AN ANALYSIS OF THE TREATMENT OF EVOLUTION IN MOROCCAN SECONDARY TEXTBOOKS
Abstract
For almost of scientists, the concept of
Evolution occupies a central position in Biology. A few years ago, the topic of
evolution was introduced in secondary programs. The teaching of this topic
still controversial and causes many resistances in Morocco. In this study,
Biology textbooks were analyzed using
the methods of content analysis. Results show that this topic is treated in the
end of school programs and in most cases the teaching approach is characterized
by superficial handling of key ideas. The treatment of Evolution is too
confusing and abstract, there are a few mistakes and misconceptions, the
visuals are sometimes inadequate. Only equine evolution is studied. There is
lack of reference to the Human evolution in the syllabus as well in all
textbooks analyzed.
Keywords
References
- Ferrari, M., and Chi, M.T. (1998). The nature of naive explanations of natural selection. International Journal of Science Education, Vol 20 ; N° 10, pp 1231-1256. Nadelson, L., and Southerland, S. (2010). Development and Preliminary Evaluation of the Measure of Understanding of Macroevolution: Introducing the MUM. The Journal of Experimental Education. N° 78, pp151-190. Nehm, R.H. and Reilly, L. (2007). Biology majors’ knowledge and misconceptions of natural selection. BioScience, Vol 57 ; N° 3,pp 263-272. Quessada, M.-P., Munoz, F., Clément, P., (2007). Les conceptions sur l’évolution biologique d’enseignants du primaire et du secondaire de douze pays (Afrique, Europe et Moyen Orient) varient selon leur niveau d’étude, in Hedjerassi, N., Marquet, P., AREF 2007 [Congrès international d’actualité de la recherche en éducation et en formation, Strasbourg, 28-31 août 2007], 1 vol. + 1 CD-ROM, [s.l.], [s.n.]. Quessada M.P., et Clement P., Oerke, B. et Valente, A.. (2008). Human evolution in science textbooks: A survey in eighteen. Science education international, Vol 19, N°2, pp. 147-162. Yates T., Marek E.A. (2015). A Study Identifying Biological Evolution-Related Misconceptions Held by Prebiology High School Students. Creative Education ; Vol. 6 No.08.
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
-
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Boujemaa Agorram
This is me
Moncef Zaki
This is me
Sabah Selmaoui
This is me
Salah-Eddine Khzami
This is me
Publication Date
September 1, 2016
Submission Date
-
Acceptance Date
-
Published in Issue
Year 2016 Volume: 5