Similarities+&+Differences



Identifying **similarities and differences ** includes four instructional strategies which help learners identify patterns and make connections in how two or more items are similar or different. These strategies include: comparing/contrasting, classifying, creating metaphors, and analogies. Students may compare objects to identify similarities and/or differences. They may classify items based on their characteristics. They may use a metaphor or analogy to explain similar qualities or similarities between objects. Utilizing similarities and differences builds connections to prior knowledge and helps students to organize new material.


 * Application **

The RESA site provides more detailed information about the sites used below. It also has analogies and metaphor example sites.

The graphic below has been sent via email, circulated on Facebook and even in a keynote speech at MACUL. Utilizing the graphic below with a group of teachers, we could start a discussion about social media and what the new sites mean to people. The items below help sort, define and classify the different social media sites to help teachers understand how they may use them.



This is an example graphic from Text 2 Mind Map for the brainstorming session. With a group of teachers, we would have many more words to define each site. I would encourage them to use some of the same words (like "sharing") so that they could see what they all have in common. Text 2 Mind Map is extremely easy to use, fast and intuitive.

After the brainstorming and collecting all of the words for each social media site, you could easily copy your outline, go to Wordle.netpaste your words in there to create a visual collage of items. The example is below. Words that are repeated are in larger font. This would give your students an immediate visual clue as to the most repeated adjectives.



Gliffy is the site used for the second example below. Gliffy is also easy to use and manipulate.