Join me for a video describing and sharing examples of how to enhance learning through metaphoric thinking and self-expressive prompts. In the video I share a concrete brain-friendly strategy, using objects and photos, to help students connect new learning to prior learning and experiences. This strategy can be used in both the face-to face or remote/online learning environments.
In the accompanying slideshow, you will find examples of the object strategy in action, a link to an article authored by yours truly, Duct Tape and Pom Poms, examples of self-expressive prompts that invite metaphoric thinking, and a link to a slide deck of photos one can use in place of physical objects: https://docs.google.com/presentation/...
Object Strategy:
“Grab a basket or recyclable shopping bag and begin filling it with an eclectic assortment of items or photos.
Present it to your learners with an invitation for them to think metaphorically. [The prompt can be anything that encourages comparative thinking. Ex: Choose an object or two that somehow represents one of the 3 branches of government. Be prepared to share why the object reminds you of that branch.]
Be prepared to be awed by their insightful responses.”
From Stewart McCafferty, Duct Tape and Pom Poms, AMLE Magazine, 2017, p. 9
Self-Expressive prompts ask learners to make connections and associations, think divergently, imagine and create, think metaphorically, and/or generate possible solutions. They often are What If? prompts and invite learners to move beyond basic What? Who? When? Where? How Come? types of questions. They tend to be open-ended and provide space for diverse learners to engage in a myriad of ways.
Different Types of Prompts
From Stewart McCafferty, A. and Beaudry, J, Teaching Strategies that Create Assessment-Literate Learners, Corwin, 2018.
Scaffolded Sentence Frame Example
From Stewart McCafferty, Duct Tape and Pom Poms, AMLE Magazine, 2017.
Sample Self-Expressive Prompt related to a middle-school unit on Leadership
From Stewart McCafferty, Duct Tape and Pom Poms, AMLE Magazine, 2017.
Sample Self-Expressive Exit Ticket Prompt
From Stewart McCafferty, Duct Tape and Pom Poms, AMLE Magazine, 2017.
I would love to hear ways that you engage your learners in metaphoric thinking through self-expressive prompts or other strategies.
Keep Learning at the Center,
:)Anita