The Effects of Modeling-Based Pedagogy on Conceptual Understanding, Scientific Reasoning Skills, and Attitudes towards Science of English Learners
Malone, Kathy L.
The use of scientific modeling has been shown to be highly effective in the learning o...
more
The Effects of Modeling-Based Pedagogy on Conceptual Understanding, Scientific Reasoning Skills, and Attitudes towards Science of English Learners
Science Education. Sep 2023 107(5):1269-1301.
The use of scientific modeling has been shown to be highly effective in the learning of science content in multiple disciplines for non-English Learners (EL). However, the benefits of using this pedagogy with ELs have not been heavily explored. This article discusses the use of modeling-based evolution and population ecology pedagogical units in a sheltered biology high school class for ELs. A sheltered EL class is one where only ELs are enrolled and they learn both language and science concurrently. This article specifies the at the scaffolding used to adjust the pedagogy for this unique set of students. The effectiveness of this method was assessed using a convergent mixed method case study design. Data was collected using assessments in content, scientific reasoning and attitudes towards science (i.e., self-efficacy, fascination, and valuation of science) as well as teacher interviews, and classroom observations. The cases were an EL modeling-based sheltered biology class, and two non-EL inquiry-based biology classes, all at the upper secondary level. The EL modeling cohort achieved posttest comparison content scores that were not significantly different from the non-EL cohort and significantly higher posttest scientific reasoning scores. The effect sizes in both of these cases were much larger for the EL cohort. The affective assessments demonstrated intriguing results with the EL cohort having a greater fascination with science than the non-EL cohort but a decline in self-efficacy. Both cohorts valued science to the same extent. This methodology holds promise in helping to decrease the science gap between ELs and non-ELs taught with inquiry-based pedagogies.
Content provider:
ERIC
Evolutionary Medicine: An Introduction
Academic Journal
|
American Biology Teacher. Feb 2023 85(2):80-84.
Please log in to see more details
Beeson, Chay;Kosal, Erica
Academic Journal
|
American Biology Teacher. Feb 2023 85(2):80-84.
Please log in to see more details
Evolutionary medicine is a growing area of research and practice; however, it is not w...
more
Evolutionary Medicine: An Introduction
American Biology Teacher. Feb 2023 85(2):80-84.
Evolutionary medicine is a growing area of research and practice; however, it is not widely discussed in introductory biology courses. Because of the interest in human biology , using evolutionary medicine is a great way to hold students' interest, placing topics in context, making the subject of evolution relevant. Too often students lose interest in learning about evolution because they think it is not pertinent. The pedagogical technique of using case studies in the classroom engages students in a way that will grow their understanding of topics, in this case evolution , as well as helping students with critical thinking and process skills, growing their scientific literacy. The following case study is appropriate for an introductory biology course that focuses on evolution , an AP biology course, or an introductory evolution course for undergraduates. The case focuses on the evolutionary perspectives of what might be causing human ear infections, as well as the role of beneficial species of gut bacteria in maintaining a healthy immune system. It is advantageous for students to know about natural selection and coevolution before using the case study .
Content provider:
ERIC
Thinking Evolutionarily : Evolution Education Across the Life Sciences: Summary of a Convocation
National Research Council;Division on Earth and Life Studies;Board on Life ...
Evolution is the central unifying theme of biology. Yet today, more than a century and...
more
Thinking Evolutionarily : Evolution Education Across the Life Sciences: Summary of a Convocation
Evolution is the central unifying theme of biology . Yet today, more than a century and a half after Charles Darwin proposed the idea of evolution through natural selection, the topic is often relegated to a handful of chapters in textbooks and a few class sessions in introductory biology courses, if covered at all. In recent years, a movement has been gaining momentum that is aimed at radically changing this situation. On October 25-26, 2011, the Board on Life Sciences of the National Research Council and the National Academy of Sciences held a national convocation in Washington, DC, to explore the many issues associated with teaching evolution across the curriculum. Thinking Evolutionarily: Evolution Education Across the Life Sciences: Summary of a Convocation summarizes the goals, presentations, and discussions of the convocation. The goals were to articulate issues, showcase resources that are currently available or under development, and begin to develop a strategic plan for engaging all of the sectors represented at the convocation in future work to make evolution a central focus of all courses in the life sciences, and especially into introductory biology courses at the college and high school levels, though participants also discussed learning in earlier grades and life-long learning. Thinking Evolutionarily: Evolution Education Across the Life Sciences: Summary of a Convocation covers the broader issues associated with learning about the nature, processes, and limits of science, since understanding evolutionary science requires a more general appreciation of how science works. This report explains the major themes that recurred throughout the convocation, including the structure and content of curricula, the processes of teaching and learning about evolution , the tensions that can arise in the classroom, and the target audiences for evolution education.
