Discovery Education.

Definition:

   Discovery learning is a kind of independent learning. The knowledge acquisition is done without getting any assistance from a teacher. It is a type of self-exploration to reach a positive result.  Discovery Learning is an inquiry-based learning method,so it belongs to active learning. Discovery learning is a type of learning where learners construct their own knowledge by experimenting.  With thousands of standards-aligned resources, Discovery Education provides you with the tools to teach your students to think critically about the content they use, see, and experience in their daily lives and to ask questions about the world around them. .

What is Discovery Learning?

New kinds of learning are always being implemented by educational institutions, in an effort to improve the quality and reputation of their own institutions, and of course to better the quality of education that their students and pupils receive. New and innovative methods have become commonplace in schools, colleges and universities, and one of these interesting methods of learning is discovery learning.Discovery learning is a kind of teaching that is based on the student finding things out for themselves, looking into problems, and asking questions. Essentially, it's all about students coming to their own conclusions and asking about things in their course that might not make particular sense. Obviously, as soon as enquiries are made, they can learn new things and hence will have become part of an innovative, thought-provoking and interesting educational journey. Top psychologists in the country have promoted this kind of learning.

Discovery learning is a kind of teaching that is based on the student finding things out for themselves, looking into problems, and asking questions. Essentially, it's all about students coming to their own conclusions and asking about things in their course that might not make particular sense. Obviously, as soon as enquiries are made, they can learn new things and hence will have become part of an innovative, thought-provoking and interesting educational journey. Top psychologists in the country have promoted this kind of learning.

The main times that discovery learning is used in the classroom are during problem solving exercises and educational programs. Students will undergo discovery learning when they are looking at their own experiences and knowledge in their studies, and enquiring about further information to improve their understanding. Discovery learning will also be used in terms of answering controversial and tricky questions, asking other people what they think, and generally discussing things. Experiments are also key to discovery learning, for instance in sciences, where students will be able to experience science right in front of them - and discover things that may occur, which hence prompts them to ask the question 'why?

Discovery learning is used across the United States in regular schools, but it has also been popular in special-needs facilities for students with disabilities or learning problems. It has been proven time after time that discovery learning is an incredibly effective method of teaching special needs students, and is perfect for allowing students to have a productive learning environment that promotes questioning things, discussing ideas, and getting involved.

Discovery learning also has a part in getting special needs students involved in normal, conventional educational curriculum - indeed, this means that discovery learning can play a key part in getting special needs students in the same classroom as 'regular' students, studying the same things, and sitting the same kinds of exams. This means that special needs students will not feel estranged, and will not feel like their education is particularly different to anybody else's. In the long run this provides a moral boost for special needs students, whilst also enhancing their education and the education of the other students sharing their class.

In a regular classroom, a teacher who is trying to enforce new innovative methods of teaching might give students different problems, and try and get them to work together to come up with a solution to this problem. This can be implemented in nearly any kind of class and consistently proves to be an effective way of teaching. It provides numerous benefits, and of course is a great way of integrating special needs students with other students in conventional educational facilities.

Similarities:

    Discovery-based learning is just one of several 'student centered' instructional methodologies being implemented in classrooms today. Other methods that fall within this style of curriculum design are inquiry-based learning, problem-based learning, research-based learning, and project-based learning to name a few.  All of them encourage critical thinking and independent learning.  All of them encourage self-exploration.  All of them support practical learning. Here, the student can, with self confidence, say ," I think that...,I don't think that..., I agree with you that ..., I disagree with you that....".
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Critical thinking:

Here, several question that are exploded inside the learner himself " What, How, How come, Why, where, etc..." .  We call that activity a dialoguing with one's self which is followed by a dialoguing with others till he reaches his findings.  How great that curriculum is !!!   

    A stage of navigation and touring among the several resources follows till the learner reaches the truth, the knowledge or the objective he seeks for by himself and offers his knowledge as a project to be interviewed and evaluated.  Here, the role of a learner changes to be like the role of a teacher or a researcher.The role of the teacher here, is just a monitor, supporter, encourager and praiser. He only observes, guides and directs the learner to the right resource. Really, it is an assembly of scientists that faces today's world challenges and serves the humanity as a whole. 

