Assign Interviews to Spark Curiosity
Help students discover how much valuable information they can gather just by talking to people. Ask them to interview a family member, peer, or someone in their community, then reflect on what they learned, what surprised them, and how hearing directly from a person shaped their understanding. In Showbie, they can record voice notes, write reflections, or upload summaries to share their findings.
Let Students Lead Their Own Learning
The most meaningful Discovery Learning happens when students work on their own. Give your students a problem or subject to research independently. Encourage them to use technology to guide their research, then bring the class back together to share what they found and how they went about it.
Incorporate Data-Based Projects
Give students a set of data and encourage them to investigate, ask questions, and form their own conclusions. They’ll learn that knowing how to objectively analyze data not only gives them deeper insight into what they’re studying, but also shows them how powerful data skills can be beyond the classroom. In Showbie, it’s easy to share resources, follow how students interpret the information, and support their reasoning with targeted feedback.
Conduct a Virtual Dissection
Sometimes hands-on materials are tough to locate (or purchase). Instead, try a virtual dissection to encourage students to explore how things work. Instead, try a virtual dissection to encourage students to explore how things work. It gives them a chance to investigate and ask questions, all without needing a scalpel.
When hands-on materials are out of reach, digital alternatives can bring concepts to life. A virtual dissection lets students explore systems, make observations, and investigate how things work, all without the mess. They can document what they notice in Showbie, ask questions, and receive feedback as they go.
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.
These tips can get you quickly on your way to bringing Discovery Learning into your classroom. Do you already use Discovery Learning strategies? Leave us a comment – we would love to hear about them.
