Building connections: Using analogies and metaphors in information literacy instruction

Kathy SnedikerReference & Instruction LibrarianUniversity of South Carolina

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PROSAIC :: MUNDANE

A. obdurate : foolishB. ascetic : austere C. clamorous : captiveD. loquacious : taciturnE. peremptory : spontaneous

Cameron: "In this relationship, I'm the gas pedal and you're the brakes."Mitchell: "OK, wait, wait, wait. Last week, you said that you were the painting and I was the frame."Cameron: "That's if we were artwork. This is if we were a car.“Mitchell: "I know what part you'd be if we were a horse."

“A plus” by Ludwig at https://flic.kr/p/ecYqYi under CC: by-nc-nd/2.0

•Why analogies work

•Benefits in instruction

•Qualities of good analogies

Best practices: constructing and presenting1

• Identify salient attributes• Match with prior knowledge (audience)• Describe the similarities• Identify any limitations• Develop analogy in verbal and/or visual form• Present comparison early in the instruction• Use it to explain examples (and non-examples)• Have learners practice and refer back

1. Adapted from Davis, P. M., & Davidson, G. V. (1994). Language is like the human body: Teaching concepts through analogy. Educational Technology, 34, 27–32.

Pitfalls to avoid

First appeared 8 Dec 1961 © PEANUTS Worldwide; Accessed at http://www.peanuts.com/comicstrips/3257314

• Basic analogiesHashtags/Subject termsCable company/Database vendor

• Activities“Apartment hunting” (Analyzing authority)“Jury selection” (Identifying bias)“Finding your perfect match” (Boolean operators)“What do we have in common?” (Research process)

Examples for information literacy:

Evaluating AuthoritySituation #1

You have to move and are considering renting an apartment in a local complex. If you could only ask one of these people for information, who would it be?

a. Your friend who lived there three years ago

b. Someone you don’t know who lives there now

c. A leasing agent for the complex

Identifying Bias: Jury Selection activity• 30-something white woman accused of reckless driving (going 50

mph in a 30 mph zone)• Her defense is that she was rushing to pick up her children before

daycare closed• She was also disrespectful and verbally abusive to the cop

Imagine you are either the prosecution or the defense lawyer. Write two questions that you want to ask prospective jurors to discover if they have potential bias for/against your side.

Finding your perfect matchImagine a new dating app…

Funny ANDSmart ANDKind ANDHonest ANDAttractive ANDSuccessful AND

Volleyball player ANDGood cook ANDGood dancer ANDOutdoorsy ANDSteelers Fan

Finding your perfect matchImagine a new dating app…

Funny AND ORSmart AND ORKind AND ORHonest AND ORAttractive AND ORSuccessful AND OR

Volleyball player AND ORGood cook AND ORGood dancer AND OROutdoorsy AND ORSteelers Fan

Finding your perfect matchImagine a new dating app…

Funny AND Smart AND Kind AND Honest AND Attractive ORSuccessful OR

Volleyball player Athletic ORGood cook ORGood dancer OutdoorsyAND NOT Steelers Ravens Fan

Icebreaker: Find 2 things in common

What does this have to do with research?

•What do we have in common?• How do I try to find out?• How do I determine the right

answer?

= Information need= Research strategy= Evaluate and synthesize info

Questions? Other examples?

Bibliography

Davis, P. M., & Davidson, G. V. (1994). Language is like the human body: Teaching concepts through analogy. Educational Technology, 34, 27–32.

Earle, R. S. (1995). Teacher imagery and metaphors: Windows to teaching and learning. Educational Technology, 35(4), 52–59.

Ford, D. G. (2002). Teaching Anecdotally. College Teaching, 50(3), 114–115. http://doi.org/10.1080/87567550209595889

Garner, R. (2005). Humor, analogy, and metaphor: H.A.M. it up in teaching. Radical Pedagogy, 6(2). Retrieved from http://www.radicalpedagogy.org

Hickey, D. J. (1999). Figures of thought for college writers. Mountain View, Calif.: Mayfield.