Clearing the Highest Hurdle: Human-Based Case Studies Broaden Students' Knowledge of Core Evolutionary Concepts

Autor/in	Werth, Alexander J.
Titel	Clearing the Highest Hurdle: Human-Based Case Studies Broaden Students' Knowledge of Core Evolutionary Concepts
Quelle	In: Journal of Effective Teaching, 9 (2009) 2, S.38-53 (16 Seiten) PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1935-7869
Schlagwörter	Case Studies; College Students; Student Attitudes; Evolution; Student Surveys; Biology; Science Teachers; Science Instruction; College Science; Teaching Methods; Scientific Concepts; Higher Education; Science Curriculum; Likert Scales; Qualitative Research; Statistical Analysis + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Case study; Fallstudie; Case Study; Collegestudent; Schülerverhalten; Schülerbefragung; Biologie; Science; Teacher; Teachers; Science teacher; Wissenschaft; Lehrer; Lehrerin; Lehrende; Teaching of science; Science education; Natural sciences Lessons; Naturwissenschaftlicher Unterricht; Teaching method; Lehrmethode; Unterrichtsmethode; Hochschulbildung; Hochschulsystem; Hochschulwesen; Likert-Skala; Qualitative Forschung; Statistische Analyse
Abstract	An anonymous survey instrument was used for a ten year study to gauge college student attitudes toward evolution. Results indicate that students are most likely to accept evolution as a historical process for change in physical features of non-human organisms. They are less likely to accept evolution as an ongoing process that shapes all traits (including biochemical, physiological, and behavioral) in humans. Students who fail to accept the factual nature of human evolution do not gain an accurate view of evolution, let alone modern biology. Fortunately, because of students' natural curiosity about their bodies and related topics (e.g., medicine, vestigial features, human prehistory), a pedagogical focus on human evolution provides a fun and effective way to teach core evolutionary concepts, as quantified by the survey. Results of the study are presented along with useful case studies involving human evolution. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Journal of Effective Teaching. Center for Teaching Excellence, 601 South College Road, Wilmington, NC 28403. Tel: 910-962-3034; Fax: 910-962-3427; e-mail: jet@uncw.edu; Web site: http://www.uncw.edu/cte/et
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01