2012
Subject terms:
Evolution (Biology) - Teaching - Evolution (Biology)--Study and teaching--United States--Congresses - Science--Study and teaching--United States--Congresses - Education--CurriculaContent provider:
eBook Collection (EBSCOhost)
eBook
The trial of the century / Gregg Jarrett with Don Yaeger.
Book
|
2023
Book
|
2023
Available at LC Collection (KF224.S3 J37 2023)
Request it
Implementation and Evaluation of the Model of the Use of Evolutionary Trees (MUET) Curricular Module in an Introductory Organismal Biology Course
Academic Journal
|
International Journal of Science Education. 2022 44(15):2381-2396.
Please log in to see more details
Kong, Yi;Apodaca, Jennifer;Olimpo, Jeffrey T.
Academic Journal
|
International Journal of Science Education. 2022 44(15):2381-2396.
Please log in to see more details
The Model of the Use of Evolutionary Trees (MUET)-curricular module that systematicall...
more
Implementation and Evaluation of the Model of the Use of Evolutionary Trees (MUET) Curricular Module in an Introductory Organismal Biology Course
International Journal of Science Education. 2022 44(15):2381-2396.
The Model of the Use of Evolutionary Trees (MUET)-curricular module that systematically and comprehensively introduces the learning of evolutionary trees for the lower-level college students was developed and implemented in an introductory organismal biology laboratory course at a mid-size, doctoral degree-granting institution. A quasi-experimental, nonrandomised control group, pretest--posttest research design was used to assess students' improvement of their tree-thinking ability. In this study , the students in the MUET-curricular module were the experimental group (N = 174) and the students in the traditional curricular module were the control group (N = 170). Paired t-test results revealed a statistically significant increase in students' tree-thinking ability in the MUET-curricular module (t(173) = -4.38; p < 0.001). Wilcoxon signed rank test results demonstrated a statistically significant increase in students' self-reported perceptions of their tree-thinking ability in the cognitive dimension in the MUET-curricular module (z = -5.68, p < 0.01, r = -0.32). Results show that the MUET-curricular module can be used in the introductory biology contexts as an effective teaching resource in the teaching and learning of tree-thinking.
Content provider:
ERIC
A course in evolutionary biology [microform] : engaging students in the "practice" of evolution / Cynthia Passmore, James Stewart.
Book
|
A course in evolutionary biology [microform] : engaging students in the "practice" of evolution / Cynthia Passmore, James Stewart.; 01/01/2000
Please log in to see more details
Passmore, Cynthia
Book
|
A course in evolutionary biology [microform] : engaging students in the "practice" of evolution / Cynthia Passmore, James Stewart.; 01/01/2000
Please log in to see more details
A course in evolutionary biology [microform] : engaging students in the "practice" of evolution / Cynthia Passmore, James Stewart.
A course in evolutionary biology [microform] : engaging students in the "practice" of evolution / Cynthia Passmore, James Stewart.; 01/01/2000
Subject terms:
Evolution (Biology) -- Study and teaching (Secondary) - Natural selection.Content provider:
Government Printing Office Catalog
Randomized Controlled Trial of a Cohesive Eight-Week Evolution Unit That Incorporates Molecular Genetics and Principles of the 'Next Generation Science Standards'
Drits-Esser, D.;Hardcastle, J.;Bass, K. M.;Homburger, S.;Malone, M.;Pompei,...
In response to calls for curricular materials that integrate molecular genetics and ev...
more
Randomized Controlled Trial of a Cohesive Eight-Week Evolution Unit That Incorporates Molecular Genetics and Principles of the 'Next Generation Science Standards'
CBE - Life Sciences Education. Sep 2021 20(3).
