The Power of Analogy-Based Learning in Science

Analogies are useful pedagogical tools to introduce new and difficult concepts to students by building connections to familiar things from our daily life. Research has shown that applying analogies during the learning process facilitates the development of higher order thinking. In this article, we present a number of analogies that have been included in several science courses, including anatomy and physiology and clinical chemistry, in undergraduate nursing science education. We also evaluated student perspectives on the ability of these analogies to enhance student understanding of difficult concepts. A total of 53 analogies were organized into structural and functional categories and a survey explored student feedback on them. A total of 131 firstyear and second-year students completed the survey. More than 70% of the students indicated that these analogies were useful in understanding the anatomical structures and physiological functions. Over 60% of students applied these analogies while studying. Eighty-eight percent of students found that analogies were engaging and made the lecture more enjoyable. We conclude that well-structured and purposeful analogies have positive impact on students’ learning of science courses during undergraduate nursing studies. https://doi.org/10.21692/haps.2021.003