Learning Targets: Analogies

There were some good questions put forth after last week's Learning Target session. One teacher said that they needed more examples from their specific subject area, but alas, that person did not include their name, so I don't know what subject area that might be. If you would like examples from your specific subject area, please shoot me an email and I would be happy to provide some. See the full Q&A in this post.

Creating Comparisons

HOT: Higher Order Thinking

The analogies from the exit tickets were somewhat creative, although it may have helped if I had provided a clear definition of an analogy. Here is one from literarydevices.net: An analogy is a comparison in which an idea or a thing is compared to another thing that is quite different from it. It aims at explaining that idea or thing by comparing it to something that is familiar.

Using analogies or similes is one of the strategies from the book Total Participation Techniques. You can read a full description of the strategy and how it encourages higher order thinking by clicking here. As the results below demonstrate, the key to success with this strategy is to explain the concept thoroughly and model it. Including the explanation or the "because" is an important piece for students to include so you have some insight into what they are thinking.

There are many easy to implement ideas in this book that engage all students. According to the authors, “TPTs are teaching techniques that allow for all students to demonstrate, at the same time, active participation and cognitive engagement in the topic being studied.” For an overview of all of the techniques included in the book, check out this Quick Reference Guide.

Your Analogies/Similes

Learning targets...
...are like signs in the market, telling you where to go.
...are like an energy drink (except they don't give heart attacks) because they get you going and help you focus.
...allow students to navigate their own learning. It's like going on a journey and giving students the map.

Learning targets...
...are the guideposts for METACOGNITION! (because...)
...are like targets because they allow students to know what to aim for. (can you think of something quite different to compare them to?)
...are like passed hors d'ouvres and standards are the main course. (because...)
...are like a map for students to get to the desired outcome of learning. (their learning destination?)

Learning targets...
...are like a public school requirement because I used to have to do these in the public school I left.
...are like targets...for...learning... :0