Document Type
Presentation - Poster - Presentation
Can Learning Outcomes be Improved by Harnessing Metaphorical Reasoning?
Department
Physics & Engineering
Date of Activity
Winter 2023
Abstract
Physicists implicitly use metaphorical reasoning to explain physical phenomena (such as understanding energy as a substance). We develop a perspective that precisely describes mathematical models of reality as "theoretical metaphors." Beginning with observations of reality, physicists map concepts—energy, time, space, etc.—to a mathematical model, interpreting physical observations in terms of the mathematical model. We propose a study to determine the effectiveness of introducing students to observations of reality before a mathematical model, as in the theoretical metaphors perspective.
Recommended Citation
Arian Dovald, W. Blake Laing, Can Learning Outcomes be Improved by Harnessing Metaphorical Reasoning? American Association of Physics Teachers 2023 Winter Meeting