Analogical Reasoning in the Engineering Design Process and Technology Education Applications

Authors

Jenny Daugherty, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Nathan Mentzer, Utah State University

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Journal of Technology Education

Volume

19

Issue

2

Publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Publication Date

2008

First Page

7

Last Page

21

Abstract

This synthesis paper discusses the research exploring analogical reasoning, the role of analogies in the engineering design process, and educational applications for analogical reasoning. Researchers have discovered that analogical reasoning is often a fundamental cognitive tool in design problem solving. Regarding the possible role of analogical reasoning in the context of technology education; analogies may be a useful tool to develop student’s design skills, teach abstract or complex concepts, and build students’ analogical reasoning skills for general problem solving. The positive and negative educational implications of analogical reasoning being explored by researchers are also discussed.

Comments

Originally published by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. HTML fulltext available through the Journal of Technology Education.