Teaching Evolution:

A special presentation for Just gotta evolve

Workshop

February 12, 2010Kimberly Bilica, UTSA

Kimberly.Bilica@utsa.edu

Presentation Overview

• Welcome!– Critical Need for Evolution Education

• What should we teach about evolution? – Revised 2009 TEKS (Fall 2010 implementation)

• How should we teach evolution when there’s so much controversy?– Teaching about the Nature of Science

Critical Need for Evolution Education

Controversy

Evolution is likely the most publicly contentious topic to be taught in science classrooms across the nation.

Cracraft, 2004

www.bendib.com/ newones/2003/

Misconceptions about evolution abound!

Evolution is part of our state curriculum standards!

§112.43. Biology. (until Fall 2010)(7)  Science concepts. The student knows the theory of

biological evolution. The student is expected to: (A)  identify evidence of change in species using fossils, DNA sequences, anatomical similarities,

physiological similarities, and embryology; and (B)  illustrate the results of natural selection in

speciation, diversity, phylogeny, adaptation, behavior, and extinction.

http://www.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/chapter112/ch112c.htmlaccessed Jan 14, 2008

…and will become an even larger part of our state curriculum

standards!

The politics associated with evolution are active!

With new TEKS and textbook adoption, creationist organizations will be targeting Texas teachers.

Imitating Science

http://www.evolutionnews.org/2007/06/new_textbook_seeks_to_improve.html

Discovery Institute&IntelligentDesign

What is Intelligent Design (ID)?

a philosophy (not theory) which proposes:

“…that certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause rather than an undirected process such as natural selection.”(source: http://www.intelligentdesignnetwork.org/ )

First Amendment & Establishment Clause

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free

exercise thereof; …”

Legal Aspects

Religion and Public Schools

• According to constitutional law,– Public schools, including personnel,

shall remain ‘neutral’ about religion.– Students have the right to private

speech, including religious expression.

Presentation Overview

• Welcome!Welcome!– Critical Need for Evolution EducationCritical Need for Evolution Education

• What should we teach about evolution? – Revised 2009 TEKS (Fall 2010 implementation)

• How should we teach evolution when there’s so much controversy?– Teaching the Nature of Science

What should we teach about evolution?

Revised 2009 TEKS (Fall 2010 implementation)

2010 Elementary Science TEKS:

Stepping Up Into Evolution• K-5

• TEKS #10Organisms and Environments

• InvestigationsK-1: 80% of instructional time2-3: 60% of instructional time4-5: 50% of instructional time

Kindergarten

Grade 1

Grade 2

Grade 3

Grade 4

Grade 5

2010 Middle Level Science TEKS:

Stepping Up Into Evolution

• 6, 7, 8

• Investigations40% of instructional time

Grade 6

Grade 7

Grade 8

High School Biology

• Expanding the focus upon Evolution

Biology

TEKS Introduction as Conceptual Frame

Nature of

Science

Self Reflection: Nature of Science Vocabulary

HypothesisFactTheoryLawObservation

Draw a flow chart map that shows the relationship between these concepts.

For example:

X Y Z

W. McComas, The Myths of Science http://coehp.uark.edu/pase/TheMythsOfScience.pdf

Grade 4, introduction

Grade 7, introduction

Biology, introduction

Presentation Overview

• Welcome!Welcome!– Critical Need for Evolution EducationCritical Need for Evolution Education

• What should we teach about What should we teach about evolution? evolution? – TEKS-TAKS Instructional Alignment StudyTEKS-TAKS Instructional Alignment Study

• How should we teach evolution when there’s so much controversy?– Teaching the Nature of Science

How should we teach evolution when there’s so much

controversy?Teaching the Nature of

Science

Teaching the Nature of Science

Lessons on Evolution & NOS

ENSI/SENSI http://www.indiana.edu/~ensiweb/ – Evolution and the Nature of Science Institutes website

Teaching About Evolution and the Nature of Science http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/evolution98/ – Chapter 6 Activities

Sorting Out Science

(Word Wall)

Nature of Science Activity

Based upon Of Sunsets, Souls and Senses on ENSI website

Activity: Nature of Inquiry

Caution: PLEASE DONOT TOUCH ORMOVE THE CUBE!

• What is on the bottom side of the cube?

See Activity 1Teaching About Evolution and the Nature of Science http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/evolution98/

Chapter 6 Activities

Many thanks for your attention!

Teaching Evolution:

A special presentation for Just gotta evolve

Workshop

February 12, 2010Kimberly Bilica, UTSA

Kimberly.Bilica@utsa.edu