ERIC Number: EJ1145965
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017-Jun
Pages: 5
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-9584
EISSN: N/A
"Group Intelligence": An Active Learning Exploration of Diversity in Evolution
Parsons, Christopher J.; Salaita, Meisa K.; Hughes, Catherine H.; Lynn, David G.; Fristoe, Adam; Fristoe, Ariel; Grover, Martha A.
Journal of Chemical Education, v94 n6 p717-721 Jun 2017
"Group Intelligence" is an active learning, inquiry-based activity that introduces prebiotic chemistry, emergent complexity, and diversity's importance to adaptability across scales. Students explore the molecular emergence of order and function through theatrical exercises and games. Through 20 min of audio instruction and a discussion of roughly the same length, "Group Intelligence" teaches students about emergent function kinesthetically by guiding them through a series of increasingly complex and cooperative exercises analogous to molecular behaviors and interactions. The program was assessed in six classrooms at two schools; students completed surveys either before or after participating in the "Group Intelligence" activity. Those who completed the survey afterward correctly answered questions about diversity in living systems, molecular characteristics, and molecular assembly 13-26% more frequently than those who completed the survey before the activity. Through novel presentation and active engagement, "Group Intelligence" communicates content in NGS standards, making abstract ideas in modern science accessible.
Descriptors: Biochemistry, Active Learning, Inquiry, Molecular Biology, Cooperative Learning, Kinesthetic Methods, Student Surveys, Molecular Structure, Evolution, Hands on Science, Problem Solving, High School Students, Pretests Posttests, Science Activities, Scientific Concepts
Division of Chemical Education, Inc and ACS Publications Division of the American Chemical Society. 1155 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 800-227-5558; Tel: 202-872-4600; e-mail: eic@jce.acs.org; Web site: http://pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF); National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: CHE1004570; CHE1504217