International Journal of STEM Education for Sustainability
Vol 1, No 1 (2021)

University Students' Acceptance of Evolution: Basis for STEM-based Instructional Design

Monera H. Salic (Department of Science and Mathematics, College of Education, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology)
Ronaldo R. Orbita (Department of Professional Education, College of Education, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology)
Joy B. Bagaloyos (Integrated Developmental School, College of Education, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology)
Cesar G. Demayo (Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science and Mathematics, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology)
Mark Anthony G. Torres (Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science and Mathematics, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology)



Article Info

Publish Date
31 Jul 2021

Abstract

This study was conducted to explore the overall acceptance of evolution among undergraduate students in a State University as basis for developing a STEM-based instructional design to address the misconceptions about evolution. The research was conducted using the 20-item questionnaires of the Measurement of Acceptance of the Theory of Evolution (MATE) instrument assessing undergraduate students' acceptance of evolution in relations to; the process of evolution, the scientific validity of the evolutionary theory, the evolution of humans, evidence of evolution, scientific community's view of evolution and age of the Earth. The study is within a quantitative and qualitative framework using descriptive and inferential analysis. The findings revealed that all the colleges in the science group acquired a moderate level of acceptance except for the CED non-science group who received a low degree of acceptance of the theory of evolution. Although among the six concepts in the study, they generally agree on the statements and only in the idea on the age of the earth where the students were undecided. This research confirms that the level of acceptance is not positively related to the students' specialization. Based on the result of this study there is a need to develop a STEM based instructional design and this should be emphasized in the science curriculum. The teaching design will fill in the gaps in understanding concepts of evolution and its significance to the lives of many organisms and for the teachers to look evolution from very broad flexible and interdisciplinary perspectives.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

ijses

Publisher

Subject

Education

Description

International Journal of STEM Education for Sustainability is a peer-reviewed journal that covers research publications in STEM Education or related including chemistry education, biology education, physics education, earth science education, space science education, enviromental education, science ...