The problem this solves
“When a topic is new I'm lost. How do I anchor it to what I know?”
Primary keyword: analogy learning
What you'll learn
- Why analogy works
- How to find a good analogy
- Three examples in real subjects
- A weekly analogy-notebook
The science behind it: Analogy and Transfer
Analogy is the process of mapping a familiar situation onto a new one in order to bootstrap understanding when direct experience is missing.
Why it matters
Analogy is one of the few tools that lets a learner make progress in a completely new domain by borrowing structure from domains they already know.
How to apply it
- When facing a new concept, ask which concept you already know it most resembles.
- Identify both the shared structure and the differences between the two cases.
- Test the analogy by trying to predict outcomes from the borrowed structure.
Common mistakes
- Stopping at surface similarity without checking the underlying mapping.
- Treating an analogy as proof rather than as a starting hypothesis.
- Carrying an analogy into contexts where it no longer applies.
Read the full concept: Analogy and Transfer.
Where this fits
Part of module Depth and Understanding.
More articles in this module
- Surface Learning vs. Deep Learning : surface vs deep learning
- Build Mental Models of Hard Topics : mental models learning
- The Wrong Analogy Trap : wrong analogy
- Elaborate on a Textbook Chapter in 20 Minutes : elaboration chapter
- Transfer of Learning: How to Make Knowledge Travel : transfer of learning