EFFORTS TO INCREASE THE LEARNING INTEREST OF THE STUDENTS OF CLASS VII B OF SMP N 4 DEPOK VII B THROUGH GUIDED DISCOVERY METHOD ON THE SUBJECT OF AREA OF SQUARES AND TRIANGLES

This study aims at describing the process of mathematics instructions that can increase the learning interest of the students of class VII B of SMP Negeri 4 Depok with the implementation of Guided-Discovery Method on the subject of Area of Squares and Triangles. This was classroom action research conducted in collaboration with the teacher and the subject of this research was the students of class VII B of SMP N 4 Depok which amounted to 36 students. The study consisted of two cycles and each cycle consisted of two meetings with the time allocation of 2x40 minutes for one session. Data collection technique used observation, interest questionnaire, interviews, and documentation. Data obtained were analyzed by using data reduction, triangulation, data display, conclusion, and descriptive data analysis. Based on the research results, the conclusion was that the implementation of the mathematics teaching through Guided-Discovery Method could improve students’ learning interest with the teaching steps starting by (1) presenting problems to the students; the problems were presented in the form of student work sheets containing the main subject matter being discussed completed with step-by-step instructions of the completion to get a conclusion, (2) group discussion; students were grouped into 9 groups and each group consisted of four children, then, students discussed and collaborated in doing the worksheets, and 3) presentations by group representatives; the representatives presented their groups’ findings and conclusions. The increase of students’ learning interest was characterized by the increase of the percentage of the interest aspects observed in the observations of the students’ activity and the questionnaire. Based on the observations on students’ activities; the students’ attention aspect increased by 12.22%, the students’ pleasure aspect increased by 22.22%, and the students’ motives increased by 22.22%. Based on the interest questionnaire; the students’ attention aspect increased by 5.09%, the pleasure aspect increased by 8.34%, and the students’ motive aspect increased by 5.32%. Based on the interviews; students became more active in the teaching and learning process, students were able to understand the material through their own discovery activities without relying on the teacher’s explanation, and they were also more willing to express their opinions or ideas