LEARNING MATHEMATICS BY USING COMPUTER BASED LEARNING

Learning Mathematics by Using Computer Based Learning
Learning Mathematics by Using Computer Based LearningThe learning “matematika” (mathematics) in Indonesia was begun since 1973, when the government had changed “berhitung” (counting) to “matematika”. Since that mathematics became a must subject for levels at elementary school up to senior high school (Somerset in Sutarto Hadi, 2005: 2).After the application of learning mathematics at shool, government had the policy to attempt many ways to guarantee its success , like the supplying of text books, training the teachers, also suppying media and models. But students’ achievement of mathematics is still low. The research of Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) in 1999 showed that Indonesian students’ achievement of mathematics in the 34th rank from 38 countries. The same research in 2003 showed that Indonesian students’ achievement of mathematics in the 34th rank from 45 countries (http://peduli-matematika.org/page.php?5).For this time the conventional learning is less eeffective, moreover if it’s used for learning mathematics. Because only teacher’s activeness that demanded in learning, meanwhile students usually only accept what given by the teacher without any efforts. Besides, students will get bored easily if they only sit and hear what teacher’s said, so that it will give a bad effect to their achievement. So, the teacher-directed learning paradigm must be changed into student-directed learning paradigm. If it’s happened not only the teacher who active in learning, but also done by students theirselves.In an article, an education observer said, “the change of paradigm in education institution from centralistist into decentralistis will bring consequences in education management, especially in elementary level. Then, it will make problems that must be faced by school, especially about students’ readiness, theachers, finance, learning effectiveness, management system and manything that support learning based on information and communication technology.” (Sutrisno, 2007).Students that have problem physically, intelectual intellegence or emotional problem, probably will be weak in mathematics, although they’re strong in another subjects. A lot of students more interest to learn another subjects rather than mathematics, big possibilities they don’t have a will to learn mathematics seriously so that students’ achievement of mathematics is unsatisfying.To increase the effectiveness of learning in the class, can use variation methods of learning. The variation in learning activity in order to make students’ achievement better, and also decrease their boredom. The kinds of variation can be done by using media and materials, such as: (1) variation at equipments and materials that can be seen, (2) variation at equipments and materials that can be heard, and (3) variation at equipments and materials that can be touched and manipulated (Wardani in Tim MKPBM, 2001: 162).The media is the most important thing that needed in learning, that complete the success of learning process at school. The use of media of learning in learning process can raise the will and new interest, raise motivation and stimulus of learning activity, and also give good psycology effect for students.Those all above appropiate to government regulation at PP No. 19 in 2005 about National Standard of Education, it says that means and infrasructure are national standard of education that related to minimum criterion abut classroom, place for doing sport, place for doing worship, library, laboratory, worksop, place for creation and recreation, also another source of learning that needed to support learning process, including the using of information and communication technology.In education world, computer has a big potency to increase the quality of learning, especially in learning of mathematics. Many abstract and imaginatif things that’s difficult to be thought by students that can be presentated by computer simulation. Of course it will simplify their ways of thought to understand mathematics. So that the development of mathematics learning process can be done by teachers by empowering computer.Computer Based Learning, sometimes abbreviated to CBL, refers to the use of computers as a key component of the educational environment (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-learning).As well as enabling students to achieve at higher levels, researchers have also found that computer based learning enhances learning rate. Student learning rate is faster with computer based learning than with conventional instruction. In some research studies, the students learned the same amount of material in less time than the traditionally instructed students; in others, they learned more material in the same time (http://www.nwrel.org/scpd/sirs/5/cu10.html)Computer based learning is very promise it’s use in educational area, especially for learning mathematics. But in the real condition, computer is still rarely to be used in learning process, however it’s used as an assist equipment to finish administration or functioning computer as a typewriter. Whereas manythings can be done by students and teacher with computer, especially in learning mathematics. This obstacle happens because a lot of teachers are still not giving attention to the using of learning media, from models to computer based learning.Besides a lot of teacher still can not operate computer well. In 2004, 80 % of teachers of elementary shoolguru can not operate compter. So that a lot teachers give reason if using media of computer based learning will waste the time to finish the materials in the class, because a lot of time is neglected for technical computer operation rather than the learning activity.Another obstacle is finance that must be prepared in a big amount if school supplies computer as many as students that study there. Although for this time the using of computer is still expensive, but it’s a good invest for the future, so that can be used spreadly at any levels, including elementary school.Sekolah Dasar Negeri Nogopuro has computer laboratory already that consist of 18 units of computer. Those computer can be used in learning process, especially learning mathematics. With the computer facilities supplied, all students can use them, so that can increase learning effectiveness, especially for learning of mathematics.All of students there from grade 1 up to grade 6 have got technology information subject, and can operate computer well, so that teacher don’t have any difficulities for giving instruction about the operation of computer.In computer based learning of mathematics will use compact disk of learning, so that students can doing learning individually. Students can use compact disk of learning by entering the compact disk and watching the appearance that shown. If there is any difficult material of learning, students can ask to the teacher. After teacher gives explanation to students untill they understand, students can continue their learning.In compact disk of learning, not only materials that supplied there, but there is including excercises too. Students can answer the questions, if they answer correctly, they can continue to answer the next questions, but if they answer incorrect, computer will give comment about the false they mad, so that they can monitor their own knowledge development.ReferencesGovernment Regulation No. 19 in 2005 about Educational National Standard.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-learninghttp://www.nwrel.org/scpd/sirs/5/cu10.htmlSutarto Hadi. (2005). Pendidikan Matematika Realistik dan Implementasinya. Banjarmasin: Tulip.Sutrisno, (17 of August). Artikel Pendidikan Network-E-learning di Sekolah dan KTSP. http://re-searchengines.com/0807sutrisno2.htmlTIM MKPBM Mathematics Education Department. (2001). Strategi Pembelajaran Matematika Kontemporer. Bandung: UPI.Kurnia Hidayati S2 Pendidikan Dasar UNY