How to Make Guided Discovery Learning Practical for

Student Teachers
Janssen, Fred J. J. M.; Westbroek, Hanna B.; van Driel, Jan H.
Instructional Science: An International Journal of the Learning Sciences, v42 n1 p6790 Jan 2014
Many innovative teaching approaches lack classroom impact because teachers
consider the proposals impractical. Making a teaching approach practical requires
instrumentality (procedures), congruence (local fit), and affordable cost (limited
time and resources).This paper concerns a study on the development and effects of
a participatory design based teacher training trajectory aimed at making guided
discovery learning (GDL) practical for student biology teachers. First, we identified
practical heuristics for designing GDL lessons by analyzing design protocols made
by biology teachers who are experts in GDL. Next we inventoried student responses
to their regular lessons and to GDL based lessons. Based on this we prepared a
teacher training program for eleven student biology teachers in which they applied
the heuristics and stepwise extended their teaching repertoire in the direction of
GDL. The participants' design processes and resulting lesson plans were scored on
both use of design heuristics and GDL characteristics. The participants were
interviewed about their motivational beliefs before and after the program. Results
showed that student teachers are able to design GDL lessons and used the
heuristics to design GDL lessons. Their motivation for implementing GDL in their
classroom had increased substantially. The paper concludes with a critical reflection
on our method of participatory design and its applicability.
Descriptors: Student Teachers, Biology, Science Instruction, Teaching Methods, Student
Participation, Teacher Education,Heuristics, Student Attitudes, Student
Motivation, Interviews, Discovery Learning
Springer. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax:
212-348-4505; e-mail: service-ny@springer.com; Web site: http://www.springerlink.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers: N/A