RESEARCH PAPER TEMPLATE

North American University

Education Department
M.Ed. in EDLE & CUIN
EDUC 5312: CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN
Name: Zuleyha Sezer

Date: 2/28/2016

Instructional Project 3
Directions:
This is a research assignment. Use your textbook, web articles, and NAU library
to conduct research when writing this paper.
Use APA style references and in-text- citations. You need to use at least 3
different resources besides Castronova (2002), and Moore (2015).
Part 1. DISCOVERY LEARNING:
Download and read the following article:

Castronova, J. A. (2002). Discovery learning for the 21st century:

What is it and how does it compare to traditional learning in
effectiveness in the 21st century. Action Research Exchange, 1(1), 112. Retrived from http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?
doi=10.1.1.594.6363&rep=rep1&type=pdf

After reading this article and conducting additional research, answer

to the following questions.

What is discovery learning?

Discovery learning is an active process of inquiry based instruction. Learners
engage in problem solving in developing knowledge instead of passively
accepting information. Also students build new information using their existing
knowledge (Bicknell-Holmes& Hoffman, 2000). It is supported by three theorists
and psychologist Jean Piaget, Jerome Bruner, and Seymour Papert. It focused
on that learners are best educated when they discover knowledge by
themselves.

How does this form of teaching compare to traditional, teacher-centered

instruction?
The first difference is learners are more active in discovery learning than in
traditional learning by discovering new information through the activities The
second difference is discover learning provide students a deep understanding of
content instead of memorize them. They learn the answers of questions by
seeking for the answer to understand not memorizing them. The third difference
is discovery learning does not require getting right answers. Students can failure
in their learning process. Learning processes even if failures happen. It makes
students search more and discover new things. In traditional way students do not
have that chance since they received all information directly from educators.
Other difference is in discovery learning is enhanced with feedback (Schank &
Cleary, 1994). So that they can discuss their learning to get better understanding
instead of staying silently in traditional classes. As a last discovery learning
satisfies natural human curiosity and promotes individual interests (Castronova,
J. 2002).
What educational theories support the discovery learning model?
John Dewey (1916/1997) believed that learners should be active so they can
learn more. They can interact with the other learners within group learning
activities. Thus they develop their understanding.
Jean Piaget (1954, 1973) described that children think differently from adults.
They are active learners they build their knowledge by participating and testing
them to understand of the world.
Lev Vygotsky (Rice & Wilson, 1999) he theorized that if a child has assistants to
get help to have more experience it would be possible for him/her to solve more
complex problems.
What is the most important thing you discovered about discovery learning?
The most important thing in discovery learning is motivation which is required in
learning environment. If the students are motivated enough learning process is
increased. Also the students want to learn more and retain the knowledge longer(
Moore, 2015)
How can you apply this method to your future classroom?
I would apply this method to my future class by assigning them more hands-on
and problem-solving activities. Also I would always encourage them in case of
failure so that they keep trying their study until they find the solution.
Part 2. ADDITIONAL CHAPTERS

Select one of the following chapters to conduct research: Chapter 2,

3, 5 or 12. Review the chapter and respond to related questions for
that chapter by conducting your own research.

Chapter 2- Teaching Diverse Students

1-Teaching all students. Remember that a teachers job is to teach all students
and assume an attitude that all students can learn. Research techniques and
strategies that can be used to accomplish this task. Sources of information

include the library, the Internet, current journals, and recent books.
There are many strategies and techniques of teaching all students but I will
explain some of those:
-Chunking; breaking teaching in small steps provides better learning environment
for the students who struggle with keep up the lesson period that contain too
much content.
-Asking questions; that provoke childrens thinking. In a recent study, one group
of teachers was asked to teach new material by asking questions and discussing.
Their students ended up with higher scores than students whose teachers did not
teach this way.
-Giving assistance ;( such as a cue or hint) to help children work on the edge of
their current. Thus they do not give up easily and keep trying to find the answer.
- Providing model; ways of approaching problems, and behavior toward others,
showing children rather than just telling them.it helps the students to understand
the things which are hard to imagine.
-Encouraging students; is an essential strategy to motivate the students which is
actually required for learning environment.
-Giving individual feedback; Success for the student with learning disabilities
requires a focus on individual achievement, individual progress, and individual
learning. Teachers should work with students individually.
Reviewing; the students always forget what they learned when they learn new
things. Thats why it is important to review previous lesson so that students can
solved the new problems easily with their background knowledge. They can
retain their knowledge by practicing.
2. Intelligence profile. Evaluate your own intelligence profile according to
Gardner. In what frames of mind (intelligence areas) do you come out strongest?
I figured out that my strongest intelligence area is Naturalist intelligence which
is the eighth intelligence that Gardner added, after first publication of his model
This is the ability to recognize and find the relationships with the natural world
and biological sciences. Astronomers, biologists, and zoologists are examples of
professions with a high level of naturalist intelligence. As a biologist this
intelligence is the closest one to me.

References:
N. (2009). 10 Effective DAP Teaching Strategies | National Association for the
Education of Young Children | NAEYC.
LDA. (2013).Successful Strategies for Teaching Students with Learning
Disabilities.
Osewalt, G. (n.d.). Teaching Strategies: What Works Best
In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. (2016, February 4). Discovery learning
Coffey,H.(n.d.).Discovery Learning
Castronova, J. A. (2002). Discovery Learning for the 21st Century: What is it and
how does it compare to traditional learning in effectiveness in the 21st Century?
Moore, K. D. (2005). Effective instructional strategies: From theory to practice.
Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications.