EVOLUTION

[Sean Nash]

Pre-instruction. Nested discussion. Accessing background knowledge. Characterizing preconceptions. Developing questions. Baseline reflection. All based upon one word scrawled on the whiteboard: "EVOLUTION."

That was today's lesson in a nutshell. To some a serious of eduspeak buzzwords and catch-phrases. To others, a perfectly sensible introductory experience engineered to develop a rich baseline of thought on a tremendously complex and daunting subject: evolution.

The comments here are first thoughts on evolution, pre-instruction. Today was an ordered circus of silent independent reflection mixed with lineups, various pairings for 1:1 discussions, small group discussions, summative sharing of these discussions, followed by reflective "blogging" on preconceptions and questions for our study of biological evolution.

Below is a baseline to work from on the fundamental biological concept of evolution.......

[Kaylee Burris]

Well...evolution...the big bang theory comes to mind. I'm not sure exactly what the theory is, I just know it deals with evolution. I know that some think we evolved from monkeys and some think that everything was started by god (Adam and Eve). I think that it could be a mixture of both, but that is my opinion and that could change. Evolution, has the root word evolve meaning change over time; evolution must be the change in man kind over time.
There are theories of evolution from Darwin and Lamarck. Science theories can somewhat be proven by facts, but the religious theories are based on beliefs; neither can be completely proven.

[Kaylee Burris]

Looking back on what I said before, I don't have the same questions, I have lots of new more complex questions.
In class we looked at evolution in a different way then I thought of it as. This brought up new questions and thoughts. When I use to think of evolution I thought of only humans evolving. After our dicussions I saw that evolution has to do with all living things, not just humans (gosh Im so self centered :P ). The rate that bacteria evolves is crazy, and even a little scary.
Is evolution always going to happen, or will it eventually stop? Are living things going to constantly cant to be stronger and more equipt to the world?

[Kaylee Burris]

Wow evolution really is a never ending topic. I'm sure there is so much more we could learn on this topic, but time wasn't working with us. Evolution is such a vast topic; it goes from saying we evolved from monkeys to stuff about genetic codes. Lamark's theory was a very logical theory, about use and disuse, but it was proven wrong. He was a great scientist for coming up with that. The part we talked about with micro and macro evolution was interesting to learn that one means change in certain species(micro) or making a new species in other areas(macro). We as humans have really evolved over time, but the speed of that evolution will never compare to the speed viruses evolve. Viruses change as vaccines change, we have a hard time keeping up with them. One fact that was interesting was that 99.9% of all mutations are negative, but sometimes those mutations can be a good thing for the animal. This section was crazy to learn about, and I can't believe all the stuff I have learned. I think I might even look farther into it.

[Erin McAndrews]

First coming into this, I thought I knew a lot about evolution, but then I realized that I really don't. Evolution is the theory that animals/things evolved over time in order to thrive in their environment better. Only the most adopted and fittest species have made it to where we are today (natural selection). The theory of evolution clashes with the theory of creation. We are closely related to primates. When I was writing my thoughts down on paper, I primarily doodled and drew the evolution on man.

[Erin McAndrews]

I honestly have just as many questions as I did before, just different ones. Or maybe I am just as confused as before, but in a different way. I don't know.
I never really thought about why viruses change so often, it's because they have such a short life span. It makes sense, since they have such a short life span, they are able to mutate and evolve to better suit their envrionment. When we are always coming out with new antibiotics, the viruses at first are hurt by them, but they eventually get stronger and are able to over come the new antibiotic.

[Samantha Wilson]

The only word written on the board was Evolution, my thoughts were:

The extra gum commercial. It talks about the evolution from an amoeba to a skateboarder.
I had the evolution of a frog egg, to a tadpole, and to a frog.
I wrote
"to grow or to change. To obtain different features/characteristics to fit an environment... Different Species"

I as well put the evolution to walking. From being all fours to being up right.

