21st Century Skills, Information Literacy, & Critical Thinking

The following links will help in promoting and informing about 21st Century Skills, which is achieved by teaching students effective information management, inquiry and research skills:

• • The Big6 is the preferred research model here at Akron Public Schools. This comprehensive site outlines Big6 implementation strategies.

  • The Big6 Skills is prepared by Cambridge Rindge & Latin Schools and is an excellent example of how to use the Big6.

  • Big6 Information Skills is a site constructed by the Wenatchee School District librarian that has explanations and resouces for each step of the Big6.

  • Empower is a tutorial developed by the Wichita State University Libraries which discusses searching, selecting and the evaluation of information sources.

  • Questioning Toolkit is prepared by the Educational Technology Journal. This resource provides questioning techniques to increase engagement.

  • Questioning based on Bloom's Taxomony is an easy to use chart which assists teachers in developing questions based on Bloom's Taxomony.

  • Questioning Strategies is part of an online Master's Degree program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It discusses successful questioning strategies. Scroll down for helpful links.

  • Graphic Organizers can be found at this site. The site explores the use of these excellent instructional tools.

  • Houghton Mifflin Harcourt contains clickable free graphicorganizers which will enable students to organize their thoughts and ideas.

  • Enchanted Learning contains many free graphic organizers with a discussion as to how to best use these organizers in the classroom. Additional resources available with membership..

  • Freeology also contains many free resources available to teachers, including graphic organizers.

  • The Partnership for 21st Century Skills is dedicated to incorporating skills needed for the new millenium. The Partnership has created a site advocating critical thinking, problem solving, and communication into all curricular areas.

  • eSchool News discusses technology news for today's K-20 educator as well as a variety of issues related to incorporation of 21st Century Skills.

  • ERIC Information Technology provides brief overviews of topics of current interest in the fields of library science and educational technology.

  • Information Skills Instruction links to sites to assist librarians in teaching information skills. Created by retired librarian, Linda Bertland,