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Evolution Education Institute Professional Development
New for 2006-
Module #5;
Why Should We Teach and Why Should Our Students Study Evolution?
In-Service and Pre-Service Modules for 2006
The workshops listed below
represent standardized workshops that can be offered either
independently or in combination. The time requirements for each
presentation are listed. The minimum presentation time represents the
minimum time required to present the material without questions from the
participants or discussion. The optimal time requirement includes time
for questions and brief discussion. The greatest benefit would be
obtained by allowing as much time as possible for questions and
discussions following each individual presentation. Custom presentations
and workshops are also available; contact the
EEI Education
Director.
Module
#1- Evolution Primer
Designed to provide an overview of
the basic and unifying principles of scientific evolution to teachers
and pre-service teaching students with a limited background in this
area. The presentation emphasizes the nature of science in order to
establish an understanding of the context in which evolution is studied
and should be taught. This module can be modified for presentation in
the classroom.
Time
Requirement-
Minimum, 90 minutes; Optimal, 120 minutes.
Notes-
This module is recommended if only a single module is to be offered.
Module #1 is designed to articulate with #2 although Module #2 can be offered
independently.
Module #2-
Evidence In Support of Evolution
Designed to provide empirical evidence that scientific evolution has
occurred in the past and is continuing to this day. The module
emphasizes the nature of science in order to establish an understanding
of the context in which evolution is studied and should be taught.
Evidence and examples are presented that can be used in the classroom at
the middle and high school level. This workshop can be modified for
presentation in the classroom.
Time
Requirement-
Minimum, 90 minutes; Optimal, 120 minutes (When presented along with
Module #1, 90 minutes would be optimal)
Notes-
This module can be presented independently of Module #1.
However, for optimal effectiveness, Modules #1 and #2 should be
offered sequentially. When presented sequentially, the repetitive
sections of #2 will be omitted.
Module
#3- Responses to Anti-Evolutionist’s Claims
Designed to provide teachers with scientifically-based responses to the
most commonly made claims against scientific evolution and its
instruction. Although this module can be easily modified for use in
the classroom, its primary intent is for the instructor.
Time Requirement-
Minimum, 90 minutes; Optimal, 120 minutes.
Module
#4- Why Teach
Evolution?
An overview of the curriculum framework/science standards for evolution
education in the state that the module is to be offered along with a
survey of the position statements by national educational, scientific,
civil liberties and religious organizations advocating a comprehensive
evolution education in our nation's schools. A survey of public
attitudes towards evolution education is also presented. This
module provides education professionals with the data that they
may require in order to feel confident and enthusiastic in their
decision to present evolution as a part of their comprehensive science
curriculum. The module would be of particular benefit to
administrators, curriculum directors and board members.
Time
Requirement- Minimum, 45 minutes; Optimal, 60 minutes.
Module #5- Why Should We Teach
and Why Should Our Students Study Evolution?
This module includes and expands upon the content from Module #4 "Why
Teach Evolution" and introduces the applications of evolutionary theory
to everyday life. Utilitarian applications of evolutionary theory
relating to agriculture, understanding and treating disease,
pharmaceutical development, environmental conservation, biotechnology,
human behavior, market dynamics and understanding human physiology are
introduced.
Time
Requirement- Minimum, 60 minutes; Optimal, 90 minutes.
Module
#6- Evolution; What's the Fuss After 3 1/2 Billion Years?
An examination of the socio-political reasons that evolution education
has and continues to be a very controversial topic in education and in
the socio-political arena. Topics presented include the
relationships between science and religion, obstacles to the acceptance
of evolution, public attitudes towards evolution education and the
evolution of the anti-evolution movement. This presentation is
appropriate for science teachers as well as social studies teachers and
general audiences with an interest in the topic.
Time
Requirement-
Minimum, 90 minutes; Optimal, 120 minutes.
Module #7-
Science, Pseudoscience and Just Plain
Nonsense; Helping our Students Tell the Difference
Our students will enter the
most scientifically-based society that civilization has ever witnessed.
