ETS: Metaphors and Analogies Teaching is a Work of Art

Expected Outcomes By the end of this presentation participants will be able to: Define “metaphor” and indicate rationale for using this strategy. Know the process for having students use metaphors as a learning tool. Understand a process for teaching “analogy-type thinking” to students Create analogies for classroom use.

Research and Rationale Identifying similarities and differences in the classroom Tasks that involve: comparisons, classifications and metaphors and analogies

Metaphors and Analogies Create mental images of similarities and differences in an abstract way Involve highly robust activities that enhance students’ understanding of and their ability to use knowledge

Metaphor Vs Analogy Your Task: Read the two examples below and answer the question. Which example is a metaphor and which is an analogy? Discuss your decision with a friend. Example #1: Bone is to skeleton as word is to sentence. Example#2: Love is a rose.

Answer Example #1 is the metaphor Example #2 is the analogy

Let’s Examine Why… What are metaphors and how can we construct them? Metaphors: Creating a metaphor involves the process of identifying a general or basic pattern in a specific topic and then finding another topic that appears to be quite different but has the same general pattern.

Love is a Rose Literal Interpretation: ROSE – blossom, sweet to smell, pleasant to look at, but has thorns that can stick you and hurt you. Abstract: LOVE/ROSE – both are something wonderful, but if you get too close you might get hurt. Literal Interpretation: LOVE – makes you feel happy, but the person you love can end up hurting you

Conclusions… Abstract level – Love and Rose appear related; therefore, Instructional strategies address abstract relationships

Metaphor Graphic Organizer Life is a box of chocolates. Element#1 Literal Pattern Abstract Literal Pattern Element#2 One never Knows what one gets in Life Can be Surprising unexpected A journey Surprising Unexpected Turn of events Varieties Sweet Unexpected Turn of events Life Box of chocolates

What Are Analogies and How can We Construct Them? Analogies involve the process of identifying the relationship between pairs of concepts – in other words, identifying the relationship between relationships Typically take the form: A is to B as C is to D - Hot is to cold as night is to day. (opposites) -Carpenter is to hammer as painter is to brush. 3. Complex format for identifying similarities and differences. (relationships between relationships)

Analogy Thought Process Fin is to fish as Beak is to _______. receipt b. wing c. bird d. eel A fin is part of a fish. A fish is an animal. Receipt and wing are not animals. Eels are animals but don’t have wings. So, correct answer is BIRD.

Analogy Graphic Organizer thermometer temperature is to Relationship__________________________ odometer is to

Answer Thermometer is to temperature as odometer is to distance. 1. A thermometer is an instrument that measures incremental changes in something. 2. A thermometer measures changes in temperature. 3. An odometer is an instrument that measures incremental changes in something. 4. An odometer measures changes in distance. So, the correct answer is distance.

How does the organizer help? Helps students understand the nature of analogies, and Helps them see what relationships exist between two elements

Final Thought Like metaphors, analogies help us see how seemingly dissimilar things are similar, which in turn increases our students’ understandings of new information.

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