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Evolution: Are There Still Misunderstandings in the 21 st Century?

Evolution: Are There Still Misunderstandings in the 21 st Century?. Allison Haynes EDRE 5870. Research Questions. What misconceptions if any about natural selection and evolutionary theory do elementary and secondary pre-service teachers hold?

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Evolution: Are There Still Misunderstandings in the 21 st Century?

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  1. Evolution: Are There Still Misunderstandings in the 21st Century? Allison Haynes EDRE 5870

  2. Research Questions • What misconceptions if any about natural selection and evolutionary theory do elementary and secondary pre-service teachers hold? • Do those misconceptions affect the amount of emphasis that the pre-service teachers feel should be placed on the teaching of natural selection and evolution?

  3. Participants • 6 Pre-service teachers from the University of Wyoming and Oklahoma State University. • 2 males; 4 females • All were either science majors or biology education majors • Average age: 30.5 years

  4. Results • Questions were measured on a Likert type scale and were recoded where necessary. • Questions measured the participants acceptance or non-acceptance concerning misconceptions of biological evolution. • Questions were then correlated with the participants perceived knowledge of evolution.

  5. Results Continued

  6. Results Continued

  7. Misconceptions Held by Pre-service Teachers • 83.3% believe traits acquired by parents can be passed on to offspring. • 83.3% think that population size does not have an effect on evolution. • 50% are unsure of the state that traits appear at random. • 50% do not understand that humans did not evolve from apes

  8. Misconceptions Held by Pre-service Teachers • 33.3% believe that evolution can cause traits to change during an organism’s lifetime. • 33.3% do not understand the scientific definition of a theory • 33.3% believe individuals can adapt to the environment. • 33.3% do not understand “survival of the fit” does not exist.

  9. Knowledge of Natural Selection and Evolutionary Theory • 17% of pre-service teachers stated they felt their knowledge of natural selection and evolutionary was average. • 83% felt their knowledge was good.

  10. Emphasis in the Classroom • 20% felt the concepts associated with natural selection and evolutionary theory should be at least moderately emphasized. • 80% of pre-service teachers felt these concepts should be strongly emphasized.

  11. Conclusions • Many of the pre-service teachers we are sending into the field do not have a clear understanding of the concepts of natural selection and evolution. • They are overrating their knowledge of the concepts of natural selection and evolution. • They do feel that this is a topic that should be at least moderately addressed in the classroom.

  12. Implications • If they do not understand the concepts they will pass their misunderstandings on to their students. • Passing on these misconceptions will continue to result in poor performance by students on standardized tests.

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