Analogy

ActivityPurpose and DescriptionFormatPreparation and Materials RequiredFinish My AnalogyThe purpose of this activity is to allow students who are not familiar with Analogies to practice comprehending the lesson content by finishing a partially completed Analogy.

• Class

• Instructor presentation materials
• List of partially completed Analogies

• Individual
• Pairs
• Small group

• Student presentation materials

Procedures for Finish My Analogy

1. Explain that the purpose of this activity is to practice comprehending the lesson content by finishing a partially completed Analogy.
2. Present a partially completed Analogy. Only the beginning of the Analogy should be presented. For example, you could say "A is like B because…." and have the students provide the reason why they are similar. Another approach is to say "A is like….." and have the students identify information that is similar and provide the reason why.
3. Have students state the next part of the Analogy and record the Analogy on the presentation material.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until all of the partially completed Analogies on your list have been finished.
5. Provide feedback throughout.
6. Summarize the results of the activity.

Procedures for Analogy Creation

1. Explain that the purpose of this activity is to practice comprehending the lesson content by creating Analogies.
2. Divide students into pairs or small groups if desired.
3. Inform students of the information for which they are to create Analogies.
4. Have students create Analogies for the information.
5. Have the students present their Analogies, the context of their Analogy, and their rationale.
6. Provide feedback.
7. Summarize the results of the activity.

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What kind of media and student materials should I use for Analogies?

There are several media and student materials that can be useful when using Analogies for organized knowledge at the K3: Comprehend level. The following table contains suggestions for how you can integrate media and student materials into your lesson. Clicking on the hyperlink for each medium in the table will take you to a template (if there is one provided). Suggested IMMDescription and Example(s)PowerPoint or OverheadsPowerPoint or overheads can be used to present Analogies.

Example:

Present an Analogy in PowerPoint to compare the information processing approach to learning with the function of a computer.Suggested Student MaterialsDescription and Example(s)Handouts of Descriptive TextHandouts of descriptive text that describe new information through Analogies can be used by the students for review.

Example:

Provide students a handout of descriptive text that compares the information processing approach to learning with the function of a computer and instruct them to use it for review.

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Where can I go to learn more about Analogies?

Chanter, D. Some anecdotes and analogies for illustrating statistical indexes. Retrieved February 25, 2002, from http://science.ntu.ac.uk/rsscse/ts/bts/chanter/text.html

Darling, C. (2002). Composition patterns: Developing an argument: Using analogies. Retrieved February 25, 2002, from http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/composition/argument_analogy.htm

Dickey, J. (1996). Using analogies. Retrieved February 25, 2002, fromhttp://biowww.clemson.edu/biolab/analogies.html

Educational Testing Service. (2000). GRE analogies. Retrieved February 25, 2002, fromhttp://www.gre.org/practice_test/takeanlg.html.

Gagne, R., Briggs, L., & Wager, W. (1992). The principles of instructional design. Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich College Publishers.

Gagne, R., & Medsker, K. (1996). The conditions of learning: Training applications. Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace College Publishers.

Hart, M. (1997). Chemical bonding analogies. Retrieved February 25, 2002, fromhttp://sciencepage.org/anlchbd.htm

Hart, M. (2000). Science analogies. Retrieved February 25, 2002, fromhttp://sciencepage.org/analogy.htm

Information processing approach. (1996). Retrieved May 29, 2002, fromhttp://www.educationau.edu.au/archives/cp/04h.htm

Mello, V. (1998). Analogies: find the appropriate match. Retrieved February 25, 2002, fromhttp://www.aitech.ac.jp/~iteslj/quizzes/vm/analogies01.html

The Psychological Corporation. (2001). The Miller analogies test. Retrieved February 25, 2002, fromhttp://www.tpcweb.com/mat/mat2001/millerAnalogiesTest.html

Rosenshine, B. (1996). Advances in research on instruction. Retrieved March 5, 2002, fromhttp://epaa.asu.edu/barak/barak.html

University of Texas System. (1998). Multimedia best practices: Ways to present information so that it will be remembered. Retrieved February 20, 2002, fromhttp://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~best/html/learning.htm

West, C., Farmer, J., & Wolff, P. (1991). Instructional design: Implications from cognitive science. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

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