Evolution
Introduction
As science education leaders we are responsible for promoting the scientific literacy of all students in Virginia. In order to be scientifically literate and productive citizens in the global economy, students in the Commonwealth must comprehend foundational science concepts as well as fully understand the nature of science and the principles that guide the scientific inquiry process.
The Nature of Science
The scientific inquiry process employs a distinctive way of learning about the natural world. Scientific investigations are designed to gather empirical evidence on phenomenon that can be directly measured or observed. Scientists use the data they gather to formulate conclusions and make connections with the existing body of scientific knowledge. Explanations which are not based on empirical data fall outside the realm of accepted scientific practice.
Scientists explain their understanding of the natural world through the development of theories and laws. Scientific theories are unifying concepts that offer explanations for observed patterns in nature. The meaning of a theory in science differs dramatically from the everyday use of the term which is often used to represent a guess or hunch. In contrast, scientific theories are not guesses but are developed carefully and systematically over time through the gathering and interpretation of a large body of empirical data. Scientific theories such as the theory of plate tectonics, cell theory, atomic theory, and the theory of evolution through natural selection provide testable explanations for processes that occur in the natural world. Scientific theories are dynamic and may be modified as new data become available. They are consistent with all natural laws and are able to withstand the scrutiny of the scientific community.
Evolution: A Unifying Theory
A unifying concept that links processes observed in many different science disciplines is found in the theory of evolution. Abundant evidence from different sciences points to the validity, and applicability, of this theory to our understanding of the natural world. Astronomy, geology, biology, and anthropology rely heavily upon the concept of evolution to explain the nature of changes that have occurred over time or changes that are predicted to occur in the future. As a result of continual testing, there is wide agreement among scientists that evolution occurs and that natural selection is a major mechanism of the evolutionary process. Evolution is a vital, well-supported, unifying principle of the biological sciences, and the scientific evidence is overwhelmingly in favor of the idea that all living things share a common ancestry.
Implications for Classroom Practice
The National Academy of Sciences has stated that, "evolution is a fundamental component of science instruction and represents a key scientific principle.” This position is consistent with those held by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the National Science Teacher’s Association (NSTA), the American Institute for Biological Sciences (AIBS) and represents the global view of the science community. Understanding the nature of science is integral to scientific literacy. Science teachers across Virginia are encouraged to provide students with classroom experiences within each discipline that allow them to develop a broad understanding of the theory of evolution and the scientific inquiry process.
Some material used with permission from the following sources:
National Center for Science Education (NCSE)
National Science Teacher’s Association (NSTA)
Utah State Department of Education
As science education leaders we are responsible for promoting the scientific literacy of all students in Virginia. In order to be scientifically literate and productive citizens in the global economy, students in the Commonwealth must comprehend foundational science concepts as well as fully understand the nature of science and the principles that guide the scientific inquiry process.
The Nature of Science
The scientific inquiry process employs a distinctive way of learning about the natural world. Scientific investigations are designed to gather empirical evidence on phenomenon that can be directly measured or observed. Scientists use the data they gather to formulate conclusions and make connections with the existing body of scientific knowledge. Explanations which are not based on empirical data fall outside the realm of accepted scientific practice.
Scientists explain their understanding of the natural world through the development of theories and laws. Scientific theories are unifying concepts that offer explanations for observed patterns in nature. The meaning of a theory in science differs dramatically from the everyday use of the term which is often used to represent a guess or hunch. In contrast, scientific theories are not guesses but are developed carefully and systematically over time through the gathering and interpretation of a large body of empirical data. Scientific theories such as the theory of plate tectonics, cell theory, atomic theory, and the theory of evolution through natural selection provide testable explanations for processes that occur in the natural world. Scientific theories are dynamic and may be modified as new data become available. They are consistent with all natural laws and are able to withstand the scrutiny of the scientific community.
Evolution: A Unifying Theory
A unifying concept that links processes observed in many different science disciplines is found in the theory of evolution. Abundant evidence from different sciences points to the validity, and applicability, of this theory to our understanding of the natural world. Astronomy, geology, biology, and anthropology rely heavily upon the concept of evolution to explain the nature of changes that have occurred over time or changes that are predicted to occur in the future. As a result of continual testing, there is wide agreement among scientists that evolution occurs and that natural selection is a major mechanism of the evolutionary process. Evolution is a vital, well-supported, unifying principle of the biological sciences, and the scientific evidence is overwhelmingly in favor of the idea that all living things share a common ancestry.
Implications for Classroom Practice
The National Academy of Sciences has stated that, "evolution is a fundamental component of science instruction and represents a key scientific principle.” This position is consistent with those held by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the National Science Teacher’s Association (NSTA), the American Institute for Biological Sciences (AIBS) and represents the global view of the science community. Understanding the nature of science is integral to scientific literacy. Science teachers across Virginia are encouraged to provide students with classroom experiences within each discipline that allow them to develop a broad understanding of the theory of evolution and the scientific inquiry process.
Some material used with permission from the following sources:
National Center for Science Education (NCSE)
National Science Teacher’s Association (NSTA)
Utah State Department of Education
