Evolution: Education and Outreach
By Tessa M. Andrews, Steven T. Kalinowski, and Mary J. Leonard
“Are Humans Evolving?” A Classroom Discussion to Change Student Misconceptions Regarding Natural Selection”
Publisher: Research Gate
4(3)
Pp. 456-466
2011
Are Humans Evolving?” A Classroom Discussion to Change Student Misconceptions Regarding Natural Selection
Type: Empirical
Data collection method: class discussion
Number of subjects, range: Small — 10 or fewer
Grade and age of subjects: 6th-8th grade — under 13-14 years
- Reproductive success (not just survival) needs to be considered when we think about selection.
- Individuals do not evolve or change their own genes.
- Evolution is a continuous process.
- The environment doesn’t directly change DNA sequences.
- The environment doesn’t directly cause evolution.
- Evolution takes place over a long time period, not one generation.
- Natural selection no longer occurs in first world countries OR that selection only happens when organisms die.
- Traits that are used are retained and those that are not used are lost.
- All organisms in a species are essentially alike.
- Evolution equals speciation.
- Selection has always occurred and so will continue to occur.