Chautauqua Course
DAY-9
Evolution Education: A Delicate
Balance Among Science, Controversy and Pedagogy
GREGORY A. FORBES, Evolution Education Institute and
May xx-xx, 2010 in
Note:This course has course fee of $195 (in
addition to the$100 application fee), which covers course-related
expenses. Optional reduced rate lodging
will be available to early applicants.
Despite a long history of
debate, legal battles and court decisions supporting the teaching of
evolutionary science, there remains strong social pressure to replace the
instruction of evolution with nonscientific ideologies. As a result,
many teachers and professors are hesitant or afraid to teach evolution and
therefore many students are never exposed to the topic of evolution. As these students will be the teachers of
tomorrow, the problem is passed on to the next generation. Without a significant change in the way
schools and teachers deal with the issue of scientific evolution, there may be
little chance that this situation will be resolved.
This course will introduce educators to the socio-political factors that account for the continuation of this debate as well as to provide an overview of contemporary evolutionary theory and approaches to teaching this very important body of science. Workshop sessions include: 1) Why Teach Evolution? - An assessment of the value of evolution in a comprehensive science education 2) Evolution; What's All the Fuss After 3˝ Billion Years? - An examination of the socio-political basis of the debate 3) Evolution Primer - An overview of the unifying themes and concepts of evolutionary theory 4) Evidence of Evolution- A review of the empirical evidence of past and contemporary evolution 5) Responses to Anti-Evolutionist's Claims - A review of scientific and philosophical responses to statements and questions regarding the validity of evolution and the “fairness” of teaching evolution 6) Intelligent Design; Grasping for Scientific Straws 7) Educator's Resources for Teaching Evolution - A hands-on examination of resources, materials and strategies for teaching evolution.
Upon completion of this course,
participants will have a strong understanding of the background of this
continuing debate as well as a working knowledge of the foundations of
contemporary evolutionary theory along with the ability to respond to questions
from students, campus administration and the community regarding evolution
theory and the necessity of its inclusion in a comprehensive science education.
Pedagogical techniques introduced will allow workshop participants to
weave evolutionary theory as a thread throughout their science courses. The relative emphasis of each of these
topics within the course may be adjusted to best suit the interests of the
participants.
For college teachers of: all
disciplines. Prerequisites:
none.
Costs for 2010
Application fee: $100
Course fee: $195 [Due in March 2010]
Dr.
Forbes is the former Education
Director and co-founder of the Michigan Scientific Evolution Education
Initiative, a federally-funded initiative to provide science educators with the
content, pedagogy and support system to effectively teach scientific evolution.
He is also the Executive Director of the Evolution Education Institute
which takes the