Evaluation: The Forgotten Stage.

This article focuses on the sixth and final stage of the Big6™, the most widely used approach to information problem-solving in the world, Evaluation. It is easy to overlook the final stage of the Big6 process--Evaluation. Students complete the information search, give presentations, and turn in projects and papers, and teachers record grades. Evaluation, particularly self-evaluation, is a very important step toward self-improvement. Evaluation completes the process of information problem-solving. The actual assessment of the final product--most often in the form of the grade given by teachers--is only a small part of Evaluation. Evaluation encompasses all of the activities by which students and teachers determine the level of students' skills and knowledge, as well as identify areas for improvement in performance, particularly in Big6 information problem-solving skills. A higher-level thought process in itself, Evaluation can be accomplished even by young learners with guidance and age age-appropriate questions asked by library media specialists and classroom teachers. Students must have the opportunity to evaluate their own efforts before turning in final products or delivering presentations.