Class Discussions to Improve Students’ Active Participation in A Christian School During Online Learning

Abstract

The research was inspired by the facts found in online class observations of primary students
of Grade V in Tangerang. Some students did not participate in class discussions actively.
Therefore, the objectives of this research were to know whether class discussions improve
students’ active participation during online learning and to explain the steps of class
discussions to help students to participate actively in online learning. This is classroom
action research. The data was collected from 23 Grade V students of a Christian school in
Tangerang from July 12, 2021, until August 18, 2021, during online learning. The
instruments used were the observation form, lesson plan, affective journal checklist, and
reflection. The results were class discussions improved students’ responsibility to participate
actively, do the assignments, and participate verbally by answering and questioning in class
discussions. Another result was there were six steps of class discussions, i.e., dividing the
students into small groups, explaining the steps of good discussion, giving the topic or
problem to be discussed by each group, facilitating the discussion and guiding the students,
listening to groups’ presentation and giving each group feedback, as well as assisting the
students to conclude. The conclusion was the class discussions that were prepared well by
Christian teachers would improve primary students' active participation during online
learning.