The Argumentation Rating Tool: Assessing and supporting teacher facilitation and student argumentation during text-based discussions

Abstract In this article, we describe the development and validation of the Argumentation Rating Tool (ART), an observational rating scale designed to assess the quality of teacher facilitation and student argumentation during text-based discussions in elementary language arts classrooms. We describe the theoretical and empirical foundations of the ART and report on two studies designed to establish the psychometric properties of the ART and examine its instructional value for teachers. Our findings support the reliability of the ART scores and their intended interpretation, and suggest that the ART has the potential to help teachers learn about facilitation of argumentation.