Direct Instruction > Discovery Learning

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Myth:

Students learn best through discovery learning.

Don’t instruct them.
Don’t tell them what to do.

Just give them a problem and let them figure it out on their own.

Reality:

Give a class full of kids a trapezoid and ask them to figure out its area before teaching them how.

Most of them will have no idea where to start.

Maybe a third of the class will take it seriously.

Maybe one kid who takes it seriously will figure out the trick.

But it will probably take a long time.

And most of the kids will spend that time goofing off.

For beginners, direct instruction is more efficient and less frustrating.

Give them the area formula.

Work through an example.

Then have them practice with different trapezoids until it’s solid.

Further reading:

• What’s the Best Way to Teach Math: Explicit Instruction or Less Guided Learning?
• Why I’m So Against Discovery Learning

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