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High School Students’ Perceptions of Evolution Instruction: Acceptance and Evolution Learning Experiences

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Abstract

Evolution is an important and sometimes controversial component of high school biology. In this study, we used a mixed methods approach to explore students’ evolution acceptance and views of evolution teaching and learning. Students explained their acceptance and rejection of evolution in terms of evidence and conflicts with religion and authority. Students largely supported the teaching of evolution and offered several reasons for its inclusion in high school biology. Students also offered several suggestions for improving evolution instruction. Evolution acceptors’ and rejecters’ views of evolution teaching and learning differed in a number of respects, and these differences may be explained using border crossing as a theoretical lens. Relevant implications for evolution instruction are discussed.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Teaching Leadership and Curriculum Studies, Kent State University, 404 White Hall, Kent, OH, 44242, USA

    Lisa A. Donnelly

  2. GSEAP, Canisius Hall, Fairfield University, 1073 North Benson Rd, Fairfield, CT, 06824, USA

    Mahsa Kazempour & Aidin Amirshokoohi

Authors
  1. Lisa A. Donnelly
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  2. Mahsa Kazempour
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  3. Aidin Amirshokoohi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lisa A. Donnelly.

Appendix: Likert Evolution Learning Experience Items

Appendix: Likert Evolution Learning Experience Items

  1. 1.

    Evolution should not be taught in high school biology.

  2. 2.

    I like learning about evolution in class.

  3. 3.

    My biology teacher thinks students should learn about evolution in high school biology.

  4. 4.

    Most people in my family think evolution is true.

  5. 5.

    My biology teacher does not think evolution is true.

  6. 6.

    In biology class, we did labs about evolution.

  7. 7.

    In biology class, we watched movies about evolution.

  8. 8.

    We mostly learned about evolution when my teacher lectured about it.

  9. 9.

    Evolution came up in many class discussions in biology class.

  10. 10.

    I had chances to talk about my personal views on evolution in biology class.

Note: Response categories: strongly agree, agree, disagree, and strongly disagree.

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Donnelly, L.A., Kazempour, M. & Amirshokoohi, A. High School Students’ Perceptions of Evolution Instruction: Acceptance and Evolution Learning Experiences. Res Sci Educ 39, 643–660 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-008-9097-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-008-9097-6

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