Learning metaphors ad infinitum

H800 Notes on metaphors

Hager 1 (p.679) lists four ‘practice points’ in relation to metaphors for learning:

  • Metaphors inform thinking about learning.
  • Metaphors can sometimes mislead thinking.
  • Acquisition and transfer are the most common learning
    metaphors.
  • Alternative metaphors offer fresh ways to think about
    learning.

Hager (p.679) states that ‘acquisition and transfer are easily the most popular metaphors used to understand learning.’ Both of these metaphors are described below, along with the social-participation metaphor and the knowledge-creation metaphor.

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  1. Hager, P. (2008) ‘Learning and metaphors’, Medical Teacher, 30(7), pp. 679-686, (online) Available from: http://libezproxy.open.ac.uk/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com.libezproxy.open.ac.uk/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=34168110&site=eds-live&scope=site (Accessed 5 April 2011).