3. Introduction
A teaching approaches comprises the principles and
methods used for instruction.
It is the beliefs or ideas about the nature of learning
which is translated into the classroom.
Commonly used teaching methods may include class
participation, discussion, questioning, demonstration,
memorisation, discovery and enquiry methods etc.
4. Discovery method
It is also referred to as problem solving method or
experimental method.
This method was proposed by “Jerome Bruner” in the
year 1960.
The word discovery derived from the Latin word
discooperire which means “to disclose” or “to expose”.
It is a teaching strategy in which students are given a
problem/situation, for which they find an answer by
making an hypothesis.
It is the student centred learning (learning by doing).
5. Characteristics:
It should have minimal teacher guidance, fewer
teacher explanations, solving problems with multiple
solutions and memorization.
Teacher guidance helps in building upon students
reasoning ability and connecting their experiences.
Students are encouraged to ask questions.
It helps to collaborate with teacher and peers.
6. Advantages
Active engagement throughout the class.
Promotes motivation.
Development of creativity.
Development of problem solving skills.
Promotes the students to explore collaborate with
teachers and peers.
7. Disadvantages
Teachers are not trained properly to guide students
learning through discovery.
Text books do not provide sufficient scope for
discovery learning.
It is time consuming.
Creations of misconception.
Below average students feel difficulty of this method.
8. Enquiry method
Enquiry/inquiry method developed in the year 1960.
This method was advocated by Neil Postman and
Charles Weingartner.
Enquiry method is defined as “ seeking for truth,
information or Knowledge” i.e seeking information by
questioning.
It is the student-centered method of education
focused on asking questions.
Teacher is a facilitator, provide guidance and supports
students through learning process.
9. Cont...
Inquiry learning involves developing questions,
making observations, doing research to find out what
information is already recorded, developing methods
for experiments, developing instruments for data
collection, analyzing, and interpreting data, outlining
possible explanations and creating predictions for
future study.
10. Characteristics
Creating questions of their own.
Obtaining supporting evidence to answer the
questions.
Explaining the evidence collected.
Connecting the explanation to the knowledge
obtained from the investigative process.
Creating an argument and justification for the
explanation.
11. Phases of Enquiry Method
There are three phases:-
a) Interaction.
b) Clarification.
c) Questioning.
12. a. Interaction
Student to teacher – teacher is a facilitator, provides
guidance and supports students by giving instructions.
Student to peer – the interaction or discussion with friends,
it helps in collaboration with each other.
Student to material – the material is obtained through
research, reading books, newspapers etc.
Student to media - interaction of students with digital
media, Social media etc.
Interaction helps student to develop curiosity, open minded,
unburdened, playful.
13. b. Clarification
This happens by analyzing data, identifying and
clarifying misconceptions.
After reading, watching and interacting with other
variety of media, this stage of enquiry process is
centered around students clarifying both their own
thinking, and the nature of things around them.
This helps students to be more focused, reflective,
independent and cautious.
14. c. Questioning
The questioning phase is a
critical phase of the
inquiry based process.
Asking meaningful and
appropriate questions.
By asking questions
students generate new
questions and ideas and
improve their
investigation skills.
Asking questions is an
important part of science
because it develops 8
skills of science process.
1. Observation.
2. Experiment.
3. Collaborate.
4. Measure.
5. Classification.
6. Comparison.
7. Record.
8. Analyze.
15. Steps in enquiry method
Define the topic or introduce the topic.
Guide students plan where and how to gather data and
information.
Students present findings through graphs, charts,
power point presentation, models and drawing.
16. Advantages
Children are active and work under the guidance of the
teacher.
They are trained to learn on their own.
They learn to formulate hypothesis.
They develop interaction with teacher and peer.
They exhibit observation and curiosity in learning.
They try out some of their own ideas.
17. Disadvantages
This method is slow and time consuming.
All students are not capable to learn by this method.
Most of the teacher are not trained to teach by this
method.
18. Conclusion
The children are being encouraged to be the
discoverers of the nature of things.
Children encouraged to participate actively in the
class.
This is student centered learning methods.
Teacher is a facilitator provides guidance to the
students.
19. REFERENCE
Bibliography
Dr. Malini .L(2016)
Techniques, methods and approaches
of pedagogy, volume (193-203)
Webliography
https://psychology.fandom.com/wiki/discovery_t
eaching_method
https://www.slideshare.net/inquiry-based-
approach-learning
