Drawing on Linguistics: Concepts, Metaphors and

Colored Pencils

Kristen Precht-Byrd

The Problem

• Integrating complex information into students’ existing schema.

Existing background knowledge

METAPHOR

New integrated knowledge

Set-up

• Describe metaphorsfor linguistics

• Focus on relevant content

Content

Set-up

• Have students use colored pencils and play-doh to create their own metaphor for a linguistics concept

• Students scan or photograph their work.

Writing

• Students describe their metaphor: – Extend it from their own knowledge to the

course material–Describe relationships between elements in

the metaphor–Discuss implications/

conclusions• Students upload picture and

paragraph to BbLearn.

Online Interaction

• To get students to engage in discussion, direct them to:1) Ask questions, 2) Make their responses full of thought, insight and analysis, and 3) Connect to the real world and the course content.

Online Interaction cont.

• Instructor should model thinking/integration in a sample discussion post.

• Students read others’ metaphors and comments, and integrate others’ points more easily because they’re linked to familiar concepts.

Connecting Personally

Initially, I was thinking of something similar conceptually, being a musician of how there are progressions I can write that no one else has, and equating that to new words.

Extending the Metaphor

I'm glad you included grammar in your metaphor. In my drawing, I focused on the building blocks of language, but the idea of "binding" these blocks together to make one universal shape definitely takes it one step further.

Student FeedbackStudents reported that they enjoyed the project. Specifically, they said they were able to:•think creatively and innovatively•think critically•allow for expression of abstract thought•analyze•interact with peers in a way that was enjoyable and helpful•get feedback from peers and instructor which allowed them to see multiple perspectives

Drawing a Metaphor

• Flexible tool for helping with conceptual complexities

• Appropriate in just about any discipline • Effective at many different levels• Effective in student appreciation of concepts• Highly interactive online activity• Students liked it

Sum It Up

• Conceptually chewy areas• Students develop metaphors with colored

pencils and play-doh• Write up the metaphors• Interact around those metaphors on the

discussion board• Give insightful feedback