Reading Apprenticeship Inspired Assignment or Lesson

This assignment is intended for non-major, introductory biological anthropology students. Students will complete this assignment during the second week of the course, when they are being introduced to both the foundational concepts of biological anthropology, and the concept of metacognition. For the vast majority of students in this course, this will be the first and likely only biological science course they will encounter during their community college education.

Evaluation of this assignment will include assessment of (a) the accuracy of their video summary, (b) the relevance of their metacognitive reflections to the subject matter of the reading/video, (c) their demonstration of critical thinking, and (d) their completion of the assignment prompts.

This activity supports metacognitive work by inviting students to become aware of their prior knowledge about human evolution and biases and assumptions about this topic, as well as the influence of these in their own reading process to integrate new information.

This activity works by having students individually (1) read one article, (2) watch one video, (3) answer a series of questions about the reading/video, and (4) respond via discussion board to others’ responses.

The assignment is asynchronous 

Students need 1 hour total to complete this assignment:

10 minutes to read the article

5 minutes to watch the video

15 minutes to take notes on article and video

20 minutes to answer their personal prompt questions

10 minutes to respond to a classmate 

The assignment is worth a total of 5 points. 

Abstract Instructions:

Step 1: Read, “Physical Anthropology and the Scientific Method” (Jurmain 2001). While you read, take notes on what you’re thinking during your reading process.

Step 2: Watch video, “Humans did NOT Evolve from Chimpanzees” (Clint Explains 2021). While you watch, take notes on what you’re thinking during your viewing process.

Step 3 (4pts total): Post answers to discussion board

(1pt) Using only your own words, write a complete, two-paragraph summary of the content in the video, “Humans Did NOT Evolve from Chimpanzees.” 

(0.5pt) Before watching the assigned video, what had you already learned previously about this topic (human evolution in relation to chimps and other apes)

(0.5pt) Drawing from the discussion of bias in the article, “Physical Anthropology and the Scientific Method,” describe any biases you had previously regarding the topic of human evolution in relation to ape

(1pt) Refer back to your notes, and describe what thoughts you had during your reading/watching process. How did your thoughts relate to the content in the article? How did your thoughts relate to the content in the video?

(1pt) Drawing explicitly from the assigned reading, describe you think is important to know about the scientific method, and how should this influence our understanding of scientific “theories,” such as the theory of evolution?

Step 4 (1pt): Respond to classmates on discussion board

Relate your classmate’s reading process to your own (e.g., similarities, differences, shared or contrasting biases, ways that your classmate’s reflections have further developed your own thinking about this subject.)

This assignment will utilize one short (1 page) excerpt from a textbook, and one short (4 minute) video on YouTube. These texts were selected for their simplicity, high accessibility, and foundational nature of their content in relation to biological anthropology.  

1. [Reading] Jurmain, Robert. 2001. “Physical Anthropology and the Scientific Method.” In Essentials of Physical Anthropology, 4th Edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. [PDF provided to students]
2. [Video] Clint Explains. 2021. “Humans did NOT Evolve from Chimpanzees.” Self-Published on YouTube. Streaming media available at: https://youtu.be/EjgHN_8CdVE