Conceptual Metaphors and Concept Mapping

Conceptual Metaphors
In general, metaphors, such as those used in literature, have the ability to enhance ordinary language and are oftentimes more helpful and efficient in elucidating abstract concepts (such as those found in areas of math and science education). Moreover, conceptual metaphors are used to help one relate or understand one conceptual domain in terms of another conceptual domain. Conceptual metaphors usually use a more abstract concept as the target (“target” meaning what we are trying to understand) and a more concrete or physical concept as their source (“source” meaning the domain from which we draw on metaphorical expressions). As an organizer for abstract math and science concepts, a prototype curriculum model will be produced (for future testing) in order to investigate how engineering students employ conceptual metaphors to develop a systematic set of associations or correlations between fundamental elements of a source and target domain.

Concept Mapping
One aspect of the proposed project-based learning unit will employ the use of concept mapping in order to assess student understanding of learning topic(s) or subject matter. In groups you will develop concept maps that illustrate the connection between each circular motion concept. This will be done through the use of concept mapping software as shown above.