1. Challenges of Teaching Evolution Rachel Fisher June 19, 2014

2. One major challenge….. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rikEWu BrkHchttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rikEWu BrkHc

3. Challenges in the U.S. Gallup Poll (2012) – 46% agree that ‘God created humans in their present form’ 1 in 10 undergraduates think that ‘evolution is not a scientifically valid theory’ (Moore, 2009) 62% of biology majors were taught only evolution in high school; 22% were taught evolution and creationism; 13% were taught neither ‘Avoid’ the controversy

4. What are your challenges? Write the number of years you have taught on a note card Find two other people who differ in experience from you (groups of 3) Discuss/write the following: –Challenges encountered –Effective/ineffective ways of dealing with challenges –Create a visual that categorizes/describes challenges (e.g. pedagogical, conceptual, cultural, political challenges, etc.) and ways of dealing with them

5. Quick Presentations….. One person from each group briefly discusses visual –Challenges –Strategies –Questions

6. Sources for Further Reading…. Gallup (2012) poll on evolution: http://www.gallup.com/poll/170822/believ e-creationist-view-human-origins.aspx http://www.gallup.com/poll/170822/believ e-creationist-view-human-origins.aspx Understanding Evolution: http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/co ntroversy_faq.php http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/co ntroversy_faq.php National Center for Science Education (NCSE) Cans and Can’ts of Teaching Evolution: http://ncse.com/evolution/education/cans- cants-teaching-evolution http://ncse.com/evolution/education/cans- cants-teaching-evolution

7. NCSE’s Handling/Facing Challenges: http://ncse.com/evolution/education/handli ng-challenges; http://ncse.com/taking- action/facing-challenges-to-evolution- education http://ncse.com/evolution/education/handli ng-challengeshttp://ncse.com/taking- action/facing-challenges-to-evolution- education Books: –Evolution, Creationism, and the Battle to Control America’s Classroom (Berkman and Plutzer, 2010) –Evolution vs. Creationism: An Introduction (Scott, 2010) –Feel free to contact me at rachelfisher@email.arizona.edu for further resources on these challenges (historical, scientific, religious, etc.) rachelfisher@email.arizona.edu