Thinking with Technology

Activity 9.1

Step 3: Looking Closely at Your Showing Evidence Case

Using Showing Evidence in Module 4, you were able to make a claim, identify evidence, weigh the evidence, link the evidence to the claim by identifying its support or opposition of the claim, and then make a conclusion based on the evidence. Review your Showing Evidence case again, focusing on the elements of an argument. Consider the following questions as you discuss with the whole group your initial experience with the Showing Evidence Tool:

Making a Claim

How does the argumentation process change if you start with evidence first, rather than making a claim based in part on prior knowledge and then looking for evidence to support it?
If, during your collection of evidence, you found that your claim could not be supported, would you consider changing your claim? Or would you make a new one? Or would you stay with the current claim and use the evidence to show the claim cannot be supported?

Gathering Evidence

In this first use of the tool, the evidence bin was pre-populated with teacher-created evidence. In what ways was that helpful? How might it also hinder your investigation?
Did you gather your own evidence? If so, how did you select or find the evidence? What were you looking for in your choice of evidence?

Evaluating the Evidence

Did you have discussions about the validity, reliability, or relevance of the evidence?
What kinds of evidence would you consider credible or reliable?

Linking Evidence to the Claim

Did all the evidence weigh equally in their support or opposition of the claim?
Were there questions about any of the evidence as to whether they truly supported or opposed the claim?
Could any of the evidence be used to both support and oppose the claim, depending on how they were used?
Were there questions as to whether any of the evidence even belonged in the argument?

Considering Counterarguments

Why is it important to include both supporting and opposing pieces of evidence in an argument?
What discussions did you have as you considered the opposing evidence?
Did the opposing evidence weigh equally with the supporting evidence?

Making a Conclusion

What did you consider as you discussed whether the claim could be supported by the available evidence?
Did you discuss whether the claim should be rewritten? Would it help clarify the issue if sub-claims could be explored?
The claim itself doesn't answer the question of the case or argument; the conclusion does. What did you conclude about the claim?

Overall

What information would you have liked to know prior to starting your work?
In what ways did the Showing Evidence Tool help you to refine and evaluate your ideas?

Next: Proceed to Activity 9.2

Thinking with Technology Module 9 - Using the Showing Evidence Tool to Target Thinking Skills

	Activity 9.1 Step 3: Looking Closely at Your Showing Evidence Case Using Showing Evidence in Module 4, you were able to make a claim, identify evidence, weigh the evidence, link the evidence to the claim by identifying its support or opposition of the claim, and then make a conclusion based on the evidence. Review your Showing Evidence case again, focusing on the elements of an argument. Consider the following questions as you discuss with the whole group your initial experience with the Showing Evidence Tool: Making a Claim How does the argumentation process change if you start with evidence first, rather than making a claim based in part on prior knowledge and then looking for evidence to support it? If, during your collection of evidence, you found that your claim could not be supported, would you consider changing your claim? Or would you make a new one? Or would you stay with the current claim and use the evidence to show the claim cannot be supported? Gathering Evidence In this first use of the tool, the evidence bin was pre-populated with teacher-created evidence. In what ways was that helpful? How might it also hinder your investigation? Did you gather your own evidence? If so, how did you select or find the evidence? What were you looking for in your choice of evidence? Evaluating the Evidence Did you have discussions about the validity, reliability, or relevance of the evidence? What kinds of evidence would you consider credible or reliable? Linking Evidence to the Claim Did all the evidence weigh equally in their support or opposition of the claim? Were there questions about any of the evidence as to whether they truly supported or opposed the claim? Could any of the evidence be used to both support and oppose the claim, depending on how they were used? Were there questions as to whether any of the evidence even belonged in the argument? Considering Counterarguments Why is it important to include both supporting and opposing pieces of evidence in an argument? What discussions did you have as you considered the opposing evidence? Did the opposing evidence weigh equally with the supporting evidence? Making a Conclusion What did you consider as you discussed whether the claim could be supported by the available evidence? Did you discuss whether the claim should be rewritten? Would it help clarify the issue if sub-claims could be explored? The claim itself doesn't answer the question of the case or argument; the conclusion does. What did you conclude about the claim? Overall What information would you have liked to know prior to starting your work? In what ways did the Showing Evidence Tool help you to refine and evaluate your ideas? Next: Proceed to Activity 9.2