Mr. Nash then added that we are talking about Biological Evolution.
I then added a picture of a seed evolving into a tree.
As well as a community changing from all trees to a few trees with little houses to one tree big houses and lots of cars.
I really got confused b/c i was looking at it as an environmental change meaning the land having to change for it to thrive with the evolution of people. Others saw it only for the evolution as people and i see why now.

MY QUESTIONS????????

1. What role does Biological Evolution play in geology, communities, and etc. ?
2. Where do you draw the line as to what is Biological Evolution and other forms of evolution?

I am excited for the next few weeks of class b/c clearly i was never asked what i knew, teachers just threw info at me, and expected me to understand. I honestly didn't even remember Charles Darwin until another classmate threw his name into discussion.

[Matt Brown]

Here are my thoughts before any instruction-

..Charles Darwin and the Theory of Evolution..
--Every living thing came to be from another living thing.
..Natural Selection..
--The best fit to live in a certain environment survive, others die-off.
..Some believe God created everything..
..Science has facts about evolution that can be/are proven..
..Evolved from monkeys..
..Big Bang Theory..
..Fly experiment..
--Living things do not just "appear".

On my sheet I tried to stick with things that I knew quite a bit about. I also stuck and went the idea of the theory of evolution and what others thought, why it was a theory, the ideas of Darwin, and natural selection.

Questions:
--Lamarck?
--Kansas?
--Have genetics just changed over time?
--What about DNA?

[Samantha Wilson]

NEW INFO I'VE LEARNED-

As Mr.Nash stated "Pigs are like big pink test tubes" They churn viruses, so do birds and to think I HAD NO IDEA.. I was a believer that the swine flu just came about but once again, i was wrong. It's been around for awhile it has just changed a little over time (MUTATION)

INDIVIDUALS DO NOT EVOLVE.. i still resort back to this constantly and i appreciate Mr. & Mrs. Nash putting up with me while i still won't stop thinking this about everything!!

Use & Disuse makes me think of survival of the fittest.
" The most used body structures develop-- the least used waste away"

I don't much understand this yet but i know its important-- MICROEVOLUTION & MACROEVOLUTION!! I will soon post what i am taught about this! :)

[Samantha Wilson]

DARWIN'S FINCHES

in this article it talks about Darwin's research on creatures in the Galapagos island. Most commonly people think the tortoise is the icon of the island.
But as Darwin says it should be the FINCH :)

READ TO FIND OUT MORE! :)

[Tori Scott]

My first thoughts on evolution are as follows;

I didn't so much as focus on the Big Bang Theory, I talked more about biological evolution in animals. For instance when scientist were doing early classifications they had three main groups, water, land and air. Over time though animals "evolved", like turtles and are both land and water animals. Because of this scientist way of classification had to change to fit everything. Evolution is always happening.

Fossils, once living animals turn to stone. This is a prime example of evolution. They were alive but over time after they died they changed.

My question:

What natural selection has to do with evolution, and survival of the fittest?
-I was really confused when ppl began talking about this. I'm not sure how they relate together.

How Darwin came up with the theory of evolution, why so many ppl are willing to except it when it hasn't been proven, and why hasn't it been proven? Can you prove it?
-This question really makes me think. First off how one person came up with this entire theory just amazes me, but i wonder what caused him to come up with it. Its not just something he stumbled upon. or is it?

[Tori Scott]

After talking about evolution an Darwin i've realized that i had some misconceptions. The whole theory man came from monkey's is just ridiculous to me. Even if you don't look at it with a religous view it still seems silly to me. All along I have always associated Darwin with the monkey's but to find out that wasnt him at all is rather interesting. The monkey's came from someone else's interpertation of Darwin's work.

Thinking about evolution the basis and thought Darwin had about it is really genius. It's amazing how he came up with the thought. I was really interested when we began talking about diseases. It's scary to think deadly diseases can evolve and be spread like your common flu. That would be something that could wipe out a population!!

[Tori Scott]

My post got deleted because I messed something up:( Here's my site and i'll come back when i have time and re-do it.... sorry yo's it was intense too!!