Discovery Learning in the Primary School

First published in 1972, Discovery Learning in the Primary School explores what is recognized as the fundamental process in primary school education, discovery learning. The author discusses and analyzes informal learning situations, examines the educational principles involved and assesses the success of the methods and techniques used. Mr Foster's discussion deals with discovery learning by children as individuals, in small groups, in classes, and in very large groups. Using case histories and simulation exercises based on actual schools, he illustrates the teacher's role and discusses and resolves the everyday problems which teachers have to face. He also covers the practical difficulties of classroom organisation and deals with the special needs of the slow learner. The book contains a comprehensive bibliography and a list of children's books useful for discovery learning approaches. It will be of special value to students, teachers, and administrators in the education service.

1. Introduction 2. Children learning by discovery individually 3. Children learning by discovery in groups 4. Children learning by discovery as a class 5. Children learning by discovery as a school 6. The development of a discovery learning 7. Discovery learning-the question of organization 8. Discovery methods and the slow-learning child 9. Discussion topics-a miscellaneous selection of in-tray exercises, simulations, and instructional discourses 10. A list of children's books useful for discovery learning approaches 11. Some personal conclusions