Step 2 - Information Seeking Strategies

The second step in the Big6 model is called Information Seeking Strategies, or, according to Wolf, Brush, Thomas and Saye (2003), "requires students first to identify all the possible sources of information, and then to evaluate each source to determine which are best for them to use."  In seeking information on my cathedral tour trip, there are any number of possible sources.  Those that I brainstormed immediately include: 

• Official websites of the various sites I will visit
• Tourism websites, often administered by government entities
• Travel books, many of which will contain detailed information on the sites I will visit, as well as travel arrangements between those locations
• Mapping applications, such as Google Maps, and train travel sites
• Travel-related websites, such as Yelp, Trip Advisor, Trippy, Oyster, and others
• Personal sources, such as friends and family
• Professional sources, such as a travel agent or service that offers cathedral tours
• US travel information sources, including the State Department
• Books with information on history and culture of the areas I will visit

These options are included in order of priority; it would be most expedient to visit the official information offered by each site first, and then to work from there.  From personal expereince, I know that the sites administered by the location itself are often the most accurate information that you can find; their continued success as a tourist location depends on providing accurate information.  Then, services that offer information on the travel between those location would be prioritized; getting from one to the other might be the most difficult part of planning the trip.  

Those sources that are primarily made up of social media sources are important for a getting a general idea of a location, but are less reliable in terms of an accurate representation of the experience, so they are prioritized lower.  The same is true of friends and family; I've often discovered that they have a different agenda than I do when traveling, which means their recommendations aren't quite as on point as I'd hope.  Professional sources might be convenient, but are usually costly, so they are lower on the list; if I am unable to utilize the cost-free sources available, they would be a valuable option, but keeping practical considerations like budget in mind is important.  Finallly, the US travel sources on applying for a passport would be the final step in the process; I don't want to apply for my passport until I know for certain that the trip will actually happen and I have a well-developed plan in place.  

Books that expand further on the history and culture of the locations I will visit are unlikely to have travel advice; they are sources that would be far more useful after the trip has been planned and I am looking for information in preparation for the actual trip.  

During this phase of planning, I'm still feeling a bit apprehensive, especially as I've basically made a list of things that I don't know.  However, I'm also feeling a bit more confident as I've created a game plan of things I'll be researching and I can see how those pieces might fit together into a cohesive whole.  

Sources: 

Wolf, Sara, Brush, Thomas, & Saye, John (2003). The Big Six Information Skills As a Metacognitive Scaffold: A Case Study. SLMR, 6.