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As we place in front of students something they can interact with, or manipulate, or even just tap into their imaginations about, we will stimulate self-learning. Just as I learned calligraphy without a teacher, students will step up to the plate and figure out what they need to know. They will have pride in what they have learned. They will ask questions and be curious because they feel good about having some control of what and how they learn. By offering students opportunities to experiment and discover for themselves how things work, what they do, and ways to use them, we open a whole new world for them.

Curiosity results in learning. The more we can raise the curiosity level in children, the more we will allow them to learn by self-discovery. If we are careful, we can still motivate self-learning by not giving them all of the information. By asking questions that will require the child to discover by experience and experiment we encourage self-discovery.

Self discovery contributes to feelings of positive self-worth. When the child feels good about his experience, he will want to have another such experience. Teachers need to be pro-active and encourage questions from the students. Encourage further exploration by the students as they discover new information individually and in groups
While a grading system helps the teachers and administrators know how well the student is doing, it tends to cause students to compare themselves with each other, leaving some to be discouraged. With the self-discovery method of teaching or learning, it might be best to have another system of rating, if only informal. Allow for more social interaction related to the project. Let the children rate each other's work based on positive criticism from peers. Students do need to learn how to contribute in a critically positive way to the education of their peers.

Social interaction in the classroom promotes self-discovery. Have students ask each other the questions that they were unable to answer as they worked through own projects. Allow them to realize that they can actually help each other to learn. This gives them a feeling of accomplishment, both as individuals and as a social group.

Learning goals stimulate self-learning. If learning is just for grades, students turn it off quickly. They need a reason to learn that will effect how they connect to the world around them.

"Every success grows from an idea that has been fertilized with thought, and nourished with hard work." We must both plant ideas into the students minds, and, and even better, allow for them to express their own ideas. Sprinkle those ideas with a few thought provoking questions, and open the workshop of their minds so they can bring their ideas to life, the result will be success.

Learn more about this author, Ernest Smartt.
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