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Understanding Aspects of the Theory of Evolution Using Paleontology

The need to strengthen the teaching of the Theory of Evolution through Natural Selection (TENS) is undoubted, as it has so far been taught in a fragmented way, without any emphasis on its unifying role. Non-formal environments such as the Science Museums can be used to enhance its teaching. In order to check-out whether the level of understanding TENSrelated concepts might increase, and whether the knowledge of the History of the Earth that has been acquired, together with changes that have been made to the students' interpretations of evolutionary problems, can contribute to understanding TENS acceptance and knowledge, a program of visits was planned for high school students in appropriate museums. These visits, offered to students a learning environment that included a variety of exhibits, such as real fossils and multimedia simulations on the history of Earth aiming to familiarize them with the evidence of Evolution. For this reason, paleontology museums qualified as ideal places to visit. The survey that was followed showed a reduction in their creationist reasoning. However, intuitive reasoning was proved to be rigid, as we have not observed some noticeable increase in the evolutionary reasoning. The degree of understanding concepts related to evolution, such as the importance of fossils, environmental changes and mass extinctions, has improved. Finally, the acquisition of knowledge about the relative age of species and about major geological and biological events in the Earth's History, has shown improvement, as well.