Teaching Evolution: A special presentation for Just gotta evolve Workshop February 12, 2010 Kimberly Bilica, UTSA

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

newones/2003/ Misconceptions about evolution abound!

Evolution is part of our state curriculum standards! § 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. accessed 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 Discovery Institute & Intelligent Design

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: )

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

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

2010 Elementary Science TEKS: Stepping Up Into Evolution K-5 TEKS #10 Organisms and Environments Investigations K-1: 80% of instructional time 2-3: 60% of instructional time 4-5: 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 Investigations 40% 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 Hypothesis Fact Theory Law Observation Draw a flow chart map that shows the relationship between these concepts. For example: X  Y  Z W. McComas, The Myths of Science

Grade 4, introduction

Grade 7, introduction

Biology, introduction

Presentation Overview

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

Lessons on Evolution & NOS ENSI/SENSI –Evolution and the Nature of Science Institutes website Teaching About Evolution and the Nature of Science –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 DO NOT TOUCH OR MOVE THE CUBE! What is on the bottom side of the cube? See Activity 1 Teaching About Evolution and the Nature of Science Chapter 6 Activities

Many thanks for your attention!

Teaching Evolution: A special presentation for Just gotta evolve Workshop February 12, 2010 Kimberly Bilica, UTSA