scholarly journals A content analysis of pre-college lesson plans on human evolution

Author(s):  
Rebecca L. Hite

Abstract One of the most fundamental understandings within biology is evolution, yet often ascribed as one of the most misunderstood scientific concepts by the American public. Despite not being explicitly mentioned in most American science standards, human evolution is nevertheless taught as an engaging context for understanding complex evolutionary processes among pre-college science students. Therefore, pre-college science teachers seek out human evolution content experts (e.g., Smithsonian Institution, NOVA, ENSI) to procure curricula (lesson plans) to teach these concepts in their classrooms. For students to accurately understand human evolution, research recommends lesson plans employ a diversity of direct and indirect evolutionary evidence, infused with social science perspectives related to the nature of science (NOS) and/or socioscientific issues (SSI) to foster necessary conceptual change. Given such empirical affordances of using multiple sources of evidence and integrated social science perspectives to foster conceptual change in teaching human evolution, it is unknown to what extent these attributes are present in lesson plans created by these entities and targeted to pre-college science teachers. To ascertain to what extent pre-college lesson plans on human evolution employ these research-based best practices, this paper analyzed 86 lesson plans created by 18 entities with content expertise in human evolution concepts that had developed online pre-college lesson plans. Among the sampled lesson plans, less than one third (29%) presented a combination of direct and indirect evidence. Further, a mere 17% incorporated elements of NOS, where SSI (like historical (n = 3) and racial (n = 1)) perspectives were fewer. In sum, findings suggest available resources are deficient in fostering the conceptual change necessary for pre-college students to fully understand human evolution concepts. This study evidences a continued need to ensure best practices are incorporated into human evolution lesson plans created for pre-college teachers.

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wayan Sadia

Abstract This research was conducted with the main objective to develop a model of character education integrated with science learning in elementary, junior, and senior high schools. The research was focused on the needs analysis study involving 36 elementary school science teachers, 34 junior high school science teachers and 27 senior high school science teachers to collect information on science learning in relation to character education. Data were collected by questionnaires, observation and interviewing techniques. Data were analyzed by descriptive and qualitative meaning. The results showed that: 1) character education can be developed through selection of science learning model, assessment model, and teaching materials, 2) science learning models that contribute significantly to the development of the character of students are inquiry learning, problem-based learning, cooperative learning , science-technology-society, problem solving, and contextual learning models, 3) science teacher’s responses to the character education are generally very positive and seek to develop good character through a learning process, 4) some (55.3%) science teachers include indicators of character values that to be target of learning in the syllabus and lesson plans, and some (44.7%) do not explicitly specify its, but implicitly implied in the syllabus and lesson plans. Keywords: character education, integrated science learning


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-49
Author(s):  
Teresa Paiva

Background: The theoretical background of this article is on the model developed of knowledge transfer between universities and the industry in order to access the best practices and adapt to the study case in question regarding the model of promoting and manage innovation within the universities that best contribute with solution and projects to the business field. Objective: The development of a knowledge transfer model is the main goal of this article, supported in the best practices known and, also, to reflect in the main measurement definitions to evaluate the High Education Institution performance in this area. Methods: The method for this article development is the case study method because it allows the fully understanding of the dynamics present within a single setting, and the subject examined to comprehend what is being done and what the dynamics mean. The case study does not have a data collection method, as it is a research that may rely on multiple sources of evidence and data which should be converged. Results: Since it’s a case study this article present a fully description of the model proposed and implemented for the knowledge transfer process of the institution. Conclusion: Still in a discussion phase, this article presents as conclusions some questions and difficulties that could be pointed out, as well as some good perspectives of performed activity developed.


