Evaluating Evidence

Built into our First Nations Inquiry is skill building. Students are learning how to construct queries and use search operatives. Our lessons for this come directly from Google, although we will be looking at other search engines.  Searching is one of those skills that students deemed "digital natives" are thought to have merely because they know how to type something into Google. Most, however, have very poor search skills and waste a great deal of time when searching for information.  We spent 3 50 minute periods learning basic search skills and today when students had to find information, it was satisfying to see how efficient their searching had become.

We used the text below to find key words that could be used to construct queries. This is a good example of the shift to inquiry and knowledge building. In the past I would have taught the theory. Now the theory becomes incidental, but content is learned anyway.

Students also read information on the Atlantic Crossing theory which is believed to have taken place much earlier than the Beringia crossing.

Next we watched the docudrama Ice Age Columbus from Discovery Channel which explores the Atlantic Crossing Theory. We viewed with the intent of finding evidence to support the theory.

Students had to consider and learn to distinguish between what was "story" created by the film-makers and what was actual evidence. They also learned that evidence was more than physical objects.

Finally, students considered which evidence was strong evidence and which was weak. At this point, they feel that the computer models of weather and and ice flow patterns are the weakest evidence and that the 1 arrowhead and the DNA are the strongest. We then wondered why only 1 arrowhead was found which led to speculation.

Adam proposed an interesting idea - if they were primarily coastal people, they would have stayed close to the shoreline. When the ice age ended, water levels would have risen. Arrowheads may be lying on the ocean floor. 

Students now wish to speak with experts to find answers to their questions.