tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255808252082956251.post5902112744319101224..comments2024-02-16T01:48:30.016-08:00Comments on mathbionerd: Teaching evolution: what should the focus bemathbionerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17525536407206138695noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255808252082956251.post-29348181023543237742013-03-31T09:12:25.832-07:002013-03-31T09:12:25.832-07:00I think we should try for all levels.
I was actua...I think we should try for all levels.<br /><br />I was actually very inspired after going to the high school, because the high school teachers (at least here in Berkeley, which is, I know, a biased sample) are very interested in making sure what they teach is accurate. I was asked for suggestions for additional teaching materials, and disappointed that I didn't have any immediate references for teaching genetic drift. I think, coming up with some simple examples and hands-on projects, like Holly's, to have available for high school teachers is a good place to start.<br /><br />I am very happy to work with University students as well. I think many of the teaching examples might be applicable to both high school and intro undergrads, but I think undergrads may already be entrenched in the teachings (i.e. evolution is natural selection) they received in high school. <br /><br />Certainly it would be good to reach grad students, postdocs, and professors, but my inclination is that they may become increasingly difficult to reach.mathbionerdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17525536407206138695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255808252082956251.post-39036738167521783312013-03-31T05:16:29.407-07:002013-03-31T05:16:29.407-07:00I agree with you that there's much more to evo...I agree with you that there's much more to evolution than natural selection. I'm a big fan of random genetic drift.<br /><br />Is it possible to teach this in high school? It requires teachers that share our opinion and I'm not sure there are many high school teachers who understand evolution.<br /><br />I've been trying for years to get UNIVERSITY students to understand the difference between evolution and natural selection and that hasn't been working very well. Maybe we should concentrate on educating university students, graduate students, postdocs, and professors?Larry Moranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05756598746605455848noreply@blogger.com