Patchwork quilts and speed cars: metaphors for teaching and learning

Abstract

Metaphor is a common, everyday technique for talking about objects or events in terms appropriate to other objects or events. Rather than confusing the issue, presenting facts of one sort as if they belong to another group can develop richer and deeper understandings of the world and our place in it. Metaphors of teaching have been used for many years as a route for teachers and preservice teachers to explore their philosophies and approaches to pedagogy, where the impersonal becomes personal through image and rich description. But while it is used extensively to develop images of teaching, it has not been used as much to explore images of learning. This research examined preservice teachers metaphors of teaching and Year 1 children's metaphors of learning for matches and mismatches. This presentation explores educators' metaphors of teaching through the visual arts.