Evolution: An evolvement in worldview

Leading team:

• Prof. Anat Yarden

Project team:

• Dr. Gilat Brill
• Sigalit Ofir

Brief

Examining the impact of a digital teaching unit using the Teaching for Transformative Experiences in Science (TTES) model on the perceptions of high school biology students of evolution.

Examining the impact of a digital teaching unit using the Teaching for Transformative Experiences in Science (TTES) model on the perceptions of high school biology students of evolution.

The process of evolution is significant and central to biology , so there is a special significance to the difficulties in understanding it, often expressed as alternative conceptions documented in science teaching research. Also, there is a growing awareness of the opportunities and challenges posed by teaching using the digital medium.

The Teaching for Transformative Experiences in Science (TTES) model was developed to elicit a transformation of the learner’s worldview. Previous studies have shown that using the model in class has resulted in conceptual change towards the accepted scientific model regarding evolution, as well as engagement, interest in science, increased efficacy, transfer, and enjoyment.

As part of this project, we are developing a digital teaching unit, in the Personalized Teaching and Learning environment (PeTeL) to teach evolution to secondary school students according to the TTES model . This unit may allow us to assess the impact of learning using the unit on the learner’s transformation and conceptual evolvement, and to characterize the conceptual development process of the students. This characterization may enable us to assist the individual learner with challenges and difficulties, and to advance the learner’s perceptions, using strategies from the TTES model in a tailored manner.