In response to calls for curricular materials that integrate molecular genetics and evolution and adhere to the K--12 Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), the Genetic Science Learning Center (GSLC) at the University of Utah has developed and tested the "Evolution : DNA and the Unity of Life" curricular unit for high school biology . The free, 8-week unit illuminates the underlying role of molecular genetics in evolution while providing scaffolded opportunities to engage in making arguments from evidence and analyzing and interpreting data. We used a randomized controlled trial design to compare student learning when using the new unit with a condition in which teachers used their typical (NGSS-friendly) units with no molecular genetics. Results from nationwide testing with 38 teachers (19 per condition) and their 2269 students revealed that students who used the GSLC curriculum had significantly greater pre/post gain scores in their understanding of evolution than students in the comparison condition; the effect size was moderate. Further, teacher implementation data suggest that students in the treatment condition had more opportunities to engage in argumentation from evidence and have in-class discussions than students in the comparison classes. We consider study implications for the secondary and postsecondary science education community.
Content provider:
ERIC
Trying biology : the Scopes trial, textbooks, and the antievolution movement in American schools / Adam R. Shapiro.
Book
|
2013
Book
|
2013
Available at LC Collection (QH362 .S53 2013)
Kansas vs Darwin
documentary about the Kansasevolution hearings
Kansas v Darwin
Kansas versus Darwin
documentary about the Kansas
Kansas v Darwin
Kansas versus Darwin
Unconditional Films, production company.;New Day Films, production company....
A Quantitative Framework for the Analysis of Two-Stage Exams
Academic Journal
|
International Journal of Higher Education. 2018 7(4):33-54.
Please log in to see more details
Martin, Andrew P.
Academic Journal
|
International Journal of Higher Education. 2018 7(4):33-54.
Please log in to see more details
Two-stage exams have gained traction in education as a means of creating collaborative...
more
A Quantitative Framework for the Analysis of Two-Stage Exams
International Journal of Higher Education. 2018 7(4):33-54.
Two-stage exams have gained traction in education as a means of creating collaborative active-learning experiences in the classroom in a manner that advances learning, positively increases student engagement, and reduces test anxiety. Published analyses have focused almost exclusively on the increase in student scores from the first individual stage to the second collaboration stage and have shown clear positive effects on gains in student scores. Missing from these analyses is a comprehensive evaluation of the effects of individual preparation, the characteristics of questions, and small group composition on the outcomes two-stage exams. I developed a simple quantitative framework that provides a flexible approach for estimating and evaluating the effects of individuals, questions, and groups on student performance. Additionally, the framework yields statistics appropriate for making inferences about productive collaboration, consensus-building, and counter-productive interaction that happens within small groups. Analyses of 12 exams across two courses and 2 years using the quantitative framework revealed considerable variation for all three of these effects within and among exams. Overall, the results highlight the value of quantitative estimation of two-stage exams for gaining perspective on the effects of individuals, questions, and groups on student performance, and facilitates data-driven revision of assessments, curricula, and teaching strategies towards achieving gains in students' collaborative skills.
Content provider:
ERIC
Full Text from ERIC
National Academy of Sciences;Steve Olson;National Academy of Sciences;Steve...
As both individuals and societies, we are making decisions today that will have profou...
more
2004
As both individuals and societies, we are making decisions today that will have profound consequences for future generations. From preserving Earth's plants and animals to altering our use of fossil fuels, none of these decisions can be made wisely without a thorough understanding of life's history on our planet through biological evolution . Companion to the best selling title Teaching About Evolution and the Nature of Science, Evolution in Hawaii examines evolution and the nature of science by looking at a specific part of the world. Tracing the evolutionary pathways in Hawaii, we are able to draw powerful conclusions about evolution 's occurrence, mechanisms, and courses. This practical book has been specifically designed to give teachers and their students an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of evolution using exercises with real genetic data to explore and investigate speciation and the probable order in which speciation occurred based on the ages of the Hawaiian Islands. By focusing on one set of islands, this book illuminates the general principles of evolutionary biology and demonstrate how ongoing research will continue to expand our knowledge of the natural world.
Subject terms:
Science--Study and teaching - Evolution (Biology) - Teaching - Evolution (Biology)--Study and teaching - Evolution (Biology)--Hawaii - Species--Hawaii - Isolating mechanisms--HawaiiContent provider:
eBook Collection (EBSCOhost)
American genesis : the antievolution controversies from Scopes to creation science / Jeffrey P. Moran.
Book
|
2012
Book
|
2012
Available at LC Collection (QH362 .M67 2012)
Argumentation as a Tool to Explain the Evolutionary Links between Human Diseases: A Case Study
Academic Journal
|
Journal of Biological Education. 2021 55(2):188-195.
Please log in to see more details
Ageitos, Noa;Puig, Blanca
Academic Journal
|
Journal of Biological Education. 2021 55(2):188-195.
