ERIC Number: EJ1474366
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Jun
Pages: 28
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0926-7220
EISSN: EISSN-1573-1901
Available Date: 2024-01-29
Exploring Diverse Views of Taiwanese Christians on Teaching Evolution from the Perspective of Worldviews
Hsin-Chueh Chen1,2; Mei-Chun Lin3,4; Chun-Yen Chang5,6
Science & Education, v34 n3 p1433-1460 2025
Multicultural science education advocates that science education should pay attention to the uniqueness of students from different backgrounds. In developing instructional strategies, educators should respect students' differences according to their culture. However, In Taiwan, while Darwin's theory of evolution is taught in high school biology, little attention is given to the challenges Christian students may encounter in understanding an evolutionary worldview. The relationship between evolutionary and creationist worldviews has been a contentious issue, and motivating Christian students to learn about evolution in science classes presents a significant pedagogical challenge. This article is an exploratory study that investigates the diverse views of Taiwanese Christians on teaching evolutionary biology, contextualized within Taiwanese society and culture from the lens of worldview theory. The participants were Taiwanese Christians who have consistently participated in Lord's table meetings for over three years and have learned evolutionary theory. A mixed-methods approach was used, combining quantitative questionnaires and qualitative individual interviews. From 684 valid questionnaires and 52 in-depth interviews, the study found that 66.2% of participants support the inclusion of evolutionary theory, creation theory, and intelligent design theory in the classroom. The rationale behind this viewpoint is multifaceted. Firstly, all three theories are critical and reasonable. When students understand these three different theories, they can enrich their knowledge and compare the similarities, differences, and authenticity of the theories, thereby cultivating a scientific spirit and the ability to think independently. This process helps them gradually construct their own viewpoints and learn to respect and embrace different viewpoints. These Christians also realize that human intelligence is limited and that neither science nor evolutionary theory can fully explain the world. Therefore, people should humbly explore different theories in their quest for the light of truth. The findings offer valuable insights into the instructional design of evolutionary biology education, especially in multicultural contexts.
Descriptors: Christianity, World Views, Science Instruction, Teaching Methods, Evolution, Genetics, Foreign Countries, Multicultural Education, Cultural Differences, Biology, High School Students, Student Attitudes, Religious Education, Instructional Design
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Taiwan
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Graduate Institute of digital Learning and Education, Taipei, Taiwan; 2University of Twente in the Netherlands, Enschede, Netherlands; 3National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan, Shulin Elementary School, Graduate Institute of Science Education, New Taipei City, Taiwan; 4Shulin Elementary School, New Taipei City, Taiwan; 5National Taiwan Normal University, Graduate Institute of Science Education, Department of Earth Sciences, and Science Education Center, Taipei, Taiwan; 6Universitas Negeri Malang, Department of Biology, Malang, Indonesia