Heuristic method

Introduction:
o The name of this method is derived from the Greek word ‘heurisco’ means I
discover or I find.
o The founder of this method is ‘Henry Edward Armstrong’
o It is based on the psychological principles of “trial and error” theory.
o It is student-centered-method.
o First it was used in science and its success led it to be adopted in the
teaching of all subjects in the school curriculum.
Application of heuristic method:
o The term seems to have two usages:
o Describing an approach to learning by trying without necessarily having an
organized hypothesis or way of proving that the results proved or disproved
the hypothesis. That is, “trial-by-error” learning.
o Pertaining to the use of the general knowledge gained by experience,
sometimes expressed as “using a rule of-thumb.
Definition:
o In heuristic method the student be put in the place of an independent
discoverer.
o No help or guidance is provided by the teacher in this method.
o In this method the teacher sets a problem for the students and then stands
aside while they discover the answer.
o Student learns by self-experience.
o By using their creative thinking, they try to find out the solutions.
In words of Professor Armstrong:
"Heuristic methods of teaching are methods which involve our placing students
as far as possible in the altitude of the discoverer - methods which involve their
finding out instead of being merely told about things"
Principle:
5 basic principles are here:
o Principle of freedom.
o Principle of logical thinking.
o Principle of activity.
o Principle of self-thinking and self-study.
o Principle of purposeful experience.
Steps:
1. Planning
2. Execution
3. Conclusion
1. Planning
i. Identification of problem.
ii. Arriving for appropriate solution for the problem.
2. Execution
i. Perceiving and observing for accurate results.
ii. Recording of the results observed.
3. Conclusion
i. Formulation of hypothesis.
ii. Identification / arriving the accurate solution.

Procedure:
o Problem is given.
o Instructions related to problem is provided.
o Doing problem step by step.
o Note down observations.
o Make conclusions.

Let us see an example:

Germination of seed
How will this approach help in studying seed gemination?
Teacher gives the problem…
o How do the seeds germinate...??
o What are the factors necessary for seed germination...??
Students…
o Collect the guidelines from the teacher.
o Gather the seeds and other necessary tools and equipment's.
Conducts the experiments as follows.
Aim:
To identify the factors of seed germination.
Apparatus and Reagents required:
o Bean seeds of good quality
o A defective seed
 o Glass beakers
o Red soil
Procedure:
o Take five glass beakers (100 ml.) And label them as 1,2,3,4 and 5.
o Fill the red soil up to 3/4 level of each beaker except the last one.
o Leave the fifth beaker without red soil.
o Plant the bean seeds of good quality in the first three beakers.
o Plant a defective bean seed in the fourth beaker.
o Place a good seed in the beaker without soil.
o Keep the beakers numbered 1 and 4 in the place where the sun light is
available outside.
o Keep the beakers numbered 2 and 3 within the shelf or almirah where there
is no light.
o Keep the beaker number 5 outside where the sunlight is available.
Observation and maintenance:
o Students have to cook out the seed growth with proper care and observe the
changes happening with the seeds.
o This can be done with the help of guidelines / instruction from the teacher
also.
o Students have to water the seeds at the beakers numbered 1, 3, 4 and 5 for
five to six days regularly during morning time.
o No watering to the beaker 2.
o After five- or six-days students has to observe the change in the seeds placed
in the beakers.
o If necessary, information given about the seed germination at the text books
can be compared and arrive the final conclusion.
Objectives:
The Following Are the Main Objectives of Heuristic Strategy:
o To develop among students the ability of self-learning.
o To develop among students the ability of critical thinking.
o To develop among students the attitude of logical thinking.
o To develop among students the scientific thinking.
o To develop among students the attitude of accepting truth only after
o verification.
o To develop among students the attitude of not accepting things based on
blind
o faith.
o To each as little as possible at one time.
Aims:
o It can solve a problem by using his scientific.
o Demonstrates the experiments.
o Illustrates the results of the experiment attitude.
o Acquires the knowledge about the new concepts.
o Thinks independently.
o Collects and analyses the data for information.
Role of Teacher:
o Teacher gives the problem.
o Teacher guide them.
o Necessary instructions are also provided.
 o He provides an atmosphere of freedom in the classroom.
Role of Student:
o Collect the information or guide lines from the teacher.
o Find solution.
o Gather necessary tools and equipment.
o Conducts the experiments.
Characteristics of Teacher:
o Treasure of knowledge.
o Develop a curious and investigative spirit to Students.
o Genius in art of questioning.
o Friend and good guide.
o Plan and devise problems.
Merits:
o Power of observation, reasoning and drawing inference are developed.
o Students develop the habit of doing duties and become research minded.
o It makes the students self-confident.
o It develops habit of self- learning and self –direction
o It develops the habit of enquiry and investigation among students.
o Teacher encourages the learners to explore the environment in search of the
solution of the problems. By doing so, some new knowledge is discovered
by them.
o Teacher is always ready to provide individual guidance regarding the
solution of the problem. Thus, interaction between the teacher and the
learner takes place in a cooperative, conducive environment.
Demerits:
o It is a long and time-consuming method.
o It cannot be used at primary level of education.
o Higher intelligence and divergent thinking are required in the learners. But
there are some students who are below average and fail to succeed in
discovering the solutions of the problems. So, it frustrates them.
o It is very costly.
o The method expects of the teacher a great experience and training.
o The experts who have to provide instruction for each topic are not available.
o Extra work needed from teachers.
Suggestions:
o Problem should be related to the course and curriculum and a definite time
period should be allotted to the learners to finish their research work.
 o Students’ abilities capabilities, interest and choice of the subject should be
taken into consideration in allotting the problems.
o There should be an eligibility criterion for providing the problems.
o Engage students in the process and ask them questions to make sure they
know what exactly is going on.
o Encourage the questioning mind, and equip students with skills for finding
the answers.
o Explain every step of the process and make sure that they are following
along.
Conclusion:
o This method cannot be successfully applied in primary classes but this
method can be given a trial in secondary classes particularly in higher
secondary classes.
o By heuristic approach we mean that students be not spoon fed or be given a
dictation rather they be given opportunities to investigate, to think and work
independently along with traditional way of teaching.