Teaching Evolution

Evolution Project overview

The Evolution project is a seven-part, eight-hour television broadcast series, an extensive Web site, and a companion book published in 2001 by acclaimed science writer Carl Zimmer (Harper Collins Publishers, New York, NY. ISBN 0060199067).

Evolution plays a critical role in our daily lives, yet it is one of the most overlooked principles of life. It is the mechanism that determines who lives, who dies, and who gets the opportunity to pass traits on to the next generation, and the next, and the next ...

The Evolution project's goals are to heighten understanding of evolution and how it works; to dispel common misunderstandings; to illuminate why it is relevant to our lives; to improve its teaching; to encourage a national dialogue; and to prompt participation in all aspects of the project.

Series description

Evolution is a seven-part television series that travels around the world to examine evolutionary science and the profound effect it has had on society and culture. From the genius and torment of Charles Darwin to the vast changes that spawned the tree of life, from the role of mass extinction in the survival of species to the power of sex to drive evolutionary change, Evolution is fascinating and far-reaching in scope. The series also explores the emergence of consciousness, the success of humans, and the perceived conflict between science and religion in understanding human life.

The Purdue University Department of Biological Sciences offers a Professional Development Course for middle school and high school teachers that draws upon the broadcast series, interactive Web activities, teacher methodology videos, and multimedia Web library to provide a vibrant, content-rich learning experience. Take this eight-session professional development course, where you'll examine major evolutionary concepts, explore teaching methodologies, and address obstacles to teaching evolution. Learn more about taking this course.

BIOL595E Teaching Evolution: Online course for teachers
Preview the course materials.
Instructor: Dr. Nancy Pelaez
Estimated enrollment: 20

This online course will be taught in the spring 2008 for 3 units credit in Biological Sciences. Purdue students who take this course will meet on Monday, January 7, 2008 from 6:00-8:50 pm in LILY G424. Teachers who take the course as a Continuing Education student must contact Nancy Pelaez by 5 pm on Monday January 21, 2008.

The course will help teachers deepen their understanding of evolutionary concepts, develop instructional strategies, and address obstacles in the teaching of evolution. Students who successfully complete the course will know: (1) The nature of scientific processes, (2) The value and limitations of scientific process, (3) The scientist's use of terms such as fact, law, theory, and hypothesis, (4) How multiple forms of evidence are used to test theories, (5) Applications of scientific processes in different situations, and (6) Understand how and why evolution is a cornerstone of biology.

Participants will (a) Explore teaching methodologies, and address obstacles to teaching evolution (b) Examine how student misconceptions about evolution can be raised and addressed, (c) Understand how assessment strategies are integrated into inquiry-based science lessons, (d) Examine how questions facilitate diverse student thinking about and discussion of science, (e) Identify what it takes to develop a respectful, productive science learning environment, and (f) Understand legal and professional support for teaching evolution.

Contact Dr. Nancy Pelaez at (765) 496-3261 or npelaez@purdue.edu for details.

College of Science
Department of Biological Sciences