The heuristic method is a teaching method that involves allowing students to discover things for themselves through exploration and problem solving rather than direct instruction. It places students in the role of discoverers. Key principles include freedom for students, an environment that is responsive to their needs, and guidance from teachers as needed. The method aims to develop skills like critical thinking, logical reasoning, and scientific inquiry in students. Teachers play an important guiding role by selecting suitable problems, asking questions, and helping students arrive at conclusions while allowing freedom. While time consuming, the heuristic method can develop self-learning, scientific temperament, and retention of knowledge in students.

1. Heuristic Method
Mr. Bheem Pad Mahato
Assistant Professor
Fculty of Education
ICFAI University Tripura

2. Heuristic Method
Heurisco
(Greek)
I
Find
I
Discover

3. Need to create effective learning
situation
• The classroom atmosphere should facilitate
free exploration.
• Learners must feel safe and accepted.
• Risk and rewords for seeking new
knowledge.
• Opportunities to new information and
experiences.
• Pace for learning.

4. - Henry Edward Armstrong

5. Definition
• “Heuristic method is a method of
teaching which involves our placing
the students as far as possible in the
attitude of a discoverer”.
- Henry Edward Armstrong

6. “This method as the name implies is a
method by which the pupil discovers
things for himself. The pupil is put in the
position of a pioneer and he finds his way
along the path of knowledge as did those
who first discovered the facts, principles
and laws which are now known to all”.
- W M Ryburn,
Definition

7. ESSENTIAL CONDITIONS OF HEURISTIC
LEARNING
• It provides the Student freedom of
action.
• It provides an environment, which is
responsive.
• It encourages the student to learn.
• It provides teacher’s guidance whenever
required

8. Where we can apply -
• There is an encouragement for the
process of searching
• There is respect for creative thinking
• The new ideas are welcomed
• Mistakes could be done and at the
same time they can be corrected.

9. Objectives of Heuristic Methods
• To develop among students the ability of self-
learning.
• To develop among students the ability of critical
thinking.
• To develop among students the attitude of logical
thinking.
• To develop among students the attitude of
accepting truth only after verification.
• To develop among students the attitude of not
accepting things based on blind faith.
• To develop among students the scientific thinking.

10. PRINCIPLES OF THE HEURISTIC
METHOD
• Principle of freedom
• Principle of experience
• Principle of activity or learning by doing
• Principle of purposefulness
• Principle of logical thinking
• Principle of play-way
• Principle of individual work.

11. Problem Solving Strategy
• Understanding and representing the
problem
• Selecting or planning the solution
• Executing the plan
• Evaluating the results

12. Role of a Teacher
• Searching the suitable problem. The teacher keeps in mind
the age, abilities and interests of the students, along with the
resources available.
• The teacher should be studious who can give relevant
references as and when required by the students.
• The teacher should prepare a detailed instruction sheet to
the students.
• The teacher should possess the attitude of a discoverer, until
he or she does possess such attitude, the students never get
inspired to become a discoverer themselves.
• The teacher should have the knack of asking questions and
also encourage the students to ask questions. Questioning is
a very important aspect of heuristic method as it helps in
determining the level of understanding in the students.

13. Role of a Teacher
• The teacher should inculcate the skills of self-expression,
self-development, self-confidence and self-help in the
students.
• The teacher plays the role of a guide to the students, and
provides the students sufficient information regarding the
problem taken up and helps them in carrying it out.
• The teacher plays a significant role in developing scientific
attitudes and values; and at the same time allows the
freedom of work.
• The teacher may organize field trips, visits to museums
and exhibitions to supplement the knowledge of the
students.

14. Role of a Teacher
• The teacher plays an important role in drawing
conclusions from the observations and
experimentations.
• She will help the students in arriving at the
generalizations and relating to the body of the
knowledge.
• The teacher should be ready to accept any
solution coming from the student’s side on the
problem. This will develop the true spirit of
problem solving among the students.
• The teacher should be sympathetic and
courteous towards the students.

15. Advantages
• The method lays emphasis on individual
practical work. Thus it makes the child self-
reliant.
• Inculcates the scientific temperament by
developing scientific attitudes and scientific
methodology.
• The methods help in developing self learning
and self direction.
• The students develop the habit of enquiry and
investigation.

16. Advantages
• The students also develop the power of diligence.
• The method is based on the important principle
of “learning by doing”.
• As the results obtained are from the direct
experiences of the students, the knowledge
acquired by them will be retained for a longer
period of time.
• Develops the research skills, critical thinking and
logical reasoning in the students.

17. Disadvantages
• This method is time consuming and therefore the
syllabus will not be completed in the prescribed time
period.
• This method is suitable when the teacher is
enthusiastic and gifted. It is too technical and
scientific for an average teacher.
• The method demands hard work, great efficiency,
training in scientific methods etc., from the teacher.
• Sufficient skills and training are required for the
gradation of the problems.
• The method could be applied only to small classes
with less number of students.

18. Thanks