Outschool
Open currency, time zone, and language settings
Log In

Rise of the Amphibians: Temnospondyls to Lissamphibians

In this ongoing class students will learn about the different families in the evolution of Amphibians
Chidumebi Ikechi Njoku-Browne
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:
(858)
Class
Play

What's included

1 live meeting
35 mins in-class hours per week

Class Experience

US Grade 5 - 8
Beginner Level
Students will be taught about the evolution of what is traditionally classified as Amphibians and their evolutionary history. 
The primary topics covered will be each of the Families and Genera that are classified under the umbrella of Amphibia. However this class will also go into how Amphibian is a useful, but archaic scientific term as well, in order to give students a better understanding of the evolutionary relationships.
The class will primarily be structured along following the timeline of evolution for Amphibia. As an example we will first look at the most basal members of a group and what are the major defining features of the group. Then the next class would focus on a major branch and continue to follow that group and its descendant branches. Eventually once that branch is fully completed, then we would return to the next major branch. 
I will teach using a mixture of images, video clips, and interactive dialogue. 
My teaching style can best be described as interactive. I like to encourage my students to raise their hand and ask questions, and ask for their thoughts and provide input.
Learners will primarily get to interact with me through discussion.

An example of a schedule would be:
Week of Jan 14: What counts as an amphibian
Week of Jan 21: Early Batrachomorphs
Week of Jan 28: Edopoids
Week of Feb 4: Dvinosaurs
Week of Feb 11: Branchiosaurs
Week of Feb 18: Dissorophids

Learning Goals

Students will learn about the evolutionary history of Amphibians.
Students will learn about the major defining traits of Amphibia as a whole
learning goal

Other Details

Parental Guidance
This class will discuss topics just as predation, including mechanics of hunting, sometimes documentary clips will be shown of Amphibian hunting techniques.
Pre-Requisites
There is no prerequisite learning. This is primarily an introduction to this group.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
“8. A phylogenetic investigation of the inter- and intrarelationships of the Lissamphibia (Amphibia: Temnospondyli).” Origins of the Higher Groups of Tetrapods, 31 Dec. 2018, pp. 223–314, https://doi.org/10.7591/9781501718335-010. Andrews, S. M., and R. L. Carroll. “The order Adelospondyli: Carboniferous lepospondyl amphibians.” Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh: Earth Sciences, vol. 82, no. 3, 1991, pp. 239–275, https://doi.org/10.1017/s0263593300005332. Carroll, Robert L. Lepospondyli: Microsauria, Nectridea, Lysorophia, Adelospondyli, Aistopoda, Acherontiscidae. Verlag F. Pfeil, 1998. García-París, Mario, et al. Amphibia: Lissamphibia. Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 2004. GARDNER, JAMES D. “Monophyly and affinities of Albanerpetontid amphibians (Temnospondyli; Lissamphibia).” Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, vol. 131, no. 3, Mar. 2001, pp. 309–352, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2001.tb02240.x. Gee, Bryan Michael. Temnos (Temnospondyl Evolution, Morphology, Nomenclature, and Other Stuff),  an Openly Available Database of Curated Temnospondyl Datasets, 27 Nov. 2024, https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/tfrbu. Harvey Pough, F., et al. “Origins of Lissamphibia and Amniota.” Vertebrate Life, 14 Nov. 2022, https://doi.org/10.1093/hesc/9780197558621.003.0009. Russell, Jesse. Temnospondyli. Book On Demand Ltd, 2013.
Joined June, 2019
4.9
858reviews
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Master's Degree in Public Administration from University of Baltimore
Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and Government from Alvernia University
I have worked at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum for several years in their education department where I have taught about prehistoric life. I have gone on several digs in Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota. Studied paleontology under Philip J. Currie and Thomas R. Holtz.

Reviews

Live Group Class
Share

$13

weekly
1x per week
35 min

Live video meetings
Ages: 11-16
1-12 learners per class

About
Support
SafetyPrivacyCA PrivacyLearner PrivacyYour Privacy ChoicesTerms
Financial Assistance
Get The App
Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
© 2025 Outschool