Discovery learning

"What individual teachers do in class is pivotal for student learning, with teaching variables – including the teaching models used – accounting for 30% of the differential in student achievement. Research has found that teaching variables are more influential on student achievement than background measures such as socio-economic status."

"In Australia, it was found that differences between classrooms within schools were greater than differences between schools. Students in classes with very effective teachers for three years in a row achieved 50% more learning than those in classes with ineffective teachers over the same period."

"There are essentially two approaches to teaching. The first is ‘explicit’ or ‘direct’ — I tell you — and the second is ‘discovery’ or ‘inquiry’ — you find out for yourself..."

"There is a strong body of research supporting a systematic, explicit approach generally, particularly when it involves learning new concepts and operations, and for students who struggle with learning. By contrast, approaches that are student-led, unsystematic, and rely largely on personal discovery have not been supported by evidence."

http://www.fivefromfive.org.au/explicit-instruction/

John Hattie on inquiry-based learning