Educator here.
This is called “discovery learning”.
(The alternative to discovery learning, “direct instruction”, would be if someone had told OP about these permissions before OP got themselves into a pickle)
When discovery learning is successful, it leads to better learning outcomes.
Compared to direct instruction, you learn the material more deeply and will have better recall of the material, often for the rest of your life.
The downsides to discovery learning are that it’s very time-consuming, very frustrating, and many students will just fail (give up) before learning is completed.
It happened to me countless times that I was suffering with a task for hours and hours and hours, then finally found what the problem was. Then a few weeks later, facing the same issue again somewhere else, I only remembered the fact that I had that same issue weeks ago, but I completely forgot what the solution was.
Weirdly enough, sometimes it’s indeed a lifelong experience and I can remember the solution forever. I don’t really know what it depends on.
Reminds me of the adage “you didn’t pay me $5,000 for turning that bolt. You paid me $5,000 because I knew which bolt to turn.” Experience and knowledge is valuable.
No, you just had a 3 hour learning experience.
Educator here. This is called “discovery learning”. (The alternative to discovery learning, “direct instruction”, would be if someone had told OP about these permissions before OP got themselves into a pickle)
When discovery learning is successful, it leads to better learning outcomes. Compared to direct instruction, you learn the material more deeply and will have better recall of the material, often for the rest of your life. The downsides to discovery learning are that it’s very time-consuming, very frustrating, and many students will just fail (give up) before learning is completed.
Consider yourself one of the lucky ones, OP.
If discovery learning is frustrating in class, you must adjust it. It can’t be too easy or too frustrating.
And yes, usually the mental model a student forms from a lesson after doing some discovery learning has strong foundations.
It happened to me countless times that I was suffering with a task for hours and hours and hours, then finally found what the problem was. Then a few weeks later, facing the same issue again somewhere else, I only remembered the fact that I had that same issue weeks ago, but I completely forgot what the solution was.
Weirdly enough, sometimes it’s indeed a lifelong experience and I can remember the solution forever. I don’t really know what it depends on.
Reminds me of the adage “you didn’t pay me $5,000 for turning that bolt. You paid me $5,000 because I knew which bolt to turn.” Experience and knowledge is valuable.