In physics I use correct terminology by default and by default I do not use any analogies. These are good students, and in their future careers I agree it is important that they know the correct terminology.
In my gen ed science classes (astro, earth and space, physical science), if it's a concept that I feel is key to the subject matter (such as isotopes or inertia) I will start with the proper terminology and the scientific explanation, and then follow up with an analogy (such as car paint jobs for isotopes, or the Couch Potato Law for the law of inertia). Students in those classes have a hard time understanding the basic concepts w/o being able to relate it to something more familiar to their every day lives. The concepts may be important to them in later life, but the *names* of the concepts will likely not be.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2008-05-27 10:59 pm (UTC)In my gen ed science classes (astro, earth and space, physical science), if it's a concept that I feel is key to the subject matter (such as isotopes or inertia) I will start with the proper terminology and the scientific explanation, and then follow up with an analogy (such as car paint jobs for isotopes, or the Couch Potato Law for the law of inertia). Students in those classes have a hard time understanding the basic concepts w/o being able to relate it to something more familiar to their every day lives. The concepts may be important to them in later life, but the *names* of the concepts will likely not be.