Discovery Learning

Issues concerning human learning are among the critical topics in educational psychology, child development, and cognitive science. One central focus has been on the issue of how students learn and teachers teach best, and discovery learning versus direct instruction has been a contentious debate in modern educational theory and practice. Stemming from the theoretical perspective of constructivism, discovery learning is believed to be a tool for facilitating the creation and organization of knowledge, as well as the transfer of that knowledge across different contexts. This approach contrasts with views that emphasize direct instruction from teacher to student. This entry addresses the following central issues: how discovery learning is defined, the empirical evidence in favor of discovery learning or direct instruction, and the facilitation of discovery ...