Learning through Discovery in the Online Environment. Examples, Principles, Advantages, and Difficulties. A Case Study on Renewable Energy

ABSTRACT

The aim of this research is to investigate how learning through discovery can be achieved by Z generationpupils using the textbook and the online available sources. We have analyzed a lesson from the textbook Mathematics and Environment Exploration and an animated film from the point of view of learning through discovery, an activity performed into the virtual classroom based on these materials.Weidentified the difficulties and the problems both pupils and teachers cope with, and wehighlighted certain principles and advantages of learning through discovery performed by accessing web sources. We concluded that the film proposed by the teacher for viewing on YouTube represented a valuable information source that corresponded to the pupils' level of knowledge and, more than that, satisfied their curiosity. However, the success of the educational activities depended much on parents' supervision and support.