The document discusses the use of metaphorical thinking and analogies as tools for enhancing creative problem-solving and understanding complex concepts in educational settings. It emphasizes how analogies can help connect unfamiliar ideas to familiar ones, promote cognitive dissonance, and inspire new perspectives. Various methods for implementing analogy-based learning in the classroom are provided, including brainstorming parallels and designing personal analogies.

1. Metaphorical
Thinking
A Microscope for Seeing Content Creatively
Lisa Rubenstein
Ball State University
Indiana Association for the Gifted
December 16, 2014

2. Analogies are comparisons of the similar features of
two things. They are mental telescopes [or microscopes]
through which you can spy ideas.
-Michael Michalko

3. James Geary

4. Why use metaphors?
Understand the concept (abstract?)
Solve a problem with new perspective
Think about topic from a different
angle...inspiration.

5. Understanding the
Concept
We are threatened by the strange.
Helps to connect with something
familiar
Helps to make sense of unfamiliar
Promotes cognitive dissonance and
constructivist learning ideals

6. Understand the
concept.

7. Solve a problem from a
new perspective.

8. Cave Man Meet Fish
(Davis, 2004)

9. Inspiration...

10. Option 1: Force it.
Goal: Improve a flashlight.
Metaphor: Attend medical school.

11. Improving flashlight is like
attending medical school
Need textbook/
manuals
Attend class/talk to
professors
Learn how to
administer
anesthesia
Insulate myself from
social demands
Practice on cadavers
Package first aid kits
with lights
Incorporate a radio
transmitter
Include mace for
protection
Insulate flashlights to
protect batteries
Include a miniature
tool kit

12. Option 2: Give options.
Pick a problem.
Can’t sell copiers
Want to increase library usage
Can’t get the car to start
Can’t motivate students
Need to design a swimming pool
Time to
Experiment

13. Now pick an analogy
counterpart...
Television evangelists
Denny’s
Your favorite sports team (hint:
Steelers)
Tape measure
Pearl Harbor

14. Brainstorm the
characteristics of
your analogy.

15. Apply those
characteristics to
your problem.

16. What are some
potential solutions?

17. Make the familiar
strange.
State your challenge.
Choose a key word or phrase.
Choose a parallel or distant field.
List the images you you associate with
your chosen field.
Look for similarities and connections
between the two.

18. Tips for Parallels
Chose a field you know well.
The more detailed the better. (Instead of
restaurants, think Taco Bell.)
Finding parallels...use wikipedia....
Or even... nature, accounting,
birds, football, China, comics,
dance, mafia, mining, reality
television, ballet, WWI, sailing,
jungles, insects, bowling...

19. Imagine this in the
classroom...

20. Questions to Scaffold
How is teaching like football?
How is the water cycle like Taco Bell?
How is Charlie (chocolate factory) like
Manny (modern family)?
How are sine graphs like lighthouses?
Scaffold creativity.
Option 1

21. Give students the concept. (Discuss/
lecture...)
Create a list of potential analogies.
Have them create the attributes and
the connections.
Describe the similarities and
dissimilarities.
Scaffold creativity.
Option 2

22. Design your own analogy.
Scaffold creativity.
Option 3

23. Other Analogies
Fantasy Analogy: Fantastic,
farfetched, craziest situation possible.
Symbolic Analogy: Oxymorons
Personal Analogy: Empathy, become the
challenge/concept.

24. A teaching analogy...
How is teaching like a movie?
What makes a good movie good?
What makes a bad movie bad?

26. WHY ARE SPOILERS SO
FRUSTRATING?

27. Spoiler
Alert

29. ?
?

31. HOW WAS ____ DISCOVERED?
CAN WE REPLICATE IN THE
CLASSROOM?

32. Concluding Thoughts
Analogies can be used to help students
connect unfamiliar content to the
familiar.
Analogies can be used for inspiration
and problem solving...even within the
teaching profession.

33. Questions?
lmrubenstein@bsu.edu