2012 ◽  
Vol 114 (7) ◽  
pp. 1-32
Author(s):  
Jianzhong Xu ◽  
Linda T. Coats ◽  
Mary L. Davidson

Background/Context Despite the best intentions to close the achievement gap, the under-achievement of African American students in science is a persistent problem. It is surprising to note, however, that research on science education has often failed to consider students’ cultural diversity as it relates to science education. On the few occasions when efforts were made to link science disciplines and students’ cultural backgrounds, these studies were largely limited to classroom learning environments. Purpose/Research Question This study examines the perspectives of exemplary African American teachers toward science homework. Specifically, we address two research questions: What does science homework mean to exemplary African American science teachers? How do they approach science homework? Research Design A qualitative study was conducted, with data obtained from the following sources: (a) three open-ended, in-depth interviews with each exemplary teacher during the first year of the study, and (b) two focus group interviews with these teachers during the second year of the study. The participants were 8 exemplary African American science teachers in Grades 3–6 in the southeastern United States. Findings/Results Data revealed that these teachers shared a strong sense of urgency to use homework as an important vehicle in science learning. To help their students be successful with their homework, these teachers often provided additional provisions and used a variety of strategies to promote students’ interest in their homework. In addition, the teachers adapted an approach comparable to both Boykin's Afrocultural ethos (e.g., concerned with affect, expressive individualism, and verve) and “being a warm demander” (i.e., setting high expectations and insisting firmly yet respectfully that students meet those expectations). Conclusions These findings suggest that there is merit in integrating these two frameworks to better understand the perspectives of exemplary African American teachers toward science homework. These findings highlight the need to examine the perspectives of exemplary African American teachers toward secondary school science homework given that the poor achievement of African American students becomes more pronounced as they progress through school, and homework is found to be more strongly associated with secondary school students than elementary school students.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 21
Author(s):  
Afrilya Liliani Pabubung

This study aims to study educational background, teaching experience, training (education and training), and facilities on the motivation teachers, to find out their educational background, teaching experience, training (training), facilities and infrastructure, motivation of teachers towards the professionalism of teachers and to understand the educational background, teaching experience, training (training), and infrastructure for teacher professionalism through social science teachers in the Municipality of Parepare.This research is quantitative research, a type of correlational research. The data obtained were analyzed by two types of statistics, namely descriptive statistics and inferential statistics: Data Normality Test and Hypothesis Test.The results showed that: (i) there was a direct significant influence, teaching experience, training (training), and infrastructure directly related to the motivation of teachers Parepare City, (ii) educational background, teaching experience, training, facilities and infrastructure, and direct teacher motivation on the professionalism of teachers in Parepare City, (iii) educational background, teaching experience, training (training), and indirect infrastructure facilities for teacher professionalism through social science teachers in Parepare City 


2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-18
Author(s):  
Andrej Šorgo ◽  
Muhammet Usak ◽  
Milan Kubiatko ◽  
Jana Fančovičova ◽  
Pavol Prokop ◽  
...  

The purpose of this study was to measure the freshmen’s level of knowledge about genetics, evolution, human evolution, the nature of science, and opinions on evolution and the presence of non-scientific explanations among Czech, Slovakian, Slovenian and Turkish students. Determination of prior knowledge and pre-conceptions about these issues is important because they are filters to learning other related concepts. The results are going to be a starting point for developing teaching strategies concerning Darwinian evolution and preparing prospective science teachers for working with students in national and international contexts. A total of 994 first-year university students from the Czech Republic (276; 27.8%), Slovakia (212, 21.3%), Slovenia (217, 27.3%) and Turkey (235, 23.6%) participated in this study. The findings can be summarized as follows: knowledge especially that of the nature of science at the freshmen level was seriously flawed. Non-scientific explanations were present in high percentages. Both were regarded as barriers towards scientific reasoning and acceptance of general human evolution especially for students expressing orthodox religious beliefs. Key words: evolution, genetics, human evolution, nature of science, non-scientific explanations.


Author(s):  
Kelly C. Smith

This chapter assesses the ethical justification for attempting to message extraterrestrial intelligence (METI). Most of the discussion within the space community concerning METI has been about the level of risk it poses. Addressing the empirical dimensions of METI risk is a useful exercise, to be sure, but it is often unappreciated that these details just do not resolve key questions. In particular, if one looks at METI through an ethical lens, the central question is not what the level of risk is but whether those who are exposed to that risk agree to it. Rather than simply allowing anyone with access to the necessary resources do whatever they wish, people need to involve public policy, social science, humanities, and other fields of expertise to develop explicit best practices and then work to enshrine these in soft law.


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