UM Prof Presents Research on Teaching Strategies

Using analogies, or comparisons, to teach grammar concepts to college students may increase understanding if students write their own analogies, according to research conducted by University of Mobile Assistant Professor Pamela Buchanan. 

Buchanan presented her research, titled “Effects of Analogy-Enhanced Grammar Instruction on Performance and Motivation in College Students,” at the annual conference of the Center for the Advancement of Education for Adults at DePaul University in Chicago on April 25. 

Buchanan, who also serves as director of student services in the Center for Adult Programs at the private Christian university, conducted the research with 110 college students of traditional age and older. 

She designed two sets of CD-based instruction, with one set using analogies to explain concepts. For example, she compared a gerund, which looks like a verb but functions as a noun, to a sea anemone, which looks like a plant but functions as an animal. 

The research found no significant difference in post-test scores for the two versions of instruction. However, when students were asked to write their own analogies, those in the analogy-enhanced group scored significantly higher. 

“This indicates that analogy-enhancement will be more effective if students receive instruction in the strategy itself before completing the lessons,” Buchanan said. 

Her future research will delve further into the use of analogies in teaching grammar to college students and investigate the effect of providing multiple analogies in grammar lessons instead of one, as her current research provided.

Last modified : Tuesday, April 29, 2008 10:43 PM
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