The Impact of Discovery Learning on Students’ Mathematics Learning Outcomes

Abstract

Abstract The aim of this study is to describe the impact of discovery learning on students’ mathematics learning outcomes. Empirical evidence of the positive impact of this method was collected from the results of searching in reputable online journal database and synthesized using a systematic literature review method. Twenty articles were found that meet with the following criteria: (1) research articles containing empirical evidence of the impact of discovery learning on students’ mathematics learning outcomes, (2) articles published in the period 2000-2018, (3) the subject of research is a group of students on formal education from elementary school to higher education. The selected articles are further synthesized and analyzed. The result of the review shows that discovery learning has a positive impact on students’ mathematics learning outcomes on cognitive, affective, and psychomotor aspects. Each step in discovery learning has an important role in learning mathematics. However, to develop the student’s particular ability or skill, the teachers should emphasize certain steps that have the greatest potential to improve them, without eliminating other steps.