MODELS AND STRATEGIES FOR TEACHING EVOLUTION TO NON-SCIENCE MAJORS IN A SEMINAR FORMAT

A cornerstone of paleontological education is the topic of evolution. While formal evolutionary biology classes made up of lectures and labs are essential for students of biology and paleontology, these classes are closed to most non-science majors because they often require multiple prerequisites. Because of a combination of anti-evolution cultural forces and shortcomings in evolution-based education at the K-12 level, many American college students have not received accurate or effective evolution instruction before entering college. Since a working knowledge of evolution is essential for developing biological scientific literacy, some colleges and universities now offer seminar-style evolution courses designed for non-science majors that can help reverse this trend. Seminars such as these offer students the added opportunity to develop more sophisticated writing, speaking and critical thinking skills in the context of evolutionary biology. Through the use of varied teaching strategies like small and large group discussion, informal and formal writing assignments and constructivist pedagogical exercises, seminar courses can engage even reluctant students in analyzing the scientific merit of evolution or examining the cultural forces that currently drive the controversy between evolution and creationism. Ultimately, if more courses that engage non-science majors in the study of evolution are developed by paleontologists and biologists in universities across the country, the tide can begin to turn towards fostering a better public understanding of evolutionary biology.