NYSTCE English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Practice Test

What instruction method focuses on learning through exploration and experimentation?

1. Discovery Learning

2. Diagnostic Assessment

3. Guided Practice

4. Underextension

The correct answer is: Discovery Learning

Discovery Learning is an instructional method that emphasizes student exploration and active engagement in the learning process. This approach encourages learners to investigate, experiment, and derive their own understanding and conclusions from hands-on experiences. In Discovery Learning, students are often presented with opportunities to solve problems and explore concepts without explicit instruction, allowing them to construct knowledge through their own experiences. This method is grounded in constructivist theories of learning, which suggest that students learn best when they are actively involved in the process rather than passively receiving information. By exploring and experimenting, learners can develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as well as a deeper understanding of the subject matter. In contrast, other options like Diagnostic Assessment focus on evaluating a student’s prior knowledge to tailor instruction, Guided Practice involves structured support to reinforce skills, and Underextension relates to a specific language acquisition issue where a child inaccurately applies a word to a narrower range of objects than is appropriate. These alternatives do not prioritize exploration and experimentation as a means of learning, which is the hallmark of Discovery Learning.