Discovery learning rise student’s activeness and understanding compound figure area

Abstract

Abstract In elementary school, activeness and understanding is prime factor to learn mathematic joyfully and succesfuly. Both has strong relationship factor to master mathematic well. Low student interest in mathematics affect in activeness in participating in the learning process. Understanding mathematics is not easy for sixth-grade student of Lipursari elementary school due to its complexcity. This is caused by improperly of instructional media and approaches with the material being studied. It is a descriptive qualitative action research. This study aims to determine the increase in student activeness and understanding using a discovery learning approach and manipulatives media. This research was conducted in class VI SD Negeri Lipursari, Leksono District, 2019/2020 academic year. The research subjects were 19 students consisting of 9 male and 10 females. First lesson was carried out using manipulative media in large groups (4 students) and second one in small groups (2-3 students). Data collection techniques using test, interview and observation. The observation sheet is used to determine the increase in activity. Meanwhile, the understanding of the combined plane area material is known through tests. The data analysis technique used a comparative descriptive method. The results showed that discovery learning can increase the activeness of the sixth-grade students of SD Negeri Lipursari in the first semester of the 2019/2020 academic year. Student’s activeness rate increased from 2.57 to 3.04. Their understanding score of compound figure increased from 64.9 to 68.6. The rxy correlation coefficient shows 0.546200 in the first lesson and 0.507962 in the second lesson. Base on this study, the researcher define Discovery learning is a method that becomes a solution for teachers and students to be able to present learning that is friendly, flexible, student-oriented and able to show how to think and how to solve math problems logically and creatively. The results of the study showed that students’ activity and understanding of the broad materials of the compound figure area increased using the discovery learning approach.