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Identifying Similarities and Differences

Enhance students' understanding of and ability to use knowledge by engaging them in mental processes that involve identifying ways items are alike and different.

Generalizations From Research

1. Presenting students with explicit guidance in identifying similarities and differences enhances students’ understanding of and ability to use knowledge.
2. Asking students to independently identify similarities and differences enhances students’ understanding of and ability to use knowledge.
3. Representing similarities and differences in graphic or symbolic form enhances students’ understanding of and ability to use knowledge.
4. Identification of similarities and differences can be accomplished in a variety of ways. The identification of similarities and differences is a highly robust activity.

Example Activities

• Venn Diagrams
• Comparison Matrix
• Analogies Organizer

Recommendations & Ideas

1. Use comparing, classifying, metaphors, and analogies when having students compare similarities and differences.
2. Give students a model of the steps for engaging in the process.
3. Use a familiar context to teach students these steps.
4. Use Graphic Organizers as a visual tool to represent similarities and differences.

Web2.0 Tools: My preferences*

Category Key: and links to more web tools

SD = Identifying Similarities and Differences CL = Cooperative Learning SNT = Summarizing and Note-Taking ER = Reinforcing Effort and Providing Recognition HP = Homework and Practice NR = Nonlinguistic Representation OF = Setting Objectives and Providing Feedback HYP = Generating and Testing Hypotheses QCO = Questions, Cues, and Advance Organizers