Discovery method

a. Discovery method

      Discovery method is mental process where students are able to assimilating one concept or principle. The mental processes are observing, accepting, understanding, organizing, estimating, measuring, explaining, making conclusions. Roestiyah NK,and Yumiati S,(1985:20). Base on the statement of the experts above, we can say that, in this technique students are free to discover by themselves and experience the mental process itself actively. Teachers just advise and give instructions to the students in finding a certain concept and principle.

Furthermore, Dr. J. Richard and his assistant try students self learning method, this method change the situation of teacher dominated learning become students dominated learning. By using discovery learning, is a teaching way that involves the students in the process of mental activity through, discussion, seminar, reading and trying by themselves. So the student can learn by themselves.

The using of this discovery technique is teachers are trying to increase student’s activities in teaching and learning process. These techniques have some spatiality or advantages.

b. The advantages of discovery method

1.      This technique enables to help student to develop themselves, increasing preparation, and creativity mastery in cognitive process or students’ introduction.

2.      Students get knowledge with very personal characteristic or individually characteristic, so can stay permanently as basic in the soul of the students.

3.      Discovery method can increase student’s ambitions to study.

4.      This technique gives opportunity to the student in developing their talents ability.

5.      This technique is able to give students direction to study more active and have strong motivation to study.

6.      Help students to strong and add student’s self confidence in discovery self process.

7.      The strategy was concentration to the students not teachers. Teachers just play as a friend in study and helping when she/he was needed by the student.

Roestiyah. NK.(1985:20-21)

c. The disadvantages of discovery method

1.      For the students, they should have the preparation and maturation of mental to this study way. Students should be brave and have ambition to know about the environmental condition.

2.      If the class was to big the use of this technique will not be optimal.

3.      For the teacher and student that usually use the planning and traditional teaching in study, probably they will be disappointed if it is exchanged with discovery method.

4.      According to other peoples, this mental process was too significant to the process of understanding only. Not too significant in the forming of student’s attitude and creativity.

5.      This technique probably didn’t give students opportunity to think creatively.

Roestiyah. NK.(1985:21)

 d. Steps in using discovery method

Glistraf in laili (2005:27) states that there are twenty steps that must be faced by the teacher if they use discovery method. it can be simplified as follows:

1.      The correct identification.

2.      Selection of preface toward principles, concept understanding and generalization that will be studied.

3.      Material selection and assignment problem.

4.      Helping clearly:

a)      Duty that will be learned

b)      The role of  every students

5.      Preparation of class setting and equipment needed.

6.      Recheck student understands toward problem that will be solved and student’s duty.

7.      Help students with information, if needed by the student.

8.      Give an opportunity for the students to do discovery.

9.      Managing own analysis with question that direction to the identification process.

10.  Stimulate the interactions among students.

11.  Praising and support the most active students in discovery process.

12.  Help students in finding principle and generalization from discovery result.

The use of discovery method is to motivate student to study hard to get the best mark, this method is seldom to use because of the tools of study and facility that support the material is difficult to prepare. This method also needs more intensive advice for the students.

The use of this method has certain specialty. Earlier, many teacher uses this method in teaching, discovery method is one of teaching method that already chosen by the teacher in advance school, the discovery method are:

1)      Discovery method is one of the ways to devolve the way of student active in thinking.

2)      By found out by them selves, the result that obtain will be solid and keep stay in their soul and mind forever.

3)      The understanding that found by them selves was easy to transfer in other situation.

4)      By discovery method, Children will master one of scientific method that can be developed by them selves.

5)      By discovery method, young learner will learn to think analysis and solve problem by them selves, and behavior will transfer into society life.  B.Suryasubroto,in laili, (2005:29)

Base on the statement of expert above, discovery method is one of the teaching method that can make students active in thinking, study individually, and analyze way out by them selves, so this experience can be transferred in to their attitude in real life, become good personality and full of confidence.