OER Claim Testing One-Pager
Claim testing is an important analytical process for assessing the quality and veracity of claims. It helps students “see” and evaluate people’s assertions and gives shape to one of the most important and useful historical thinking skills. Since history is all about making assertions, it’s important that students learn the skill of testing claims early and use it frequently as part of evaluating historical accounts and making historical interpretations.In OER Project's Claim-Testing Activity Progression, students are introduced to the historical thinking skill of claim testing with a fun and quick activity, and then move into activities that address the concepts of authority and evidence. For the remaining activities in the progression, students will apply what they know about authority, logic, intuition, and evidence to write supporting statements for claims they’re give n that are relevant to the erathey’re studying. They will analyze the quality of evidence put forth by their peers, find disconfirming evidence, and write thesis statements based on their conclusions, all of which will help them be better prepared to make and support claims in their own writing.OER Project'sClaim-Testing Activity ProgressionPlacement: Click here to find the claim-testing activities in the courseyou teach.Thinking Tools: Thinking tools such as the claim-testing posters help students become familiar with the steps they should take to engage in this skill. Over time, students will rely upon the tools less, but they’re always there to support them. For the Claim-Testing ActivityProgression, we encourage you to post the claim-testing posters around your classroom to remind students to use their claim-testing skills throughout the course. Feedback Forms: Feedback forms break down the progression of skills that will guide students to success with each skill. Use these to evaluate how well students are progressing, and to guide instructional decisions based on student success or need for specific intervention. Note that sometimes portions of the feedback form are grayed out—not every activity asks students to meet all the criteria on the form. The Claim-Testing Feedback Form is included in the lesson guide for each activity. Tips and Tricks from Teachers•Ignite students’ curiosity with exciting questionsand debates that ask them to use their claim-testingskills.•Practice claim testing frequently by asking studentsto evaluate claims in opener and closer activities.•Provide scaffolds and supports, especially as studentsfirst start using the claim testers.•Model using claim-testing language (logic, authority, intuition, and evidence) throughout the course.•Give targeted and timely feedback to encourage student success.Learn more in the OER Project Historical Thinking Skills Guide.HISTORICAL THINKING SKILL: CLAIM TESTINGClaim testing poster