Discovery-Based Learning > Faculty Resources

Discovery-based learning is just one of several 'student centered' instructional methodologies being implemented in classrooms today. Other methods that fall within this style of curriculum design are inquiry-based learning, problem-based learning, research-based learning, and project-based learning to name a few. Although very subtle differences determine which technical category a particular implementation may belong in, they all provide an 'active learning' environment where the student learns by doing.

Students learn concepts by developing their own ideas while actively participating in group projects during class time. A typical DBL exercise would:

• Present the students with an 'unknown' (question, problem, situation, etc.)
• Student groups would then try to predict the answer.
• The students will then experiment to prove or disprove their hypothesis.
• Then they explain the results.