum directors
• Subject area specialists
• Staff developers
• Educators who are new to the Big6 or experienced with the Big6!

“Exciting stuff - lots to think about: connecting with teachers, motivating students, energizing information literacy skills, overcoming plagiarism, making the process meaningful!”

Why participate?
The Big6 Approach integrates information needs, search strategies, presentation skills, and evaluation skills, along with technology tools. This systematic process will help your students define information needs, then find, engage, organize, present, and evaluate information for specific needs and tasks.

• Big6 is a successful, tested approach that incorporates information and technology skills to strengthen your curriculum.
• Big6 helps your students to evaluate information, track their own progress during assignments and reflect on their completed work before it’s graded.
• Big6 stages allow your students to develop information problem-solving skills as well as become organized, proficient users of information technologies.
• Big6 ensures that your students learn the fundamental approach for success in an overwhelming information and communication age.
• Big6 approach develops the problem-solving capacity of your learners, including students who do not fit a traditional image of “successful learners.”

What will the sessions cover?
You will experience a range of learning opportunities and explore these topics:

• An overview of the Big6 Approach
• Proven techniques to teach Big6 Skills
• Big6 Approach as a guide to integrated instructional unit design
• Technology integration
• Big6 Approach as a tool for examining and revising curriculum
• Guidelines for staff development settings
• Systematic plans for building level and district level implementation.

“I especially liked “hands-on activities.”

What skills will you develop?
You will learn the skills you need to integrate the Big6 Approach into instructional design and curriculum development. You will be prepared to teach others in your school district about the Big6 Approach. In this two-day program you will learn how to:

• Analyze and plan for integrated Big6 information & technology skills instruction.
• Design and implement—with classroom teachers—specific instructional units and lessons integrating Big6 information & technology skills learning with subject area/classroom curriculum.
• Document the scope and extent of the Big6 information & technology skills program.
• Evaluate the success of your Big6 initiative.

What should I do before the Seminar?
Participants should review the Big6 website and become familiar with related materials including Big6 TurboTools solution software demo - Bring laptop computers.

Attendees should also become familiar with the Big6 stages and the twelve sub-stages. You will find more basic Big6 information for each grade level at the Big6 Kids website.

Mike Eisenberg & Bob Berkowitz
Big6 Co-Creators • Consultants • Distinguished Presenters

Michael B. Eisenberg
Michael B. Eisenberg (PhD, Syracuse University, MLS, State University of New York at Albany) is Dean Emeritus of the Information School at the University of Washington, Seattle.

Mike is a frequent speaker at conferences, presents numerous workshops and training sessions each year, and consults with school districts businesses, and government agencies on information resources, services, curriculum, technology, and management. He has worked as a teacher, library media specialist, program administrator, and consultant.

He is nationally known for his innovative approach to problem-solving and critical thinking/information and technology skills development: the Big6 Skills. For many years, Mike was Director of the Information Institute of Syracuse, which includes the ERIC Clearinghouse on Information & Technology and the award-winning AskERIC service.

Mike is also co-founder and co-coordinator (with Peter Milbury) of LM_NET, the electronic discussion group on the Internet for the library media community, In 1990, Mike received the Distinguished Alumni Award, School of Information Science and Policy of the Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, University at Albany.

He received the 1994 recipient of the School Library Media Section/New York Library Association Presidential Award for Professional Achievement, the 1999 Honorary Membership Award, Educational Media Association of New Jersey, the 2002 Presidential award from the Washington School Library Media Association, and the 2003 Presidential Award from the Washington Library Association.

Robert E. Berkowitz
Robert E. Berkowitz is School Library Media Specialist, K-12 Advisor for Library Programs, Wayne Central School District, Ontario Center, NY, Co-Architect of the Big6™ Skills Approach. Bob has successfully managed school libraries for Head Start-12th grade in both rural and urban settings. He has been an educational professional since 1971. Bob is a strong believer in active, curriculum-centered library media programs and promotes the integration of information literacy skills across the entire curriculum. He consults with state education departments, school districts and local schools.
He is often asked to share his ideas at state, regional, and local conferences and seminars as well as at international conferences. Bob has been an adjunct professor at Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies, SUNY Buffalo’s Library and Information School, and consultant to Mansfield University’s School of Library & Information Technologies.
Bob is a graduate of the American International College, BA (Springfield, MA). He earned an MA in Education, George Washington University; MLS State University of New York at Albany; Doctoral studies at University of Maryland (College Park, MD); and School Administrator’s Certification, North Adams State College (North Adams, MA).
Bob’s most recent publication is: “Big6™ Research Notebook,” available from Linworth Publishing. Bob has collaborated with Mike Eisenberg to write: Helping with Homework (1996), Teaching Information & Technology Skills: The Big6 in Elementary Schools (1999), Teaching Information & Technology Skills: The Big6 in Secondary Schools (2000).
Recently published interviews with Bob Berkowitz include: “Moving Every Child Ahead: The Big6 Success Strategy,” (May/June, 2002), MultiMedia Schools; and “Acing the Exam: How Can Librarians Boost Students’ Test Scores?”(October, 2002), School Library Journal.

REGISTRATION
What is included in registration?
Registration fees include a copy of The Definitive Big6 Workshop Handbook, and other associated materials, a continental breakfast each morning, lunch each day and refreshments during session breaks.

For registration information: Phone Gina: 585-249-4804 / Email: Gina Luke, gluke@rochester.rr.com

Where and when does it take place?
The seminar site will be: The Lodge at Woodcliff, 199 Woodcliff Drive, Rochester, NY on Sunday, July 27 and Monday, July 28, 2008. Sessions are:

Sunday, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and Monday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Seminar check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday.

What is the registration fee?
Registration fee is $795. Group discounts available. Save 15% when four or more people from one district or one organization register together.
Cancellation Policy: $350 fee for any seminar cancellations received after July 1, 2008. All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing to Big6 Associates, LLC.

NOTE: (A)We will confirm your conference registration by Email. We recommend that you do not arrange transportation until you receive your confirmation notice. (B) Big6 Associates reserves the right to cancel the seminar due to unforeseen circumstances. Should this occur, registration fees will be refunded in full.