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Language and Emergent Literacy:

The Discovery Learning Approach

By: Kai Calloway

Summary

Summary

Jerome Bruner was an American psychologist who made it his life's work to teach the educational system the importance of discovery learning. "Learning does not equal absorbing what was said or read, but actively seeking for answers and solutions" (Pappas, C., 2019). Discovery learning is the process of finding a solution to a problem using prior knowledge and past experiences (David, L., 2017). Bruner's theory suggested that students would be able to retain subjects in class better if they were teaching themselves the information through their natural curiosity. He believed, that students would be better off learning subjects through hands on experiences that they curate at their own leisure. His three core values for this theory are: "1) exploring and problem solving to create, integrate, and generalize knowledge, 2) student driven, interest-based activities in which the student determines the sequence and frequency, and 3) activities to encourage integration of new knowledge into the learner’s existing knowledge base" (Casanova, J. A., 2002). The five main principals to his theory include: 1. Problem Solving 2. Learner Management 3. Integrating and Connecting 4. Information Analysis and Interpretation 5. Failure and Feedback (Pappas, C., 2019).

Castronova, J. A. (2002). Discovery learning for the 21st century: Article manuscript.

David L, "Discovery Learning (Bruner)," in Learning Theories, February 2, 2017, https://www.learning-theories.com/discovery-learning-bruner.html.

Pappas, C. (2019, September 24). Instructional Design Models and Theories: The Discovery Learning Model. Retrieved January 26, 2020, from https://elearningindustry.com/discovery-learning-model

How it applies

Link to Literacy and Language

This theory applies to the acquisition of early literacy and language skills in many ways. The first reason being because the children have a higher probability of being motivated to learn if they are able to go at their own pace and exercise their creativity. The students are also further inclined to participate in more activities because they feel more secure in their knowleadge about the subject. The second reason is because the theory promotes the student's independence. The children are able to make their own decisions and solve problems based on their own personal experiences (Pappas, C., 2019). They are also not limited to the knowleadge forced on them by their institutions. Third, The increase of problem solving skills is also an advantage to using this theory in classrooms. Through the manipulation of objects and preformed experiments children increase their overall knowleadge (David, L., 2017). Through this theory the students are also susceptible to better memory retention. They are able to retain more information because they are essentially creating their own lessons and learning through their trials and errors (Pappas, C., 2019). Finally, literacy and language skills are promoted in this theory because it encourages students to be autonomous learners. Students will want to learn voluntarily because they will no longer see learning as "boring" or "mandatory" but, as "fun" and "exciting" (Mcleod, S. A., 2019) .

David L, "Discovery Learning (Bruner)," in Learning Theories, February 2, 2017, https://www.learning-theories.com/discovery-learning-bruner.html.

McLeod, S. A. (2019, July 11). Bruner. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/bruner.html

Pappas, C. (2019, September 24). Instructional Design Models and Theories: The Discovery Learning Model. Retrieved January 26, 2020, from https://elearningindustry.com/discovery-learning-model

support

Activities that Support the Theory

  • Puzzles
  • chess, checkers
  • Working independently
  • Ask thought provoking questions (Pappas, C., 2019)
  • Self-guided projects (Pappas, C., 2019)
  • Case studies (Guido, M., 2019)
  • Group Projects (Guido, M., 2019)
  • Field work (Guido, M., 2019)
  • Virtual dissection (Ng, E., 2017)
  • Encouraging and supporting mistakes (Ng, E., 2017)

Guido, M. (2019, May 27). Inquiry-Based Learning Definition, Benefits & Strategies. Retrieved January 26, 2020, from https://www.prodigygame.com/blog/inquiry-based-learning-definition-benefits-strategies/

Pappas, C. (2019, September 23). 5 Tips To Integrate Discovery Learning Activities Into Your Instructional Design. Retrieved January 26, 2020, from https://elearningindustry.com/tips-integrate-discovery-learning-activities-instructional-design

Ng, E. (2017, September 20). Bring Discovery Learning to Your Classroom with These 5 Ideas. Retrieved January 26, 2020, from https://www.showbie.com/bring-discovery-learning-to-your-classroom-with-these-5-ideas/

ECE'S

Considerations for Early Childhood Educators

ECE's can implement this theory in their classrooms by asking their students lots of open ended questions, encouraging independent work and research, as well as providing inquiry-based toys. for example, wooden stacking rings, wooden shapes, puzzle, airplane models, baby gym, pretend play sets, and building block (pevzner, H., 2018).

Pevzner, H. (2018, January 12). Best Montessori Toys for Babies and Toddlers. Retrieved January 26, 2020, from https://www.thebump.com/a/montessori-toys

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