Discovery learning: based on constructivist theory, this type of learning focuses on personal inquiry and self-directed motivation. Learners encounter problem-solving tasks and interact with tangible objects. It was introduced by Jerome Bruner in 1961.
Example: I want to learn how to teach my dog to “shake” so I experiment with different techniques and reinforcers until I’ve accomplished the task.
Resources:
http://www.learning-theories.com/discovery-learning-bruner.html
http://elearningindustry.com/discovery-learning-model
Dual coding theory: Proposed by Allan Paivio, this theory posits that there are two separate cognitive functions: one for representing non-verbal entities (images) and the other for representing language and sounds (audio). This theory can be used to improve learning strategies by linking the two cognitive functions to recall information more efficiently.
Example: I can learn to recognize the sound of a rooster crow and link it to the image of a rooster. Thus, if I hear a rooster crow I know what to look for if I want to find its location.
Resources:
http://www.instructionaldesign.org/theories/dual-coding.html