A Critical Analysis of the Concept of Nature and Natural Balance in Secondary Biology Education: a Textbook Analysis.

Abstract

Your worldview influences how you view nature and how you approach conservation of natural systems. At the moment pupils from secondary education carry multiple misconceptions in regard to the concept of natural balance, possibly because of the image that is portrayed of nature by biology textbooks. This qualitative research describes what image of nature and natural balance three Dutch biology textbooks and two teacher guidebooks portray. The scientific consensus is that there is no such thing as natural balance. The outcome of the textbook analysis shows that textbooks present a mechanical image of nature regarding the worldviews and natural balance is still present in the form of stable equilibria. We advise teachers not to use textbooks as their sole source to prepare their lessons to prevent these kinds of misconceptions.