Please log in to see more details
Though argumentation is a key component of scientific knowledge construction practices...
more
Argumentation as a Tool to Explain the Evolutionary Links between Human Diseases: A Case Study
Journal of Biological Education. 2021 55(2):188-195.
Though argumentation is a key component of scientific knowledge construction practices, it rarely occurs in classrooms worldwide. Moreover, related literature in the context of genetics and evolution learning primarily addresses them separately. In contrast, this paper is part of broader research on genetics and evolution instruction taught together through scientific practices. We focused on students' arguments and data use while working on a task that required developing explanatory links between sickle cell disease and malaria. Two research questions were framed: What is the nature of students' arguments while explaining these links? What data do they mobilise and how do they use them to support their arguments? Our qualitative approach followed discourse analysis methods. To assess the quality of arguments, theoretical and empirical criteria were used, including the justifications and causal language in the arguments as well as theoretical considerations of genetics and evolution knowledge. The analysis of the second question focused on data use and their sources. The results pointed to students' difficulties in building quality arguments using clear causal language, and to use of genetics and evolution notions in their conclusions. We suggest implications regarding how to address processes occurring on different time scales in combined genetics and evolution instruction.
Content provider:
ERIC
EVO Teachers Guide : Ten Questions Everyone Should Ask About Evolution
Bybee, Rodger W.;Feldman, John;Bybee, Rodger W.;Feldman, John
Draw on the wit and wisdom of brilliant scientists to inspire your students as you tea...
more
EVO Teachers Guide : Ten Questions Everyone Should Ask About Evolution
2012
Draw on the wit and wisdom of brilliant scientists to inspire your students as you teach them about a challenging area of biology . This teacher's guide, which accompanies the EVO DVD, is structured around 10 fundamental questions about biological evolution . The teachers guide explores the DVD's commentary from some of the world's most well-known biologists, who gathered on the Galápagos Islands during a World Summit on Evolution and were interviewed about everything from what evolution is to how it happens to why anyone should care. While the video from the natural world provides students with vivid examples of the ideas and processes the biologists describe, the classroom experiences further support and develop students'understanding of a scientifically-supported theory and its applications. The rigorously structured teachers guide helps you maximize the video with lesson-by-lesson learning outcomes; thorough background; and guidance on preparing for and then leading the lesson—from initial student engagement through evaluation. Engaging, easy to use, and authoritative, EVO Teachers Guide and its DVD are must-have resources. The EVO Teachers Guide and DVD are also available as a set.
Subject terms:
Evolution (Biology)--Miscellanea - Evolution (Biology)--Study and teachingContent provider:
eBook Education Collection (EBSCOhost)
Grzimek's animal life encyclopedia. Evolution / Michael Hutchins, series editor ; Valerius Geist and Eric R. Pianka, advisory editors ; in association with The Wildlife Society.
Book
|
2011
Book
|
2011
Not Available at Dewey Collection (On Search)
only show available
only show available
Going Ape : Florida's Battles Over Evolution in the Classroom
Brandon Haught;Brandon Haught
Before William Jennings Bryan successfully prosecuted John Scopes in the infamous “Sco...
more
Going Ape : Florida's Battles Over Evolution in the Classroom
2014
Before William Jennings Bryan successfully prosecuted John Scopes in the infamous “Scopes Monkey Trial,” he was a prominent antievolution agitator in Florida.In Going Ape, Brandon Haught tells the riveting story of how the war over teaching evolution began and unfolded in Florida, one of the nation's bellwether states. It still simmers just below the surface, waiting for the right moment to engulf the state.The saga opens with the first shouts of religious persecution and child endangerment in 1923 Tallahassee and continues today with forced delays and extra public hearings in state-level textbook adoptions. These ceaseless battles feature some of the most colorful culture warriors imaginable: a real estate tycoon throwing his fortune into campaigns in Miami; lawmakers attempting to insert the mandatory teaching of creationism into bills; and pastors and school board members squabbling in front of the national media that descends into their small town. The majority of participants, however, have been, and still are, average people, and Haught expertly portrays these passionate citizens and the sense of moral duty that drives each of them.Given a social climate where the teaching of evolution continues to sharply divide neighbors and communities, Going Ape is a must-read for anyone concerned with the future of public education.
