ERIC Number: EJ785176
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2007-Oct
Pages: 25
Abstractor: Author
Reference Count: 0
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1046-560X
Does Increasing Biology Teacher Knowledge of Evolution and the Nature of Science Lead to Greater Preference for the Teaching of Evolution in Schools?
Nehm, Ross H.; Schonfeld, Irvin Sam
Journal of Science Teacher Education, v18 n5 p699-723 Oct 2007
This study investigated whether or not an increase in secondary science teacher knowledge about evolution and the nature of science gained from completing a graduate-level evolution course was associated with greater preference for the teaching of evolution in schools. Forty-four precertified secondary biology teachers participated in a 14-week intervention designed to address documented misconceptions identified by a precourse instrument. The course produced statistically significant gains in teacher knowledge of evolution and the nature of science and a significant decrease in misconceptions about evolution and natural selection. Nevertheless, teachers' postcourse preference positions remained unchanged; the majority of science teachers still preferred that antievolutionary ideas be taught in school.
Descriptors: Evolution, Teacher Characteristics, Scientific Principles, Biology, Science Teachers, Misconceptions, Secondary School Teachers, Program Attitudes, Attitude Change, Program Effectiveness, Creationism, Educational Objectives, Teacher Education
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers: N/A

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