Transcript Becoming a Campus and Community Resource on Science and Evolution Michael A. Phillips Professor of Geology Illinois Valley Community College [email protected].

Becoming a Campus and
Community Resource on
Science and Evolution
Michael A. Phillips
Professor of Geology
Illinois Valley Community College
[email protected]
What’s the problem?
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Americans favor teaching creation
science.
Americans do not understand the
science of evolution.
Americans do not understand that
creation science and intelligent
design are not science.
Favor teaching creation
science in addition to evolution
Newsweek
(Dec. 2004)
CBS
(Nov. 2004)
yes
60%
65%
no
28%
29%
undecided
12%
6%
Favor teaching creation
science instead of evolution
Newsweek
(Dec. 2004)
CBS
(Nov. 2004)
yes
40%
37%
no
44%
51%
don’t know
16%
12%
Confusion about scientific
support for evolution
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Evolution is:
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scientific theory supported by evidence: 35%
one theory among many: 35%
don’t know: 29%
Human origins
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created as is 10K years BP: 45%
theistic evolution: 38%
non-theistic evolution: 13%
(Gallup poll, Nov. 2004)
More Confusion
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Evolution is “based on an overwhelming body of
scientific evidence, which strongly confirms that
its key ideas are correct”
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56.3% agreed
Intelligent Design is “based on an overwhelming
body of scientific evidence, which strongly
confirms that its key ideas are correct”
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44.2% agreed
(Nisbet & Nisbet, 2005)
Information on the debate
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TV and newspapers
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Primary source of information
Treat the two sides as equals
Education
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K-12: avoid controversy
Post secondary: hit-and-miss
K-12 Education
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Under fire
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Teachers
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State standards
Local school boards
Parental complaints
Undereducated in science
Understaffed
Concerned about maintaining employment &
respect
Result: Many students receive little, if any,
instruction regarding evolution.
Colleges & Universities
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Undergraduate education
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5% of college students are science majors
8% in the health and related professions
remainder rely on general education for
science knowledge
Result: Many graduates receive little, if
any, instruction regarding evolution.
Teacher Education
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Focus has been on pedagogy
Result: As generalists, many teachers
are ill-prepared to face deep scrutiny
of the subjects they teach.
Teacher Education
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Under NCLB, science endorsements (in
Illinois) now require one of the following:
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Pass the Content-Area Test
Have a major or coursework equivalent in each
area of teaching responsibility
Have a graduate degree or advanced
certification in each area of teaching
responsibility
Result: deeper content knowledge!
General Education
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Many students can miss evolution
Evolution is dealt with piecemeal
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biology: fossil record and deep time are
usually not covered
geology
not covered in physical or environmental
 historical geology may not cover biological
aspects well
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other sciences: most make no mention
What to do
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Become a “guest lecturer”
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in other classes
at teacher workshops
at schools
in the community
How to do it
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Research aspects of evolution within
your area of expertise
Develop several off-the-shelf
presentations
Make yourself available
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Key: Don’t hold back!
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Presenting
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Get the word out
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“Advertise” in house and in the
community
Exchange with other faculty
Make connections
Customize for audience
Assess and revise
Benefits
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Deeper coverage of evolution
Exposure across the curriculum
Recruitment opportunities
Coverage of classes for absent faculty
New courses
Useful interdepartmental exchanges
Collegial critique
Example Presentations &
Target Audiences
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Evolution Basics
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teacher prep courses
teacher workshops
Geology of Evolution
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Biology
Anthropology
teacher prep courses
Example Presentations &
Target Audiences
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“Science, Evolution, and Creationism”
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Philosophy of Religion
Government
teacher workshops
teacher prep courses
“Science, Evolution, & Creationism”
Research
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BOTH Evolution & Creationism
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Sources
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Know both sides!
texts
recent books & articles
web sites (ie. talkorigins.com)
Stay up to date!
“Science, Evolution, & Creationism”
Structure of Presentation
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What is science?
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history
foundational philosophy
methodology
what science is not
Why is science important?
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utility of structured inquiry
accomplishments
“Science, Evolution, & Creationism”
Structure of Presentation
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What is evolution?
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history of evolution
evidence for evolution
cover what you know
 give references
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Is it science?
What is ID/creationism?
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basic tenants
Is it science?
from “Science, Evolution, & Creationism”
Foundations of Science
Natural Cause: The universe
behaves in a predictable way under
“rules” that can be determined
through observation and
experimentation.
 Efficient Cause: effect follows
cause (no Final Cause or teleology)
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from “Science, Evolution, & Creationism”
Scientific Explanations
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no arguments from or appeals to
authority
science can & should build on
published work of others, however:
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scientists must be prepared to defend that
work as well as their own
if the cited work is shown to be false, the
new worked based on it comes into
question
from “Science, Evolution, & Creationism”
Should we use biblical
explanations instead?
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St. Augustine: No. He was concerned that if
Christians asserted that the Bible
contradicted reason and experience with
natural phenomena, potential converts would
reject the spiritual message.
Isaac Newton: No. He was concerned that
mixing science and religion would corrupt
religion. (Believed nature operates
according to God’s laws.)
from “Science, Evolution, & Creationism”
Is it science?
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Evolution
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derived from
observation: yes
natural cause: yes
supported by
natural data: yes
change with new
data: yes
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Creationism
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derived from
observation: no
natural cause: no
supported by
natural data: no
change with new
data: no
from “Science, Evolution, & Creationism”
The Chicago Statement on Biblical
Hermeneutics
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We deny that extrabiblical views ever
disprove the teaching of Scripture or
hold priority over it.
We deny that any genuine scientific
facts are inconsistent with the true
meaning of any passage of Scripture.
from “Science, Evolution, & Creationism”
ICR Tenets of Scientific Creationism
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8. Since the universe and its primary
components were created perfect for their
purposes in the beginning by a competent
and volitional Creator, and since the Creator
does remain active in this now-decaying
creation, there do exist ultimate purposes
and meanings in the universe. Teleological
considerations, therefore, are
appropriate in scientific studies
whenever they are consistent with the actual
data of observation, and it is reasonable to
assume that the creation presently awaits the
consummation of the Creator's purpose.
from “Science, Evolution, & Creationism”
Biblical Astronomer Credo
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We believe that the creation was completed
in six twenty-four hour days and that the
world is not older than about six thousand
years. We maintain that the Bible teaches us
of an earth that neither rotates daily nor
revolves yearly about the sun; that it is at
rest with respect to the throne of him who
called it into existence; and that hence it is
absolutely at rest in the universe.
from “Science, Evolution, & Creationism”
From Science Digest (July 1980)
International Flat Earth Research Society
Johnson's beliefs are firmly grounded in the
Bible. Many verses of the Old Testament
imply that the earth is flat, but there's more
to it than that. According to the New
Testament, Jesus ascended up into heaven.
"The whole point of the Copernican theory is to
get rid of Jesus by saying there is no up and
no down," declares Johnson. "The spinning
ball thing just makes the whole Bible a big
joke."
Become a “guest lecturer”

Research aspects of evolution within
your area of expertise
Develop several off-the-shelf
presentations
Make yourself available
Customize for audience

Key: Don’t hold back!



Thank you
Mike Phillips
Illinois Valley Community College
[email protected]
http://www.ivcc.edu/phillips