Subject terms:
Religion and science - Evolution (Biology) - Teaching - Religion and state - Evolution (Biology)--Study and teaching--Florida - Evolution (Biology)--Philosophy - Creationism - SchoolsContent provider:
eBook Education Collection (EBSCOhost)
Introducing the Epigenetic Landscape into Middle-Years Biology Teaching
Academic Journal
|
School Science Review. Jun 2020 1010(377):32-36.
Please log in to see more details
Ingram, Neil R.
Academic Journal
|
School Science Review. Jun 2020 1010(377):32-36.
Please log in to see more details
Conrad Hal Waddington's epigenetic landscape is now a central paradigm in evolutionary...
more
Introducing the Epigenetic Landscape into Middle-Years Biology Teaching
School Science Review. Jun 2020 1010(377):32-36.
Conrad Hal Waddington's epigenetic landscape is now a central paradigm in evolutionary developmental biology . This article proposes that it should be adopted into middle-years (ages 11-16) biology curricula as a way of visualising the interactions of the genome with the environment. The epigenetic landscape is explained, with some biographical detail of Waddington's achievements. Two narratives are then presented for middle-years biology classes: the differentiation of human stem cells and the formation of leaf shape in the water crowfoot, "Ranunculus aquatilis." The benefits of including epigenetic landscape in middle-years biology curricula are considered.
Content provider:
ERIC
Exploratory Activities for Understanding Evolutionary Relationships Depicted by Phylogenetic Trees: United but Diverse
Academic Journal
|
The American Biology Teacher. May 2020, Vol. 82 Issue 5, p333, 5 p.
Please log in to see more details
McCullough, Erin L.;Verdeflor, Lauren;Weinsztok, Alaina;Wiles, Jason R.;Dor...
Academic Journal
|
The American Biology Teacher. May 2020, Vol. 82 Issue 5, p333, 5 p.
Please log in to see more details
Only a theory : evolution and the battle for America's soul / Kenneth R. Miller.
Book
|
2008
Book
|
2008
Available at Dewey Collection (576.8071073 M6157o)
Examining Reasoning Practices and Epistemic Actions to Explore Students' Understanding of Genetics and Evolution
Academic Journal
|
Science & Education. Dec 2019 28(9-10):1209-1233.
Please log in to see more details
Ageitos, Noa;Puig, Blanca;Colucci-Gray, Laura
Academic Journal
|
Science & Education. Dec 2019 28(9-10):1209-1233.
Please log in to see more details
This article focuses on students' discursive moves and reasoning practices while engag...
more
Examining Reasoning Practices and Epistemic Actions to Explore Students' Understanding of Genetics and Evolution
Science & Education. Dec 2019 28(9-10):1209-1233.
This article focuses on students' discursive moves and reasoning practices while engaged in a task that requires making explanatory links between sickle cell disease and malaria. Both diseases pertain to key areas of the biology curriculum, namely, genetic variability and natural selection, and are connected to the theory of evolution of living organisms. Specifically, this study examines the intersections among rhetoric, argumentation and epistemic actions in supporting students' understanding of complex biological dynamics, which are interlinked across time and space, but are often addressed separately in the curriculum. Data were collected over the course of two school years (2014-2016) with a group of 20 15-17-year-old students and their biology teacher. The findings indicate that while rhetorical moves helped students mobilize data, the use of evidence to support claims remained limited. Conversely, the type of epistemic actions enacted by the students appears to be directly related to the type of data being analysed. Hence, rhetorical moves in combination with argumentation practices appear to account for students' differential performances in building more complex explanations of evolutionary topics. We conclude that further understanding of reasoning practices and how these are shaped by discursive moves is required in biology education, in order to help students view biological processes in a wider context, and thus gain a better understanding of evolutionary phenomena.
Content provider:
ERIC
Marketing Intelligent Design : Law and the Creationist Agenda
Frank S. Ravitch;Frank S. Ravitch
Recently a new battle has emerged between science and religion. The battle has focused...
more
Marketing Intelligent Design : Law and the Creationist Agenda
2011
Recently a new battle has emerged between science and religion. The battle has focused on intelligent design (ID) and the numerous legal, philosophical and educational concerns surrounding it. Resolution of these concerns centers on two questions: Is ID science? And is ID religion? Despite the fact that ID does not meet the standards of scientific rigor, ID proponents have been able to create a remarkably well-designed marketing plan aimed at imposing a theistic naturalism in schools and scientific discourse. Both the ID movement and some of its most vociferous opponents have a vested interest in suggesting that science, especially evolutionary biology , and religion are incompatible. This book presents a philosophical and legal counterpoint by demonstrating the compatibility between religion and evolutionary biology and the incompatibility between ID and mainstream science.
