CER (Claim, Evidence, Reasoning) in Biology

Summary

The speaker reflects on personal growth and curiosity, using the example of red-eared sliders' winter behavior to illustrate the CER (Claim, Evidence, Reasoning) framework for scientific explanations. They discuss the process of scientific investigation, emphasizing the importance of peer-reviewed sources and the role of brumation in turtle survival during icy winters, ultimately encouraging viewers to apply CER to everyday life to critically assess claims.

Takeaways

• 🍳 The speaker admits to not being skilled in cooking, organizing, or crafts, and acknowledges a lack of interest in developing these skills.
• 🌱 They maintain a growth mindset, recognizing that with interest and effort, they could improve in various areas, as evidenced by the progress in their art and audio over time.
• 🤔 The speaker values curiosity and questions, noting that as people age, they may ask fewer questions, but they personally continue to be inquisitive.
• 🐢 A childhood memory of red-eared sliders disappearing in winter from a pond in Texas sparks curiosity about their behavior and survival strategies.
• ❄️ The speaker ponders the survival of these semi-aquatic turtles during winter, especially when the pond surface freezes, affecting their ability to breathe.
• 🔍 The script introduces the CER (Claim, Evidence, Reasoning) framework as a tool for scientific explanations and reliable conclusions after an investigation.
• 📚 The CER framework is applicable to various subjects and is popular in science classrooms, helping to develop conclusions from data collected during investigations.
• 📷 The speaker discusses the importance of gathering evidence through observation and research, emphasizing the need for careful observation and peer-reviewed sources.
• 🧩 The concept of brumation is introduced as a survival strategy for red-eared sliders during winter, involving physiological changes that allow them to handle low oxygen environments.
• 📝 The speaker uses the CER framework to formulate a conclusion about the turtles' behavior, providing a claim supported by evidence and reasoned explanation.
• 🔬 The script highlights the importance of considering the source of information in scientific research, advocating for peer-reviewed and expert sources over anecdotal evidence.
• 🌐 The CER framework is suggested as a method not only for academic use but also for evaluating claims in daily life, promoting critical thinking and skepticism.

Q & A

What are the three activities the speaker admits they are not good at?

The speaker is not good at cooking, organizing, and crafts.

What does the speaker believe about maintaining a growth mindset?

The speaker believes in maintaining a growth mindset by acknowledging that with interest and practice, they could develop skills in areas they are currently not proficient in.

How has the speaker's art and audio skills improved over time?

The speaker's art and audio skills have improved over time through years of practice and effort, as evidenced by their videos.

What is the speaker's personal trait that they believe they have developed?

The speaker believes they have developed the trait of being curious about things.

What childhood memory does the speaker share about turtles in Texas?

The speaker shares a memory of observing semi-aquatic turtles, specifically red-eared sliders, that would disappear every winter from a pond near their house in Texas.

Why does the speaker question the disappearance of the turtles during winter?

The speaker questions whether the turtles migrate like birds or hibernate, and how they manage to breathe when the pond surface freezes over since they don't have gills.

What is the scientific framework the speaker introduces for developing explanations?

The speaker introduces the CER (Claim, Evidence, Reasoning) framework as a tool for developing scientific explanations.

How does the speaker plan to use the CER framework in their investigation about the turtles?

The speaker plans to use the CER framework to help develop a reliable conclusion after conducting an investigation, by stating the claim, providing evidence that supports it, and giving reasoning for how the evidence supports the claim.

What observations does the speaker make about the turtles during their investigation?

The speaker observes that the turtles remain in the water when the pond freezes over, show inactivity at the bottom of the pond, and are still present after the winter is over.

What is the term the speaker finds in their research about how red-eared sliders handle the winter?

The term the speaker finds is 'brumation,' which is a state of inactivity similar to hibernation that ectotherms like red-eared sliders can enter to survive in low oxygen environments.

How does the speaker apply the CER framework to their conclusion about the turtles?

The speaker applies the CER framework by stating their claim that the turtles remain in the water and brumate during winter, providing evidence from their observations and peer-reviewed research, and giving reasoning that explains how the evidence supports the claim.

Why is the speaker emphasizing the importance of considering the source when gathering information for research?

The speaker emphasizes the importance of considering the source to ensure that the information is factual, peer-reviewed, and comes from credible experts in the field, rather than personal opinions or unreliable sources.

How can the CER framework be applied beyond the context of a biology course?

The CER framework can be applied to daily life when evaluating claims made by others or found online, by considering whether there is evidence to support the claim and if the reasoning for how the evidence supports the claim is valid.