DISCOVERY LEARNING BRUNER Discovery Learning is a method

DISCOVERY LEARNING (BRUNER)

� Discovery Learning is a method of inquiry-based instruction, discovery learning believes that it is best for learners to discover facts and relationships for themselves.

� Discovery Learning was introduced by Jerome Bruner, and is a method of Inquiry -Based Instruction. This popular theory encourages learners to build on past experiences and knowledge, use their intuition, imagination and creativity, and search for new information to discover facts, correlations and new truths.

� Discovery learning is "an approach to instruction through which students interact with their environment-by exploring and manipulating objects, wrestling with questions and controversies, or performing experiments" (Ormrod, 1995, p. 442) � The idea is that students are more likely to remember concepts they discover.

� KEY CONCEPTS

� Discovery learning is an inquiry-based, constructivist learning theory that takes place in problem solving situations where the learner draws on his or her own past experience and existing knowledge to discover facts and relationships and new truths to be learned[1].

� Students interact with the world by exploring and manipulating objects, wrestling with questions and controversies, or performing experiments.

� more likely to remember concepts and knowledge discovered on their own (in contrast to a transmissionist model)[2]. � Models that are based upon discovery learning model include: � guided discovery, problem-based learning, simulation-based learning, case-based learning, incidental learning, among others.

� PROPONENTS OF THIS THEORY BELIEVE THAT DISCOVERY LEARNING:

� encourages active engagement � promotes motivation � promotes autonomy, responsibility, independence � develops creativity and problem solving skills. � tailors learning experiences

� CRITICS BELIEVE THAT DISCOVERY LEARNING:

� creates cognitive overload � may result in potential misconceptions � makes it difficult for teachers to detect problems and misconceptions

� How do you apply discovery learning in the classroom?

� Bring Discovery Learning to Your Classroom with These 5 Ideas

� 1) Assign interviews to spark curiosity. Help students discover the amazing information they can gather just by talking with people. . � 2) Have students go solo. . � 3) Incorporate data-based projects. . � 4) Do a virtual dissection. . � 5) Encourage mistakes and productive struggle.

� 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.

� 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.

� ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND REFERENCES � Bruner, J. S. (1961). The act of discovery. Harvard educational review. � Bruner, J. S. (2009). The process of education. Harvard University Press.