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ERIC Number: EJ1052453
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-9266
EISSN: N/A
Biology Teachers' Conceptions of the Diversity of Life and the Historical Development of Evolutionary Concepts
da Silva, Paloma Rodrigues; de Andrade, Mariana A. Bologna Soares; de Andrade Caldeira, Ana Maria
Journal of Biological Education, v49 n1 p3-21 2015
Biology is a science that involves study of the diversity of living organisms. This diversity has always generated questions and has motivated cultures to seek plausible explanations for the differences and similarities between types of organisms. In biology teaching, these issues are addressed by adopting an evolutionary approach. The aim of this study was to compare the extent to which the beliefs of 20 public high school biology teachers in the Bauru region of São Paulo in Brazil exemplified the most significant historical concepts regarding evolution. Data from open-ended interviews with teachers were analysed and coded. The analysis of the interviews revealed how participating biology teachers understood and explained biological evolution. The assessment of teachers' conceptions about evolution indicated that many responses expressed current scientifically accepted concepts, such as transformism, natural selection, gradualism and common descent. However, some teachers also provided responses that combined scientific concepts with non-scientific notions, such as finalism, verticality and adaptation to the environment. Therefore, it is necessary to thoroughly investigate biology teachers' understanding of evolutionary processes.
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Brazil
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A