Metaphors we teach by:

National Teaching Fellows’ metaphorical images of teaching

Olaojo Aiyegbayo#TALISS

Seminar Overview

Presentation(30 mins)

Discussion(30 mins)

Metaphorical Stem Activity

“My teaching is (like) ………………… because …………”

Complete with a metaphor that best describes your current teaching practice & state relevant teaching context.

Book’s Main Premise

Metaphors are analogical devices which lie beneath the surface of an individual’s awareness and serve as a cognitive device for learning new information, concepts and skills. Andrew Ortony (1993)

National Teaching Fellowship Scheme

Research Background

105 Fellows5

19 Strong 17 Non 9 Noes

45 Fellows

8 Metaphorical

Categories

Travelling Metaphor (6)

“My teaching style is like a ‘tour guide’, signposting the interesting landmarks and providing some context in a way that encourages others to explore the landscape for themselves in a way that is of most use to them…….” Fellow B

Parenting Metaphor (4)

"Teaching is like feeding students with pre-digested concepts in an animated and enthusiastic manner - the students should always feel they have left a teaching event having learnt something new." Fellow I

“…..It is a bit like being a good parent, you know when you have been successful, they can fly away on their own.” Fellow J

Performance Metaphor (3)

“Lecturing (Teaching) is interactive theatre where you use your physical presence, social contact and the physicality of the lecture theatre and audience to enthuse about the subject……” Fellow L

Coaching Metaphor (2)

“Teaching is giving mental athletes the tools to help them stretch and develop towards becoming fully functioning [personally and intellectually] individuals.” Fellow O

Knitting Metaphor (1)

“My teaching is like fair-isle knitting. I am the needles gently teasing the strands of wool together and creating the structure and the framework, yet it is the wool (or learners) who provide the colour and substance of the final result……” Fellow P

Gardening Metaphor (1)

“I think my preferred teaching metaphor would be that of gardener - striving to bring out the best in the plants under their care so that they can produce productive fruit…..” Fellow Q

Construction Metaphor (1)

“The teacher is a scaffold that gradually removes itself to the point of not being needed. With the scaffold the building (student) can go much higher than it could have done without this support at the early stages.” Fellow R

Fishing Metaphor (1)

“Teaching is like learning to fish. You have to spend time watching the water before you gradually become aware of all the activity beneath the surface. Then you have to recognise how the fish (learners) are swimming, so you can align yourself with their direction & then lead them where you want them to go.” Fellow S

Non-metaphorical responses

• “Teaching is enabling learners to hold on to what would otherwise be difficult to grasp. It turns abstractions into tangible things.”• “Teaching is remembering that you are

always a student of the discipline and a student of the best of way delivering it….”

Benefit of metaphors to teaching practitioners

Metaphors are reframing or heuristic tools that can be employed by teachers to reflect upon and improve their practice (Munby & Russell, 1990).

“Metaphors are reframing or heuristic tools that can beemployed by teachers to reflect upon and improve their practice.”

(Munby & Russell, 1990)).

“I love metaphors as they are really powerful ways to convey ideas and this exercise certainly made me think about my approach and what I am trying to do in my teaching so thanks very much. Thank you for making me think this evening.” Fellow P

“I don't normally use metaphors but your question made me think more” Fellow J

Discussion • Please share your teaching

metaphor with the group and your thoughts on its connection with your teaching practice.

Travelling metaphorTeacher as travel or tour guide, ship captain, lighthouse keeper and students as travellers

Parenting metaphor Teacher as ‘good’ parent and students as children.

Performance metaphor Teacher as actor, tightrope walker, cheeky clown and students as audience

Coaching metaphor Teacher as coach and students as mental athletes

Knitting metaphor Teacher as needle and students as wool

Gardening metaphor Teacher as gardener and students as plants

Construction metaphor Teacher as scaffold and students as buildings

Fishing metaphor Teacher as fisherman and students as fishes

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