Evolution in Action in the Classroom: Engaging Students in Science Practices to Investigate and Explain Evolution by Natural Selection

Abstract

Current reform efforts at all levels of biology education advocate for the integration of science content and practices and emphasize the importance of phenomena-driven inquiry. We describe an instructional sequence for teaching evolution by natural selection that addresses these goals by engaging students in parallel selection experiments with biological and digital model organisms. These activities address multiple learning objectives in the AP Biology Curriculum Framework and the Next Generation Science Standards while engaging students in authentic science practices to learn about natural selection. We also report results from pre and post assessments in an AP Biology class which demonstrate students' learning gains and increased acceptance of evolution.