Teaching human evolution: How a museum programme in the palaeosciences improved learner performance
The teaching of evolution at school level in South Africa was introduced in 2006. However, evolution remains a controversial aspect for school learners in South Africa, and many misconceptions persist among teachers and learners. The study described in this paper sought to investigate whether an in...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Academy of Science of South Africa
2025-05-01
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| Series: | South African Journal of Science |
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| Online Access: | https://sajs.co.za/article/view/17925 |
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| author | Grizelda van Wyk Shaw Badenhorst |
| author_facet | Grizelda van Wyk Shaw Badenhorst |
| author_sort | Grizelda van Wyk |
| collection | DOAJ |
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The teaching of evolution at school level in South Africa was introduced in 2006. However, evolution remains a controversial aspect for school learners in South Africa, and many misconceptions persist among teachers and learners. The study described in this paper sought to investigate whether an interactive palaeosciences university-based museum programme (PUMP) would benefit the examination outcome of learners in human evolution in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. The PUMP made use of sociocultural theory and consisted of inquiry-based activities with casts of hominin skulls and pelvic bones. The Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) framework was used as a theoretical framework. Pre- and post-tests were written, before and directly after the activities, and a provincial examination essay question was analysed to see if there was a difference in results between those who attended the PUMP and those who did not. Focus interviews were conducted with learners and teachers. The results of this study indicate that the understanding of human evolution increased following PUMP. This study advocates an inquiry-based approach to the teaching of evolution to learners, preferably at an informal science learning institution such as a museum.
Significance:
• Workshops increased Grade-12 learners’ understanding of human evolution.
• The workshops improved the preliminary examination results of the Grade-12 learners.
• It is recommended that the teaching of human evolution to school learners be supplemented with visits to informal learning centres such as museums.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bb11847af44e440baf9aab1068ccf93e |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1996-7489 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Academy of Science of South Africa |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Journal of Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-bb11847af44e440baf9aab1068ccf93e2025-08-20T02:17:29ZengAcademy of Science of South AfricaSouth African Journal of Science1996-74892025-05-011215/610.17159/sajs.2025/17925Teaching human evolution: How a museum programme in the palaeosciences improved learner performanceGrizelda van Wyk0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4977-5029Shaw Badenhorst1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6651-9660School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South AfricaEvolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa The teaching of evolution at school level in South Africa was introduced in 2006. However, evolution remains a controversial aspect for school learners in South Africa, and many misconceptions persist among teachers and learners. The study described in this paper sought to investigate whether an interactive palaeosciences university-based museum programme (PUMP) would benefit the examination outcome of learners in human evolution in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. The PUMP made use of sociocultural theory and consisted of inquiry-based activities with casts of hominin skulls and pelvic bones. The Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) framework was used as a theoretical framework. Pre- and post-tests were written, before and directly after the activities, and a provincial examination essay question was analysed to see if there was a difference in results between those who attended the PUMP and those who did not. Focus interviews were conducted with learners and teachers. The results of this study indicate that the understanding of human evolution increased following PUMP. This study advocates an inquiry-based approach to the teaching of evolution to learners, preferably at an informal science learning institution such as a museum. Significance: • Workshops increased Grade-12 learners’ understanding of human evolution. • The workshops improved the preliminary examination results of the Grade-12 learners. • It is recommended that the teaching of human evolution to school learners be supplemented with visits to informal learning centres such as museums. https://sajs.co.za/article/view/17925human evolutioninquiry-based learninginformal science learning institutions |
| spellingShingle | Grizelda van Wyk Shaw Badenhorst Teaching human evolution: How a museum programme in the palaeosciences improved learner performance South African Journal of Science human evolution inquiry-based learning informal science learning institutions |
| title | Teaching human evolution: How a museum programme in the palaeosciences improved learner performance |
| title_full | Teaching human evolution: How a museum programme in the palaeosciences improved learner performance |
| title_fullStr | Teaching human evolution: How a museum programme in the palaeosciences improved learner performance |
| title_full_unstemmed | Teaching human evolution: How a museum programme in the palaeosciences improved learner performance |
| title_short | Teaching human evolution: How a museum programme in the palaeosciences improved learner performance |
| title_sort | teaching human evolution how a museum programme in the palaeosciences improved learner performance |
| topic | human evolution inquiry-based learning informal science learning institutions |
| url | https://sajs.co.za/article/view/17925 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT grizeldavanwyk teachinghumanevolutionhowamuseumprogrammeinthepalaeosciencesimprovedlearnerperformance AT shawbadenhorst teachinghumanevolutionhowamuseumprogrammeinthepalaeosciencesimprovedlearnerperformance |