Discovery+Learning

Discovery learning is a method of inquiry-based instructions and considered a constructivist based approach to education. Discovery learning is supported by the work of learning theorists and psychologist such as Jean Piaget, Jerome Bruner and Seymour Papert. Discovery learning deals with problem solving situations where the learner draws on his own experience and prior knowledge. Also discovery learning is a method of instruction whereas students interact with their environment by exploring and manipulating objects or performing experiments (11/29/2009). The idea for discovery learning is that students are more likely to remember concepts when they discover on their own. Teachers have found that discovery learning is very successful when students use their prerequisite knowledge and undergo structured experiences. Today's modern technology can provide a virtual environment for students to explore. The medio's “Exploring Ancient Architecture” provides students with different ancient sites to explore. Having the students use the world wide web will link to virtual worlds created using the vrml markup language. Also computer technology can support children's learning through simulations. Scholastic software's is less expensive and less offensive for students to explore. Scholastic is a global children's publishing education and a media company for helping children around the world to read and learn. The scholastic also produces educational materials to assist and inspire students to help them enlarge their understanding of the world around them (Scholastic, 2009). Jerome Bruner has successful applied the principles of Piaget's child development theories to the education of children. Bruner's discovery learning model characteristics includes the child's involvement with the learning process, the teacher's role as a guide in the child's search for information and the common use of concrete materials as a beginning for the learning process. According to Esler (1989) there are four advantages of discovery learning according to Bruner which helps the child learn how to learn independently, shifts the motivation of the learner from that of seeking external rewards to internal satisfaction, equips the learner with practiced procedures for solving problems and helps the learner to retain more and recall more useful information. There are several reasons to teach by inquiry. First reason is to maintain children's curiosity, second is to involve children in learning activities that require a high degree of cognitive skills. The third reason is developing children's positive attitudes toward science and last is providing concrete experiences for children who have not reached Piaget's formal operations stage (Esler, 1989, p. 45). There are six different types of discovery learning which are experiments, exploration, simulation-based learning, problem-based learning, inquiry-based learning and webquests. Problem based learning is a model of instruction which the teacher poses an authentic problem for students resolution. To problem solve, students work in group to learn content and skills related to real world problems. Inquiry-based learning which the students investigate a problem based on a model of scientific inquiry. The students or teachers pose a problem, form hypotheses, collect and analyze data and compare finding with initial hypotheses. Webquests is a classroom inquiry activity which most information is used from world wide web and the webquest focuses on learners time on using information and supports learner's thinking at the higher levels of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.