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

Analogies are often used in science to engage student interest and explain difficult and abstract ideas. While some analogies effectively clarify difficult concepts, many are inadequte or can cause further confusion. Drawing from an extensive research base on the use of analogies in the classroom, Allan Harrison and Richard Coll have compiled more than 40 interesting and effective science analogies that are teacher-friendly and ready for implementation. Using the FAR approach (Focus, Action, and Reflection), the authors show teachers how and when to select analogies for use in instruction, where certain analogies work and where they break down, and how to gauge the effectiveness of certain strategies in the classroom. Using this guidebook, teachers will be able to recognize conceptual problems within many commonly used analogies and learn how to improve them.

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

About the Author :
Allan G. Harrison is Associate Professor of Science Education at Central Queensland University. Allan taught biology, chemistry and physics to students in Grades 7-12 for 25 years before completing his MSc and PhD at Curtin University of Technology in Perth, Western Australia. He has taught science teachers for 10 years and has researched teaching and learning with analogies for 15 years and published articles on science analogies in all leading science education journals. Allan also studies the capacity of analogies to engender conceptual change. He brings to this book his personal practical experience in teaching with analogies in high school and his research on other teachers’ use of analogies. He believes that analogies, when used well, enhance students’ interest and knowledge in science. He hopes you will share with him his commitment to learning for understanding. Richard K. Coll is associate professor of science education at the University of Waikato, New Zealand. Richard holds a PhD in chemistry from Canterbury University and an EdD in science education from Curtin University of Technology. His research interests are concerned with mental models of science concepts, and a variety of aspects of work-integrated learning.

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