Teaching and learning the purpose of evidence for knowledge and knowing

Evidence is a cultural tool for engaging in a variety of knowledge production practices including observation, inference making, argumentation, persuasion, and explanation. Identifying and using evidence, as called for in many learning standards, is necessary but not sufficient for understanding the concepts and purposes of evidence. Before identifying and using evidence, learners need to be engaged as researchers of knowledge production. It is only through studying evidence in the context of knowledge production that learning the processes and tools of this human activity becomes relevant to learners. By learning to identify and use evidence in the context of knowledge production students can build a deep understanding of the origins and purpose of evidence, which is necessary for generating intrinsic motives for critical use.