Challenges in Using Analogies

Shih-Yin Lin and Chandrelekha Singh

This article will show us how
analogy did not help students
learn
Lin and Singh examined introductory
physics students ability to use analogies
in solving problems involving Newtons
second law by giving them two different
but similar problems.
Lin and Singh examined introductory
physics students ability to use analogies
in solving problems involving Newtons
second law by giving them two different
but similar problem.

Here are those two problems...

Problem A
Problem A

Problem B
 Can you construct analogical connections between these two
cases?
Explain how that analogy would help students learn.

Problem A

Problem B
 Can you construct analogical connections between these two
cases?
Explain how that analogy would help students learn.

Problem A

Problem B
The solution for problem 1 provided to the students:
The solution for problem 1 provided to the students:
Here are the instructions to solve Problem 2:
Here are the instructions to solve Problem 2:
Unfortunately 65% of the students couldnt really
construct an analogy between these two cases.
Unfortunately 65% of the students couldnt really
construct an analogy between these two cases.

Here are some of the students answer..

Can you find students
misconception here?
Can you find students
misconception here?
Can you find students
misconception here?
Time for class discussion...
Time for class discussion...

This article have shown us how analogy DID NOT help students learn.

What do you think the possible reasons that this study failed?

Is there ways they might have been more effective when they did this
study?
Time for class discussion...

This article have shown us how analogy DID NOT help students learn.

What do you think the possible reasons that this study failed?

Is there ways they might have been more effective when they did this
study?
Time for class discussion...

This article have shown us how analogy DID NOT help students learn.

What do you think the possible reasons that this study failed?

Are there ways they might have been more effective when they did this
study?
My opinion:
My opinion:

-The instructors only gave the students a tool, but they did
not explain how to use it.

So, If they could have demonstrated the technique with

their students with some concept that they all understood
very well

for example: How to tie a ship knot compared to how to tie

a shoe,

Or how to use an Ipad compared to how to use a regular

computer,

Or how to drive a motorcycle compared to how to drive a

bicycle.
My opinion:

-The instructors only gave the students a tool, but they did
not explain how to use it.

So, If they could have demonstrated the technique with

their students with some concept that they all understood
very well

for example: How to tie a ship knot compared to how to tie

a shoe,

Or how to use an Ipad compared to how to use a regular

computer,

Or how to drive a motorcycle compared to how to drive a

bicycle.
My opinion:

-The instructors only gave the students a tool, but they did
not explain how to use it.

So, If they could have demonstrated the technique with

their students with some concept that they all understood
very well

for example: How to tie a ship knot compared to how to tie

a shoe,

Or how to use an Ipad compared to how to use a regular

computer,

Or how to drive a motorcycle compared to how to drive a

bicycle.
My opinion:

-The instructors only gave the students a tool, but they did
not explain how to use it.

So, If they could have demonstrated the technique with

their students with some concept that they all understood
very well

for example: How to tie a ship knot compared to how to tie

a shoe,

Or how to use an Ipad compared to how to use a regular

computer,

Or how to drive a motorcycle compared to how to drive a

bicycle.
My opinion:

-The instructors only gave the students a tool, but they did
not explain how to use it.

So, If they could have demonstrated the technique with

their students with some concept that they all understood
very well

for example: How to tie a ship knot compared to how to tie

a shoe,

Or how to use an Ipad compared to how to use a regular

computer,

Or how to drive a motorcycle compared to how to drive a

bicycle.
So the FAMILIAR domain they were using was not really familiar to the
students.

They only ASSUMED it was familiar because they had told students the
answer using DIRECT INSTRUCTION which we already know does not
work!
So the FAMILIAR domain they were using was not really familiar to the
students.

They only ASSUMED it was familiar because they had told students the
answer using DIRECT INSTRUCTION which we already know does not
work!