Improving Social Studies Learning Activeness in Elementary School Students Using Concrete Media-Assisted Simulation Methods

Abstract

Social Sciences in elementary schools include important lesson content to develop activeness because of the many social problems faced by students in social life. However, the social studies learning process faces challenges, namely low activity. Active learning is an important factor in the learning process. Active student learning can be measured by active participation in learning activities, both physically and mentally. This research is useful for increasing the social studies learning activity of fourth-grade elementary school students through a simulation learning method assisted by concrete media. Researchers used classroom action research methods with the application of simulation learning methods assisted by concrete media. This research was conducted in 5 meetings, 1 pre-action activity, and 4 meetings divided into two cycles consisting of planning, action, observation, and reflection stages for each cycle. The research subjects were 32 grade 4 elementary school students. Data collection techniques used are observation and documentation. Data analysis was performed using quantitative and qualitative analysis. The results showed that the application of the simulation learning method assisted by concrete media can improve student learning outcomes where in the pre-cycle the percentage of activeness was 49.67% in the low category, in the first cycle it increased by 69.59% in the medium category, and the second cycle, it was 79.91% in the high category. This research was said to be successful because it met the completeness criteria of more than 75%.