Pathways to Knowledge (Follett's Information Skills Model)

by Marjorie L. Pappas & Ann E. Tepe

I. Appreciation

A. Appreciation fosters curiosity and imagination

B. Strategies include listening, sensing, curiosity, imagining, viewing, reading, creating, writing, discussing, verbalizing, discussing, verbalizing, appreciating, enjoying, evaluating

II. Presearch

A. Establishing my focus

1. Develop an overview

2. Explore relationships

B. Strategies

1. Building background information

2. Exploring general sources of information

3. Relating information to prior knowledge

4. Formulating initial questions

5. Identifying keywords

6. Brainstorming ideas and information about topic

7. Relating topics and concepts through webbing, outlining, clustering, etc.

8. Narrowing or broadening a topic

9. Developing specific research questions

10. Defining information needs

11. Following procedures for using information technologies and facilities

12. Seeking help from appropriate sources when needed

13. Evaluating the outcome of Presearch

III. Search

A. Plan and implement my search strategy

1. Identity information providers

2. Select information resources and tools

3. Seek relevant information

B. Strategies

1. Applying resource location skills

2. Asking questions to clarify meaning

3. Distinguishing among information sources

4. Using information sources appropriately

5. Recording appropriate information through summarizing, quoting and listing significant facts (handwritten and/or electronic)

6. Recording bibliographic information

7. Gathering information from authentic and human resources

8. Selecting and using information tools (e.g. indexes, catalogs, bibliographies, directories, search engines)

9. Developing search strategies for print and electronic resources, including

a. Explore search (looking, surfing, hyperlinking with a general topic)

b. Browse search (examining a linear list or index by topic)

c. Hierarchical search (examining a body of knowledge from a broad concept to a specific topic)

d. Analytical search (electronically searching specified or full text using keyword, Boolean, concept searching, etc.)

10. Understanding the concept of linear (print) and nonlinear

11. Skimming and scanning to gather information

12. Determining relevancy of information (fact or fiction, accuracy, currency, primary and secondary sources, and relevancy to research question or information need)

13. Evaluating the appropriateness of information providers, tools, and resources

14. Evaluating the results of the search strategy

IV. Interpretation

A. Assessing usefulness of my information

B. Reflecting to develop my personal meaning- interpret information

C. Strategies

1. Inferring, drawing conclusions, paraphrasing

2. Filtering information (point of view, bias, etc.)

3. Reflecting

4. Organizing information

5. Practicing responsible and ethical use of information

6. Comparing and contrasting

7. Analyzing, determining credibility

8. Classifying, evaluating information

9. Understanding cause and effect

10. Integrating concepts

11. Synthesizing

12. Determining themes, patterns, trends

13. Evaluating information to support or refute a problem, or research question

V. Communication

A. Constructing and presenting my new knowledge

1. Apply information

2. Share new knowledge

B. Strategies

1. Organizing information

2. Selecting an appropriate communication format

3. Applying information to answer a question or solve a problem

4. Expressing creative ideas through creating, speaking, composing, writing, designing, etc.

5. Developing a draft or initial version, editing, and revising

6. Evaluating a format selection

7. Presenting new knowledge through selected formats

8. Respecting intellectual property

C. Formats

1. Visual

a. Diagram, timeline, model, Venn diagram, slide show, puppet show, poster, diorama, transparency, art work

b. Graph, chart, presentation software, book jacket, computer program, puzzle, display, mural

c. Map, graphic, exhibit, photograph, bulletin board, drawing, web page

2. Visual/ Motion

a. TV documentary, video tape

b. Animation, video conferencing, film

3. Oral

a. Panel discussion, music, demonstration, travelogue, interview

b. Speech, debate, skit or play, dialog, story

4. Text

a. Research paper, writing a book, book report

b. Crossword puzzle, journal, creative writing, letter writing, word find

c. Computer program, newspaper, puzzle, portfolio, report, database, spreadsheet, story, biography

5. Multimedia

a. Sound/ slide show

b. Presentation software, exhibit

c. Computer program, portfolio, web page

VI. Evaluation

A. Thinking about my process and product - evaluate process and product

B. Strategies

1. Evaluating and redefining the question

2. Assessing/ reassessing personal information seeking process

3. Evaluating end product

4. Checking for effective communication of new knowledge

5. Using appropriate tracking tools (e.g. logs, journals) to assess and modify search strategies

 

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