Transforming teaching and learning in Asia and the Pacific: case studies from seven countries; 2015

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the most primitive living beings appeared. Then you know that evolution
took place from simple to complex growth. More advanced animals with
backbones (the vertebrates) appeared. Then big animals like dinosaurs
appeared. Now answer my question. What is the difference between
micro- and macroevolution? (Looking at a boy in the last desk) Kanat,
respond...


Kanat: It is the gradual change of species... No, it is a change across
species... (murmured and looked for help from his peers, and finally gave
up) I don’t know, ejeke.


(Two girls from the front row raised their hands to respond.)


Pupil: Ejeke, can I respond?


Teacher: (with firm voice and looking at Kanat) Microevolution is the
gradual change within groups of species. And macroevolution is change
across species. Have you understood?


Kanat: Yes, ejeke.


Te a ch e r : (to the whole class) Now, all animals have tails. Animals and human
beings have similar body structures (showed a picture of skeletons of a
dog, a monkey and a human). They all have heads, bodies, and tails. They
have blood circulation....


(Three pupils at the back whistled and hummed, showing no interest in
what she was explaining. The teacher stopped and quickly began asking
those boys some questions [the questions are not noted here]. The teacher
then moved on.)


Teacher: What is the difference between animals and birds?


Pupil: Birds have wings, and we do not....


(Three boys in the back row kept talking about something. They distracted
some pupils who sat close by. The teacher stood in front and continued
teaching without paying attention to those who were speaking at the
back).


Teacher: How did dinosaurs disappear? (She waited for a few seconds
and began responding herself)... They disappeared due to rapid climatic
change in the world caused by catastrophes; the scientists believe that
large meteors fell to the surface of the Earth. Because of it dinosaurs
became extinct.

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