Unlock Understanding: How CER Becomes a Powerful Networked Knowledge Activity

 

Photo Credit: Extern.com

Do your students immediately go for what they perceive as the "right answer" on assessments without logically thinking through and articulating the why and how? If so, you are not alone. Students often have to be taught and modeled critical thinking skills that allow them to dive deeper into subject matter.  Of all of the instructional strategies available to educators these days, which strategy can best deliver such a dynamic learning experience? 

CER (Claim Evidence Reasoning) 

At its core, CER is a framework that helps students construct explanations or arguments.

• Claim: This is a statement that answers a question or proposes a solution to a problem. It's what the student believes to be true.
• Evidence: This is the data, observations, or information that supports the claim. It's the "proof" that backs up their statement.
• Reasoning: This is the crucial link that explains how the evidence supports the claim. It often involves scientific principles, theories, or logical connections.

Think of it like building a strong case in court: you make your assertion (claim), present your exhibits (evidence), and then explain to the jury why those exhibits prove your assertion (reasoning).

A recent study by Winona Diola et al (click here for article) looked at the ability of learners to write an argumentative discussion both before and after the CER activity. The study found that,"Overall..CER activities effectively promote reasoning skills...(and) higher-order thinking skills among learners". 

Super Charging CER with NKA (Networking Knowledge Activities)

From Individual Task to Connected Learning: CER as a NKA

Imagine a learning environment where students don't just submit their CER, but actively connect their work with their peers, building a shared web of understanding. That's the essence of a Networked Knowledge Activity.

Vanessa Dennen in her 2019 article (click here for article) sets up a 6 stage map of networking activities that students can follow to deepen and supercharge the CER experience:  

Individually:

    Collect: save a copy of or links for later use

    Curate: Organize the collection into a more purposeful format

    Share:  Make the curated collection available online

Group Level

    Broker:  The act of connecting online and offline groups.  This can be accomplished on the internal                         group level or it can be completed as a "Gallery Walk" activity in which groups can browse                     curated collections. 

 CER Level

    Negotiate: A collaborative process in which learners work together to agree upon the meaning and                         basis of the claim based on both the curated materials and brokered materials. 

    Construct:  Based on the outcome of the knowledge negotiation, the group will create a CER to be                         shared with others; typically in a Gallery Walk fashion.

By taking CER beyond the individual assignment and transforming it into a Networked Knowledge Activity, you empower your students to not only master the content but also to develop invaluable skills in critical thinking, collaboration, and communication. It's about moving from isolated understanding to a shared, dynamic web of knowledge where every student's contribution strengthens the whole.

How might you start transforming your CER assignments into NKAs in your classroom?