Analogies have long been tools of discovery in mathematics and science, and are often used in the classroom as explanatory devices to help students understand difficult science concepts. However, research has shown that for many students, analogies engender misconceptions rather than scientists' science. It is believed that misconceptions arise when students reconstruct their knowledge within the context of their prior conceptions, and that misconceptions arise whenever the student has a different conception of the analog to the teacher or the student applies the analogy beyond its limits.The literature is richly endowed with descriptions of how it is thought that analogies generate meaning and contain a range of suggestions for improving classroom pedagogy when analogies are used. Five teaching models have been identified which claim to improve analogical instruction, and one of these, the teaching-with-analogies (TWA) model (Glynn, 1989) has been modified at the Science and Mathematics Education Centre of Curtin University for use in secondary science classrooms. To date, no empirical studies have been performed to determine the efficacy of this modified TWA model.This study set out to evaluate the modified TWA model in a qualitative interpretive manner by observing teachers, who had been in-serviced about the model, using analogies in their lessons. Data were generated from the verbatim transcripts of each teacher's in-class performance, each teacher's post-lesson interview and interviews with a number of the students who received the analogical instruction. The emergent data were interpreted from a constructivist perspective with attention being given to credibility, dependability and confirmability.The data derived from one teacher teaching four analogies to Year 8 and 10 science students were reported in this thesis. Three of these analogies were taught using ++ / the modified TWA model and these analogies were, light waves are like water waves, conduction of heat in a solid is like the domino effect and the refraction of light as it passes from air into perspex is like a pair of wheels rolling from a smooth surface onto a rough surface. The fourth analogy in which the size of a mole was illustrated using three brief analogies was reported only briefly because the teacher failed to use the modified TWA model during this lesson.The study's findings demonstrated that student understanding of difficult science concepts did appear to be enhanced by the use of the modified TWA model when analogies were included in the lesson. For analogies to be effective, it is believed that two teacher activities are essential: firstly, ensuring that the students understand the analog in the same way as the teacher and secondly, that the unshared attributes of the analogy are highlighted during the lesson. It is also asserted that an exemplary teacher, teaching-in-field, can integrate the modified TWA model into her teaching if she is provided with peer support over at least three to four uses of the model during normal lessons. It appears that maintenance of the TWA model within a teacher's pedagogy requires a supportive colleague to provide critical feedback and encouragement.This study raised some important questions that should be addressed in future research on the use of the modified TWA model. Can the modified TWA model produce conceptual change where alternative student conceptions are firmly entrenched? Can the modified TWA model be incorporated into the pedagogy of most teachers? Is there a more appropriate model for teaching-with-analogies?

Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-27T19:13:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 3 Renato Fumagalli Miranda.pdf: 2985901 bytes, checksum: f813463dac4d793c0857ee6b4b4edde1 (MD5) Renato Fumagalli Miranda.pdf.txt: 143222 bytes, checksum: 4e66988cfb8dbe77f967d7b19c2e2ce9 (MD5) Renato Fumagalli Miranda.pdf.jpg: 3661 bytes, checksum: 7c493ae73dcaa2a6a45615b6623fec9b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-12-28 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / In this work is described the development and application of a didactic activity of teaching that uses an analogy and Modellus software to assist in learning the concepts involved in the microscopic theory of electrical conduction. This work uses as a theoretical basis the theory of Meaningful Learning of David Ausubel and modeling Schematic proposed by Ibrahim A. Halloun. The use of analogies is modeled on TWA -Teaching-With-Analogies developed by Glynn by and modified Harrison and Treagust. To represent the microscopic theory of electrical conduction was used a mechanical analogy proposed by Bagnato and Rodrigues and adapted by Orengo. During the implementation of this activity the students were very interested and motivated to participate. In a qualitative analysis of the results is evidence that most students achieved learning significant. / Neste trabalho está descrito o desenvolvimento e aplicação de uma atividade didática de ensino que utiliza analogia e o software Modellus para auxiliar na aprendizagem dos conceitos envolvidos na teoria microscópica da condução elétrica. Este trabalhou utiliza como fundamentação teórica a Teoria da Aprendizagem Significativa de David Ausubel e a modelagem esquemática proposta por Ibrahim A. Halloun. A utilização de analogias segue o modelo TWA - Teaching-With-Analogies (ensinando com analogias) desenvolvido por Glynn e modificado por Harrison e Treagust. Como situação análoga a teoria microscópica da condução elétrica foi utilizado o análogo mecânico proposto por Bagnato e Rodrigues e adaptado por Orengo. Durante a aplicação desta atividade os alunos mostraram-se bastante interessados e motivados a participar. Analisando qualitativamente os resultados da aplicação há indícios que a maioria dos alunos atingiu uma aprendizagem significativa.

Orientador: Renato Eugênio da Silva Diniz / Resumo: As analogias são recursos que auxiliam o ensino de conceitos científicos, pois facilitam a transferência de significados de um conceito conhecido para um conceito desconhecido. No entanto, diversos obstáculos para a aprendizagem surgem quando são pronunciadas espontaneamente pelos professores. Assim, o planejamento para o seu uso é essencial, sendo estimulado quando os professores refletem sobre a sua prática em contextos formativos colaborativos. A temática da pesquisa envolveu a formação continuada de professores como práticos-reflexivos e a formação colaborativa. Buscou-se compreender e discutir os desafios e as possibilidades de inserção das analogias no planejamento de ensino de professores de Ciências e Biologia, quando eles refletem e planejam usá-las em um contexto de formação continuada. A abordagem da pesquisa foi qualitativa e as participantes três professoras das disciplinas supracitadas. A coleta de dados foi dividida em cinco etapas: 1) desenvolvimento de um curso sobre o uso de analogias; 2) planejamento de uma aula com o uso desse recurso; 3) implementação da aula; 4) entrevista semiestruturada e 5) discussão em grupo. Todas as etapas foram gravadas em áudio. As fases 1 e 5 foram realizadas com todas as participantes reunidas, e as fases 2, 3 e 4 realizadas individualmente com cada professora e a presença do pesquisador. O referencial analítico adotado foi a análise textual discursiva. Para a 1ª etapa foram geradas oito categorias acerca dos significados que a... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Analogies are resources that assist the teaching of scientific concepts, since they facilitate the transfer of meanings from a known concept to an unknown concept. However, several obstacles to learning arise when analogies are pronounced spontaneously by teachers. Therefore, the planning for its use is essential, and it is encouraged when teachers reflect on their practice in collaborative formative contexts. The theme of the research involved the continued teacher training as practical-reflective agents and the collaborative training. We sought to understand and discuss the challenges and possibilities of the insertion of analogies in the didactic planning of Science and Biology teachers, when they reflect and plan to use them in a continuing teacher training context. The research approach was qualitative, and the participants were three female teachers of the abovementioned subjects. Data gathering was divided into five stages: 1) development of a training course on the use of analogies; 2) planning of a class using this resource; 3) application of the planned class; 4) semi-structured interview and 5) group discussion. All stages were recorded in audio. Stages 1 and 5 were executed with all participants gathered, and phases 2, 3 and 4 were executed with each participant individually with the presence of the researcher. The adopted analytical framework was the discursive textual analysis. For the 1st stage, eight categories were generated on the meanings that the participa... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor