ERIC Number: EJ1195332
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018-Nov
Pages: 3
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0036-8555
EISSN: N/A
Idea Bank: Evolutionary Medicine in the Classroom
Moeller, Kara; Friedman, Mark
Science Teacher, v86 n4 p18-20 Nov 2018
Evolution can be a difficult concept for students, even though it is an organizing principle in biology. It can also be a challenge for teachers to cover evolution properly (or at all) in the classroom, whether due to personal attitudes or lack of knowledge or confidence in the material (Rutledge and Mitchell 2002). Even in some states where teaching standards include evolution, over 40% of teachers may avoid covering it or may only mention it briefly. The authors of this article suggest that teachers use the interaction of evolution and human health in the classroom as an organizing thread within biology, health, and physioanatomy. Such an approach teaches students how evolution affects their own lives, improves understanding of evolution, and helps unify learning goals across biology under the lens of evolution. It may also help motivate teachers to better understand evolution, cover it more fully in the classroom, and to develop confidence in content knowledge. EvMed, is the term used for the application of evolutionary questions related to health. The term incorporates what is known about evolution to improve understanding of health, why people contract certain illnesses, thereby helping us to better understand how to prevent and treat disease. EvMed courses are spreading in universities, but EvMed is not a common focus in middle or high school courses. The authors of this article suggest that grade 8-12 teachers use EvMed examples in general biology, AP biology, health, and physioanatomy. Health-based examples can make evolution less daunting for students and teachers (Scharmann 2009), and including evolution-based views of anatomy, physiology, or health provides a strong underlying theme to link lessons about the body.
Descriptors: Evolution, Science Instruction, Health, Biology, Anatomy, Physiology, Teaching Methods, Scientific Concepts, Concept Formation, Diseases, Health Promotion, Secondary School Science, Middle Schools, High Schools
National Science Teachers Association. 1840 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201-3000. Tel: 800-722-6782; Fax: 703-243-3924; e-mail: membership@nsta.org; Web site: http://www.nsta.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive; Guides - Classroom - Teacher
Education Level: Secondary Education; Middle Schools; Junior High Schools; High Schools
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A