Students enrolled in this Biology course will be introduced to the concepts regarding evolution. It will evaluate the foundations and processes upon which our current society has been impacted by. Examples of topics will include the following:
- Evolutionary theories of Darwin and Lamarck
- Process of Natural Selection
- Comparative anatomy (ex: homologous, analogous, and vestigial structures)
- Advanced evidence (ex: biochemical and embryological evidence)
- Current effects of evolution (ex: effects of Industrial Revolution on peppered moth population)
- Classification
- Phylogeny
- Dichotomous keys (structure/function, how to create one)
Students will be given a variety of resources that exemplify similar information related to evolution while accommodating their preferred learning styles. Examples of such resources include Google Slides notes, online simulation games, quizzes, practice regents questions, and activities that have been modified to be completed on a Google Doc/Google Slide presentation.
Students will construct their own knowledge through learning as well as interacting with their peers and being open-minded towards each others' thoughts/feedback/perspectives. They will utilize the resources provided to create their final project, which is choosing their favorite species (either extinct or currently alive) and researching their evolutionary history. Students will design their own Webquest using Google Sites (a web 2.0 platform) to present their findings and supporting evidence. This strategy has been chosen in an attempt to create classroom unity in an online setting. Students will have the ability to view their peers' webquests, provide their feedback and thoughts, and demonstrate their learning progress by the end of the project.