   Although very subtle differences determine which technical category a particular implementation may belong in, they all provide an 'active learning' environment where students learn by doing.

Are you looking for ways to get students to take ownership of their learning?

When students do their own research, ask critical questions, and form conclusions on their own, they strengthen their problem-solving skills. This technique, known as Discovery Learning, has been especially effective with students with special needs.However, you can incorporate Discovery Learning into your classroom for the benefit of all your students.

Applicability: 

     In discovery learning, the learner uses his own experience and prior knowledge to discover the truths that are to be learned. The learner constructs his own knowledge by experimenting with a domain, and inferring rules from the results of these experiments. In addition to domain information the learner need some support in choosing and interpreting the information to build his knowledge base.

Ready to try Discovery Learning in your classroom?

Here are a few ideas to get you started.

1) Assign interviews to spark curiosity

Help students discover the amazing information they can gather just by talking with people. Assign an interview, and have students write a summary of what they learned, what surprised them, and the advantages of learning information directly from a source.

When students do their own research, ask critical questions, and form conclusions on their own, they strengthen their problem-solving skills.

2) Have students go solo

Some of the best discovery learning projects are done solo. Give your students a problem or subject to research on their own. Encourage them to use technology as part of their research, and then have them come back together to see what everyone learned and what they discovered by themselves.

3) Incorporate data-based projects

Assign data that is related to a topic, and encourage students to investigate, ask questions, and form their own conclusions. They’ll see not only that knowing how to objectively analyze data gives them insight into the topic they are learning, but also how data analysis skills are powerful outside the classroom.

4) Do a virtual dissection

Sometimes hands-on materials are tough to locate (or purchase). Instead, use a virtual dissection to encourage students to discover how things work. Students can investigate and ask questions without having to pick up a scalpel.

5) Encourage mistakes and productive struggle

When students take control of their own learning, mistakes are inevitable. But mistakes are part of Discovery Learning. Providing timely feedback, quickly correcting mistakes, and continuously encouraging students to keep at it are critical to encourage students to push through difficult problems.

These tips can get you quickly on your way to bringing Discovery Learning into your classroom. Do you already use Discovery Learning Strategies? Leave us a comment – we would love to hear about them.

Problem solution:

    Discovery teaching is a method of teaching or an education resource that enables the learner to discover the piece of knowledge or know the solution of the problem by himself. This is followed by and evaluation and encouragement by the teacher.

   The discovery method is a teaching technique that encourages students to take a more active role in their learning process by answering a series of questions or solving problems .The learner does a self-talk or a self dialoguing.  He must ask himself: What, How, How come and Where  till he reaches the solution or the new knowledge by himself.

General Steps:

1. Students' interests must be motivated.

2. Material must be organized.

3.The teacher plays the role as a facilitator

The teacher asks his learners some questions . 

The answers of these questions will lead the learner to use his ability of discovering the information or the solution by himself.

The Method outline:

A.The teacher gives variable examples. 

B. Through a kind of deduction, the learners do a kind of practice. 

C. The difficult concepts are explained by the teacher.

Standards of discovery:
 There are three levels of guidance in teaching:

1. Pure Discovery :

The teacher gives his learner the problem with little facilitation. Here, the role of the teacher is little.

2. Guided Discovery ;

The learner receives the problem and the teacher advises him how to deal with it. The role of the teacher here, is big.

3. No discovery  :
The final answer or rule is presented to the student .

Models of discovery learning:

1-Collaborative discovery learning.

2-Discovery learning with micro worlds.

3-Experiental learning.

4- Guided discovery learning.

5- Incidental learning.

6- Learning by exploring.

7-Case-based learning.

8- Problem-based learning.

9-Inquiry-based learning.

10-Simulation-based learning. 

What Is the Discovery Technique?

View Other Resources:  

1- (Back) 

2-Project-based learning.
3-Internet-based learning method.

4-Methods of teaching words spelling.

5-Lexical Approach.  Oxford Training Course.

6-Inquiry-based learning / Brainstorming method

7-Teaching diverse and multi-cultured learners in one classroom.

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English Teaching Forum, 2016 Volume 54, Number 3