Problem-solving-based learning to improve students’ learning interest

Abstract

The lack of students’ learning interest in Mathematics learning becomes one of the causes of the low student learning outcome. This research is to find out the way to improve students’ learning interest through problem-solving-based learning. There were two cycles carried out in this action research. The participants of this research were the seventh-grade students of junior high school in Yogyakarta. This research used Kemmis and Taggart spiral model as the research plan which consists of planning, acting, observing, and reflecting. The instruments of this research were learning-interest questionnaire, pre-test, and post-test Before giving treatment with problem-based-solving learning, a survey of student learning interest was conducted. The survey was in form of questionnaire. It was found that the students’ learning interest in high category was 0% and in medium and low category was 13,33%, 43%, and 43,33%. It can be concluded that in the pre-research, 65% of 30 students have low interest in learning Mathematics. The next step the treatment was given to student. The treatment was problem-solving-based learning in around two cycles. The first cycle consists of three meetings, and the second cycle consists of two meetings. From the result of the learning which was conducted in cycle one and cycle two, it was revealed that the development of learning interest in the first cycle was 67,5% and the second cycle was 76,53%. The results of learning achievement show that the development in the first cycle was 90% and in the second cycle was 98%, In sum, problem-learning-based learning improves students’ learning interest.