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Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

2011

Anthropology

Portland State University

Life -- Origin -- Study and teaching

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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

A Three-Step Method For Teaching The Principles Of Evolution To Non-Biology Major Undergraduates, Cameron M. Smith Jun 2011

A Three-Step Method For Teaching The Principles Of Evolution To Non-Biology Major Undergraduates, Cameron M. Smith

Anthropology Faculty Publications and Presentations

A method for teaching the principles of evolution in a 50-minute lecture for undergraduate non-biology majors is described. The method “unpacks” evolution into three observable, factual occurrences: replication (R, reproduction), variation (V, differences between parent and offspring and siblings), and selection (S, nonrandom differential survival of offspring). This method has been particularly effective in demonstrating to students that evolution is the factual, unintended consequence of three independent phenomena (R, V, S).