The story of biology is far more complex and fascinating than straightforward facts or neatly labeled diagrams of structures and systems. Although exams can motivate students, the key to using these extrinsic motivators to increase student understanding lies in the way the assessments are designed and what they measure. Those involved in…

New science standards and reform recommendations spanning grades K--16 focus on a limited set of key scientific concepts from each discipline that all students should know. They also emphasize the integration of these concepts with science practices so that students learn not only the "what" of science but also the "how" and…

Understanding students' thinking about scientific theories is fundamental to the development of effective instructional strategies designed to foster scientific literacy. We conducted a study to determine student acceptance of important biological theories and to explore the relationships between their acceptance of scientific theories and their…

Demonstrates the use of geological concepts and principles as an effective approach to teaching evolution and in turn the nature of science and the scientific method in the classroom. This approach to teaching makes it easier for students to understand the basic concepts of evolution which is really important in order to understand nature as it…

Explains how an understanding of evolution's heuristic, or explanatory, advantage can inform today's evolution/creationism debates. (WRM)

Discusses the National Academy of Science's recommendations on teaching evolution and the nature of science. Describes a biology college course that uses evolution and history of life as the curriculum framework with an extensive unit on the history and philosophy of science. (Contains 14 references.) (ASK)

Describes the use of a creationist-derived lesson plan in a nonmajor zoology class to demonstrate students' grasp of scientific concepts and principles. (WRM)

The concept of paraphyly is defined and its importance in the teaching of evolution and taxonomy is discussed. Examples are included to illustrate this concept. A list of 14 references is provided. (CW)

Critically reviews creationist ideas on the geology of the Grand Canyon, especially those found in "Grand Canyon: Monument to Catastrophe." Contains 27 references. (WRM)

Provides an exercise to promote students' understanding of the commonality of certain basic questions to all of biology and demonstrate the power of using different approaches with very different assumptions. (Contains 15 references.) (ASK)

In 1999, William Dembski became director of the newly established Michael Polanyi Center at Baylor University, thanks to the support of Baylor's president Robert Sloan. The center was, as Dembski observed, "the first intelligent design think tank at a research university." As such, it fulfilled a crucial objective of the "intelligent design"…

Modern thought is most dependent upon the influence of Charles Darwin. Discusses Darwin's contributions to the fields of evolutionary biology, philosophy of science, and modern zeitgeist. (WRM)

Surveys reveal that many in our society have an inadequate and inaccurate understanding of evolution (Alters & Alters, 2001). Much of this can be traced directly to popular misconceptions about the nature of science. This, in turn, can be linked to misrepresentation by those opposed to evolution, although inadequate or ineffective treatment by ill…

Discusses the strengths of the many lines of scientific evidence supporting the idea of human evolution and the importance of the agreement that exists between them. Argues that using humans as a case study in evolution allows educators to illustrate broader aspects of the nature of science and how the overall strength of any scientific…

Presents a model for teaching the principles of evolution. The model presents three major factors that direct changes and affect an individual's fitness. Uses and adaptations of the model are suggested. (Author/SA)