Simple Analogies: Description, Application, Interpretation

Schooling involves the assimilation of a largevolume of theoretical material and application of the received knowledge in practice. At the same time, the child needs maximum attention and the ability to think logically. Of course, these qualities are formed and improved gradually. But before the training begins, educators need to assess the already existing level of their development, so as to result in a certain correction. Today, one of the most accurate, fast and objective ways to diagnose the thinking of junior schoolchildren is the "Simple analogies" technique.

about the author

In the middle of the last century, the Americanpsychologist William Gordon proposed the creation of analogies as a way of developing creative thinking. The test was developed for adults. However, his diagnostic accuracy was so popular with educators and psychologists that they decided to adapt the methodology for children. Joint efforts of specialists from several countries greatly simplified the test, making significant qualitative changes to it.

Currently, Russian schools are actively involved inThe simple analogies method is applied. The author of it is unequivocally not named. However, domestic teachers follow the technique of performing the test, described in detail in the textbook on age-related psychology for high schools I.Yu. Kulagina and VN Kalyutsky.

Purpose of the methodology

Diagnosis of thinking of younger students has several orientations:

• Check how quickly and accurately the child is able to establish a cause-effect relationship between the objects.
• Assess its critical perception of information and the level of associative links.
• Set the degree of workability of the child in the new material.
• Assess the stability, concentration, distribution and switching of attention.

An important goal pursued by the methodology"Simple analogies," is the installation of a dominant type of thinking, or conceptual links between objects that a child uses to solve problems. This can be a reliance on external similarity (visual thinking) or inference from the essence of the concept (logical thinking).

Description

Classically, this test is presented onprinted form with 32 points. Each position includes two words that have a certain logical connection with each other. This pair acts as a pattern. Nearby is given one more word, to which, by example, it is necessary to choose an association by analogy. The selection process comes from the auxiliary words given below. In this case, the logical connection must be justified by the very analogy given in the sample.

For example: the sun is panama, the rain is ...?

From the words "water", "cold", "puddles", "umbrella" has a lasting word with a strong logical connection. Since the analogy here is "protection". The man from the sun is protected by a panama, from the rain by an umbrella.

The "Simple analogies" method for junior high school students can be conducted individually or in a group. In group testing, children are put one at a time, thus preventing copying from a neighbor.

In terms of time, there are also two options: with restriction (two or three minutes to the question) and without it. The teacher can establish the time frame only with reference to the mental and physiological characteristics of the child.

Instructions

The method “Simple analogies” has a clear instruction for testing and involves four steps:

• Preparation. First, the teacher must be placed on the boardtwo signal samples. Tasks are similar to those in the forms, but not similar. Then the children are given out forms with a comment about the signature of each (last name, first name).
• Training. Now the attention of the children switches to the board and the task is explained. First, children try to select the association orally.
• Run the test. After parting instructions of the teacher to attentivereading the sample in the form children begin writing. To clarify the task, you can jointly parse the first position. For example: "bear - bear". The teacher should emphasize that we are talking about animals and their cubs. Hence, the association for the word "horse" by this analogy will be "foal".
• Counting results. At this stage, the collection and verification of forms. Evaluated work in accordance with the recommended test criteria.

The important points of the conduct includethe teacher’s explanation of how to fill out the form correctly. Put a tick in front of the correct answer or underline it. It is necessary that the child is not confused and did not waste time on the decision.

If there is a slow-moving child in the group, the teacher should approach him more often during the test, but only to encourage or clarify the question, and not to help answer correctly.

Interpretation

A significant advantage is the accurate, fast calculations, which are provided by the method “Simple analogies”. Interpreting it in a quantitative version looks like this:

• at 31-32 points, logical thinking in a child is highly developed;
• at 25-30 points, the quality of thinking is assessed well, but you should work on sustaining attention;
• with 15-24 points, the logic and attention of the child need regular training;
• with 5-14 points you can talk about daily skills development classes.

At low rates, correction of attention and logical thinking is required. Such activities will help the child in further education, significantly increasing the level of its development.

Complicated Analogies

For children who have received the maximum score, canbe tested on complex analogies. The principle of installation of communication remains the same, only the task execution system becomes complicated. Now the child must distribute the types of analogies into groups. Selection of associations is not required.

The method of "Simple and complex analogies" is the mostAn effective and fast way today is to test the development of logical thinking and attention among schoolchildren in order to ensure a quality educational process.