Module 8: Evolution and Natural Selection

Imagine that a new exhibit at the Smithsonian's Natural History Museum focuses on the theory of evolution and that you have been invited to create a 3-5 minute podcast to which people can listen as they view pictures, video, and artifacts. In order to be complimentary to the exhibit, your podcast will need to cover important facts about the history of the theory, mechanisms of evolution, and natural selection.

Your podcast must include:

• An introduction to the fossil record;
• Information about three contributors to the theory of evolution, including Charles Darwin;
• The definition of evolution, with basic information about all five mechanisms of evolution; and
• An expanded explanation of natural selection, including information about the types of natural selection.

Your podcast should be well-organized, creative, and interesting. Instead of just presenting the information, your podcast should weave the facts together in order to tell a “story” about the theory of evolution. In addition to your audio file, you should submit a transcript of your podcast. Use the audio recording information found in the Developmental Module to help you create your podcast.

Before you begin, access the Evolution Exhibit Podcast Rubric to make sure that you include all of the items required for full credit. You may need to use resources outside of this course to complete this assignment. If so, please submit a Works Cited document. If you need assistance, visit the Developmental Module for information on citing any resources that you use.

Reflection

In this assignment, you took on the role of a museum curator. What process(es) did you use to select and organize the information that you included in your podcast? Do you think your process(es) is/are similar to what a museum curator really uses? What other considerations would a curator have to take into account? Respond to these questions in a brief four-to-five sentence paragraph.

Once you have completed your podcast, please submit the audio file and the transcript, as well as your reflection, to the dropbox.

 

Once you have completed this module, please complete the module test.