Subject terms:
Evolution (Biology)--Study and teaching--United States - Religion in the public schools--Law and legislation--United States - Creationism--Study and teaching--United States - Creationism--Study and teaching--Law and legislation--United States - Evolution (Biology)--Study and teaching--Law and legislation--United States - Intelligent design (Teleology)--Study and teaching--United StatesContent provider:
eBook Collection (EBSCOhost)
American Genesis : The Evolution Controversies From Scopes to Creation Science
Jeffrey P. Moran;Jeffrey P. Moran
The question of teaching evolution in the public schools is a continuing and frequentl...
more
American Genesis : The Evolution Controversies From Scopes to Creation Science
2012
The question of teaching evolution in the public schools is a continuing and frequently heated political issue in America. From Tennessee's Scopes Trial in 1925 to recent battles that have erupted in Louisiana, Kansas, Ohio, and countless other localities, the critics and supporters of evolution have fought nonstop over the role of science and religion in American public life. In American Genesis, Jeffrey P. Moran explores the ways in which the evolution debate has reverberated beyond the confines of state legislatures and courthouses. Using extensive research in newspapers, periodicals, and archives, Moran shows that social forces such as gender, regionalism, and race have intersected with the debate over evolution in ways that shed light on modern American culture. He investigates, for instance, how antievolutionism deepened the cultural divisions between North and South--northerners embraced evolution as a sign of sectional enlightenment, while southerners defined themselves as the standard bearers of true Christianity. Evolution debates also exposed a deep gulf between conservative Black Christians and secular intellectuals such as W. E. B. DuBois. Moran also explores the ways in which the struggle has played out in the universities, on the internet, and even within the evangelical community. Throughout, he shows that evolution has served as a weapon, as an enforcer of identity, and as a polarizing force both within and without the churches. America has both the most advanced scientific infrastructure as well as the highest rate of church adherence among developed nations, and the issues raised in the evolution controversies touch the heart of our national identity. American Genesis makes an important contribution to our understanding of the impact of this contentious issue, revealing how its tendrils have stretched out to touch virtually every corner of our lives.
Subject terms:
Evolution (Biology)--Study and teaching--United States--History - Evolution (Biology)--United States--Religious aspects--Christianity--History - Creationism--United States--HistoryContent provider:
eBook Community College Collection (EBSCOhost)
The battle over the meaning of everything : evolution, intelligent design, and a school board in Dover, PA / Gordy Slack.
Book
|
2007
Book
|
2007
Available at Dewey Collection (344.7484107 Sl11b)
Table of contents only
Chimpanzee Included in the Genus Homo? How Biology Teachers from Three Latin American Countries Conceive It
Academic Journal
|
Journal of Biological Education. 2019 53(5):506-515.
Please log in to see more details
Silva, Heslley M.;Peñaloza, Gonzalo;Tomasco, Ivanna H.;Carvalho, Graça S.
Academic Journal
|
Journal of Biological Education. 2019 53(5):506-515.
Please log in to see more details
Despite scientific evidence suggesting close phylogenetic relationship between chimpan...
more
Chimpanzee Included in the Genus Homo? How Biology Teachers from Three Latin American Countries Conceive It
Journal of Biological Education. 2019 53(5):506-515.
Despite scientific evidence suggesting close phylogenetic relationship between chimpanzees and humans, the inclusion of these apes in the genus "Homo" is controversial. Several tools have been used to analyse this issue such as fossils, molecular clock and genome. This work intended to understand the biology teachers' conceptions about the humans' and chimpanzee's position. It was carried out in three countries with contrasting secularism conditions: Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. Teachers were asked to answer to the BIOHEAD-CITIZEN project question: 'The Chimpanzee should be included in the genus "Homo," notably because 98.5% of its DNA is identical to that of "Homo sapiens'." Results were analysed within the KVP model framework and the Barbour's four categories of relationship between science knowledge and religion. Most questioned teachers (80%) of the three countries rejected the idea of including the chimpanzee in the genus "Homo" (86% of Argentinians, 71% of Brazilians and 71% Uruguayans), suggesting the conception of human beings having a special position in relation to other animal species. This study also indicates that the training of biology teachers needs to be analysed in the three countries to understand how teachers-to-be are being trained and evaluate their knowledge regarding molecular biology , phylogeny and evolution .
