You are here

Using Analogies in Middle and Secondary Science Classrooms
Share

Using Analogies in Middle and Secondary Science Classrooms
The FAR Guide – An Interesting Way to Teach With Analogies

Edited by:


November 2007 | 288 pages | Corwin

"Makes a distinct contribution to science instruction. Many teachers attempt to use analogies and metaphors to introduce abstract concepts; however, little is available on how to do this with specific examples. The authors definitely address a need."
—Douglas Llewellyn, Professor of Science Education
St. John Fisher College

"Helps preservice and novice teachers use analogies and allows teachers to bridge the gap that sometimes occurs when students are learning abstract concepts. The examples cover a wide variety of subjects and are written in a concise, easy-to-understand voice."
—John D. Ophus, Assistant Professor of Science Education
University of Northern Iowa

Use the power of analogies to enliven your science classroom and meet national standards!

When analogies are effective, they readily engage students' interest and clarify difficult and abstract ideas. But not all analogies are created equal, and developing them is not always intuitive. Drawing from an extensive research base on the use of analogies in the classroom, Allan Harrison, Richard Coll, and a team of science experts come to the rescue with more than 40 teacher-friendly, ready-to-use analogies for biology, earth and space studies, chemistry, and physics.

The authors show teachers how and when to select analogies for instruction, why certain analogies work or break down, how to gauge their effectiveness, and how to improve them. Designed to enhance teachers' presentation and interpretation of analogies through focus, action, and reflection (FAR), this guidebook includes:

  • Key science concepts explained through effective models and analogies
  • Research findings on the use of analogies and their motivational impact
  • Guidelines that allow teachers and students to develop their own analogies
  • Numerous visual aids, science vignettes, and anecdotes to support the use of analogies

Linked to NSTA standards, Using Analogies in Middle & Secondary Science Classrooms will become a much-used text by teachers who want to enrich inquiry-based science instruction.


 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Editors and Contributors
 
Introduction
 
Part I. How We Can Use Analogies to Improve Science Teaching
Allan G. Harrison
1. Teaching With Analogies: Friends or Foes?
Grady J. Venville
2. The Focus-Action-Reflection (FAR) Guide--Science Teaching Analogies
Neil Taylor, Richard K. Coll
3. Using Analogies to Increase Student Interest in Science
Allan G. Harrison
4. Multiple Analogies Are Better Than One-Size-Fits-All Analogies
Richard K. Coll, David F. Treagust
5. Inquiry-Based Teacher- and Student-Generated Analogies
 
Part II. Analogies for Teaching Science
Grady J. Venville
6. Effective Biology Analogies
Richard K. Coll
7. Effective Chemistry Analogies
Allan G. Harrison
8. Effective Physics Analogies
Neil Taylor, Terry Lyons
9. Effective Earth and Space Science Analogies
 
References
 
Index

"We need a book to help preservice and novice teachers use analogies and this resource allows teachers to bridge the gap that sometimes occurs when students are learning abstract concepts. The examples cover a wide variety of subjects and are written in a concise, easy-to-understand voice."

John D. Ophus, Assistant Professor of Science Education
University of Northern Iowa

"This book will make a definite contribution to the teaching of science."

Sara Lynne Murrell, Instructional Coach
Bethel Elementary School, Simpsonville, SC

"Makes a distinct contribution to science instruction. Many teachers attempt to use analogies and metaphors to introduce abstract concepts; however, little is offered on how to do this with specific examples. The authors definitely address a need."

Douglas Llewellyn, Professor of Science Education
St. John Fisher College

"The book has great potential for promoting thinking and understanding in science. It should be useful to teachers and students in strengthening conceptual and content background."

Sandra K. Enger, Associate Professor
The University of Alabama in Huntsville

"The authors explain that scientists use analogies regularly in their research and writing. Analogies such as a supermarket for the biological classification system and a school dance for chemical equilibrium are discussed for their individual effectiveness in stimulating learning."

CHOICE Magazine, June 2008, Vol. 45(10)
American Library Association

Very good book on analogies, but could not adopt as primary text. It is a reference text for two learning objectives in my class.

Ms Nicole Lirette-Pitre
Secondary Teaching, Université de Moncton
December 4, 2012
Key features
  • More than 40 content-linked, hands-on, and ready-to-use science analogies for earth science, chemistry, physics and astronomy, and biology 
  • Key science concepts explained through effective models and analogies
  • Numerous visual aids to support the use of analogies in the classroom 
  • Numerous science vignettes and ancedotes  
  • An outline that allows teachers to plan and develop their own analogies
  • A summary of research findings and the motivational impact of analogies
  • Links to the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) standards
  • International authors and contributors present at AERA, NSTA, and other U.S. conferences

Sample Materials & Chapters

Introduction


Purchasing options

For large school/district orders, volume discounts, availability and shipping times contact customer service at 800-233-9936
or order@corwin.com.

contact corwin

Please select a format:

ISBN: 9781412913331
CAD$ 59.95
ISBN: 9781412913324
CAD$ 130.95

For large school/district orders, volume discounts, availability and shipping times contact customer service at 800-233-9936
or order@corwin.com.

For instructors