Fostering higher-order cognitive skills (e.g., critical thinking and knowledge transfer) are oft-cited goals in education, but students do not acquire these skills as much as they could and should. There are major efforts shifting the emphasis in schools toward fostering these habits of mind for lifelong learning. Science education is of particular importance, because when students develop their skills for science they are learning to think critically. A significant issue in science education is the teaching of evolutionary theory. Research suggests science literacy, and therefore critical thinking, can be enhanced by increasing students’ understanding and acceptance of evolution. This chapter provides evidence that a single course that teaches evolution as a theory applied to all aspects of humanity, in addition to the biological sciences, increases students’ acceptance and understanding of both evolution and the nature of science and, in effect, improves critical thinking and knowledge transfer.
Knowledge Transfer in Science Education: The Case for Usability-Based Knowledge Visualization Guidelines