discovery method

American  

noun

Education.

1. a largely unstructured, situational method or philosophy of teaching whereby students are permitted to find solutions to problems on their own or at their own pace, often jointly in group activities, either independent of or under the guidance of a teacher.

---

Etymology

Origin of discovery method

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

discovery method

The development team worked to resolve differences between those who would like to see math instruction focus on computation and those who prefer the discovery method that focuses on higher-level problem solving.

From US News ● Mar. 10, 2010

Lucy Sprague Mitchell, a John Dewey disciple who founded the school and ran it until her retirement in 1956, knew all about the discovery method many years ago.

From Time Magazine Archive

The system was called the "discovery method," and it quickly spread to the other sciences as university scholars joined with public school teachers to revise curriculums.

From Time Magazine Archive

And the best of John Dewey's liberating progressive education, with its joy in learning, is a powerful precursor of the discovery method.

From Time Magazine Archive

The discovery method has also improved courses in the humanities and the social sciences, with students increasingly asked to solve problems, not memorize answers.

From Time Magazine Archive