Correspondingly, our students must be able to distinguish between valid
science and claims masquerading as science. This module is
designed to illustrate how our students can learn to distinguish between
genuine scientific conclusions, pseudoscientific claims and just plain
nonsense. Strategies are introduced to help students evaluate the
validity and robustness of scientific claims in an attempt to make them
informed consumers of science.
Time Requirement-
Minimum, 60 minutes; Optimal, 90 minutes.
Module #8- Teaching About
Evolution and the Nature of Science
A model is presented which
emphasizes the nature of science as the vehicle by which evolution can
be introduced most effectively. Higher order learning strategies
are introduced that serve as effective tools to facilitate a deeper
understanding of selection theory. Strategies are presented that
enable teachers to produce a learning environment that is conducive to
the presentation of evolution, a topic that may be perceived as
controversial or threatening by some students. Teachers are
introduced to strategies employed by students attempting to reconcile
perceived paradigm/belief conflicts e.g., their balance between faith
and science. Whereas such paradigm conflicts may encumber the
student's science education, recommendations for dealing with such
paradigm conflicts are introduced.
Time Requirement-
Minimum, 60 minutes; Optimal, 90 minutes.
Module #9-
Evolution Education Resources
An introduction to the many resources available to educators interested
in incorporating evolution into their curriculum for the first time or
expanding existing units. Participants will be introduced to
and visit a variety of websites that provide complete lesson plans along
with downloadable instructional materials including exercises and
activities for the laboratory, field, classroom and home. In
addition to on-line resources, participants will also be introduced to
the numerous printed and software resources available. Note:
Access to a room with multiple on-line computers would increase the
effectiveness of this workshop. Otherwise, a single internet
connection would be necessary.
Time
Requirement- Minimum, 45
minutes; Optimal, 60 minutes.
Module
#10- Important Legal Decisions Regarding the Teaching of Evolution
An overview of state and federal court decisions that have had a
significant impact upon the instruction of evolution in American
schools. This module will also be of value to administrators in
education as well as
Board of Education members.
Time Requirement-
Minimum, 45 minutes; Optimal, 60 minutes
The
Educator's Institute
The Educator's Institute is a comprehensive
approach to learning about the nature of science, evolutionary science
and the pedagogy for teaching these topics. The Educator's Institute
incorporates modules 1-8 usually presented during a period of several days or
over several weeks. An Educator's Institute provides a greater
opportunity for an in-depth exchange of ideas, discussion and
exploration of teaching activities than does the individual module or
workshop format. Graduate course credit is available for
Educator's Institute participants.
Time Requirement- Minimum, 15-17 hrs; Optimal 20 hrs.
spread over multiple sessions.
Hosting
and Attending EEI Workshops
EEI workshops, Educator's
Institutes and lectures are available to both public and private educational organizations as well as
community organizations with a demonstrated interest in the mission of
the EEI.
Hosting:
Organizations interested in sponsoring an EEI workshop, lecture or
institute should contact EEI to determine the associated fees. Hosting
fees are determined based upon the number of modules presented as well
as the travel expenses for the EEI facilitator. In working towards
the EEI mission, all attempts are made to minimize the costs associated
with each presentation.
Attending: If you would
like to attend an EEI event and are not associated with an organization
that is sponsoring an EEI event, you may be able to attend workshops
offered by other Districts or organizations at minimal or no cost.
Check the listing of Upcoming Workshops at this web-site for offerings
in your area.
EEI
Presentation Formats
Lectures: Designed to
present information in a more time restricted fashion e.g. 60-90
minutes. This format will facilitate questions with limited
discussion.
Workshops: Designed to present information when time is
not a major limiting factor. This format will facilitate a more
extensive discussion period along with hands-on experiences with
activities that can be used in the classroom. Workshops include
the presentation of several units.
Institutes: Designed to provide an in-depth exposure to
evolution content, pedagogy and instructional resources.
Institutes incorporate either full day or multi-session presentations
that can be spread over several days or weeks.
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