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Explore the use of analogies in learning and testing, presented by Virginia Malone. Understand relationships between known and unknown concepts. Apply analogy structure to enhance comprehension and problem-solving skills.
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Analogies for Multiple Choice Testing Presented by Virginia Malone May 19, 2004
Analogies • Abstract ideas are often learned as analogies. • Greater understanding of Known means Greater understanding of Unknown • Stronger analogies - more similarities between Known and Unknown
Two Part Structure • The Known or Source or Analog • The Unknown or Target • Order – Target to Source for learning
Analogies for LearningUnknown to Known Ken Lay was like a vulture feeding on carrion. NOT A vulture feeding on carrion was like Ken Ray.
Like • Ken Lay seemed insatiable, just as a vulture seem to be insatiable. • Ken Lay had little regard for his energy source just as a vulture has little regard for its energy source • Enron did not know that Ken was taking money, just as the carrion does not know that the vulture is eating it.
Different • Ken Lay cannot fly, but he can flee the country, a vulture can fly, but not too good at fleeing its territory. • Ken Lay hid some Enron’s money for use on another day. Vultures do not hide carrion for later use.
Formal Presentation of Analogies Used in Testing Source I : Source II :: Target I : Target II Principal : School :: President : Country
Determine Like and Different President - Principal. Like Both tell us how we are doing Both lead Different President leads a nation Principal leads our school
All Options Must Be Related to Target I Principal : School :: President : a. Congress b. Country c. Students d. White House c. Leader
Target II Should Be in Same Category as Source II Principal : School :: President : a. Congress b. Country c. Leader d. White House Source II - Entity Leader – Role c. State
Options should not be tricky. Boycott : Seller :: Strike : a. picket, b. union, c. buyer,d.company Buyer too closely associated with seller. Option will pull but not because of relationship.
Analogies Should Require an Understanding of Relationships Polio : Salk :: Rabies : a.Pasteur, b.Sabin, c.Lister, d. Curie Sources not useful. All of the people should have something to do with rabies.
Better Salk : Polio :: Pasteur : a. rabies, b. bacteriac. malaria,d. botulism Bacteria is a cause not a disease. Not same catergory. Plague might be better. Malaria is not a disease that Pasteur studied. Small pox would be better. Pasteur was concerned with food spoilage related to botulism.
Two Source I – Two Target I WWII & Germany : Hitler :: WWII & USA : • Roosevelt • Eisenhower • Patton • Churchill Ampersand plus colon – upper grades
Dates Independence : 1776 :: Emancipation : a. 1787, b. 1812, c. 1863, d. 1916 Source not useful. Anything other than a date would be a throw away option. No analogy needed to answer the make the choice just match the date.
Better but not perfect 1776 : Independence :: 1863 : a. Emancipation b. Prohibition c. Lincoln d. Civil War • Not related to 1863 - replace • Lincoln – not an event - replace
Example Marconi : Radio :: Gutenberg : a. Broadcasting b.The Bible c.Paper d. Movable type Replace Broadcasting Indicates lack of understanding of analogies rather than lack of understanding the relationship.
Example Individual : Loan :: Municipality : a. interest, b.bond, c. principal, d.money What is the relationship between an individual and a loan?
Analogy Alternate Format United States : Constitution :: a. Persia : The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyam b. England : Magna Carta c. Germany : Mein Kampf d. Iraq : Koran
Formats for Test Item Analogies • … is related to … in the same way that … is related to ??? • A : B :: C : D • Which of these has the same relationship as … does to …? • How are … alike?
In Tests Beginning : End :: Go on sign : a. Zodiac sign b. Yield sign c. Equal sign d. Stop sign