Conduit Metaphor (Web lecture: Metaphors and Culture)

In the web lecture, the conduit metaphor is discussed in that meanings can be transferred from speakers/writers to listeners/readers in words. This straightforward approach minimizes the importance of unintentional meaning and ignores the importance of receiving and implementing to revise and strengthen the intended message.

The conduit metaphor also presents problems for instructional design. Feedback is a critical step to ensure that the learning objectives are being met. There are several cycles of feedback included in the process that review the design and development of the instruction. Without this step in the process, the designer may build instruction that doesn’t meet the target audience’s needs. It is understood through many instructional models that this has to be an iterative process in order to present and produce the most productive instruction.