Metaphors and Analogies
Overview
Metaphors and analogies can support learners by helping to form connections and to notice patterns and similarities that promote learning, self-concept, and higher order thinking. By organizing information and drawing comparisons to more familiar domains, metaphors and analogies provide a framework for thinking about disciplinary information, more complex concepts such as health and social issues, as well as abstract concepts such as intelligence. Metaphors can transform the usual way of thinking or seeing things thereby supporting Cognitive Flexibility.
Use It In Your Learning Environment
Analogies support Numeracy by conveying math concepts in a form that learners can relate to, supporting their understanding and Self-efficacy. Analogy instruction also promotes Foundational Reading Skills, supporting Decoding of unfamiliar words by highlighting orthographic patterns, and supporting text comprehension through accommodating new information during reading.
Metaphors can be created with words or visuals which can be incorporated into product design. Because metaphors and analogies are often based on comparison to a familiar concept, it is essential to have a good understanding of the learner's Background Knowledge when using metaphors and analogies to teach new concepts, and fundamental to culturally responsive teaching. In addition, English language learners and learners from other cultures may not be familiar with the common metaphors used in English so it is important to ensure an understanding before applying them in a learning context.
Success in using analogies and metaphors in the learning environment involves supporting learners to feel empowered to engage in the higher order thinking they need to draw these similarities, promoting Reasoning and Metacognition. As adult learners have unique stories, identities, cultural backgrounds, and personalities that need to feel valued in learning environments, it is supportive to give them space to share these aspects of their lives through metaphor creation.
Additional Resources
Additional examples, research, and professional development. These resources are possible representations of this strategy, not endorsements.
Factors Supported by this Strategy
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When adults can connect and communicate with authentic audiences about their interests and values, learning becomes more personally meaningful and relevant.
Opportunities for students to practice skills in context, with instructor support and also independently, helps to move concepts and ideas into Long-term Memory.
Intentionally incorporating voice and choice into adult learning experiences is critical for making learning meaningful and relevant.
Mindfulness is a practice to create internal balance and a sense of being present in the moment.
Instruction and training presented in multiple formats allows learners to activate different cognitive skills and Background Knowledge that are necessary to remember procedural and content information.
When instructors ask questions or have learners create questions before introducing a text, they activate interest, increase Motivation, and help them assess what they already know about a given topic.
Learning and studying information across multiple sessions that are spaced, or distributed in time, can promote learning and long-term retention of both basic and conceptually complex facts and concepts.