Social Science Learning Media in Elementary School
Social Science Learning Media in Elementary School
In a teaching and
learning process, two very important elements are teaching methods and learning
media. These two aspects are interrelated. The use of learning media in the
teaching and learning process can generate new interests and desires,
motivation as well as stimulation of learning activities and even bring
psychological effects on students. As we have seen many times, the styles and
media used during the teaching and learning process that are less favored by
students will affect the level of student interest in learning.
Media is one that plays a
role in the process of teaching and learning activities, especially in social
studies learning in elementary schools. By using learning media, it is hoped
that students can better understand the material taught by the teacher. Therefore,
learning media is a thing that supports the learning process in elementary
school.
A. Understanding Social
Studies Learning Media in SD
Media comes from Latin,
which is the plural form of "medium" which means an intermediary or
tool (means) to achieve something. According to the Association for Educational
Communications and Technology (AECT, 1977) learning media are everything or
power that can be utilized by teachers, either separately or in combination,
for the benefit of teaching and learning with the aim of increasing the
effectiveness and efficiency of learning objectives.
As a social studies
learning media, educational media is needed to foster students' understanding
of social studies subject matter. Diversification of media or multi-media applications
is highly recommended in the social studies learning process, for example
through: direct experience of students in the community; dramatizations,
exhibitions and collections of objects, television and films, radio recordings,
pictures, photographs in various sizes suitable for social studies learning,
graphs, charts, charts, schematics, maps, magazines, newspapers, bulletins,
folders, pamphlets and caricatures , libraries, learning resources, social
studies laboratory; and lectures, questions and answers, oral stories, and the
like (Ruampakk, 1988: 23-27; Mulyono, 1980: 10-12).
B. Functions of Social
Studies Learning Media in SD
The increasing role of
the media often causes concern on the part of teachers. The teacher is afraid
that the two functions will be shifted by the learning media. These worries do
not need to occur if the teacher understands well about the actual duties and
roles. Providing individual guidance and attention to students is an important
task that has not been fully implemented so far.
In general, learning
media have the following functions:
1. Clarify the
presentation of the message so that it is not too verbalistic (in the form of
written or spoken words only)
2. Overcoming the
limitations of space, time, and senses, for example:
a. Objects that are too
large can be replaced with realities, pictures, films, film frames, and models.
b. Small objects, can be
assisted with a micro projector, film, and images.
c. Events or events that
occurred in the past, can be displayed again through films, videos, photos, or
verbally.
d. Objects that are too
complex, such as machines, can be presented with models, pictures, and others.
e. Concepts that are too
broad (volcanoes, earthquakes, climate, etc.) can be visualized in the form of
films, pictures, and others.
3. As an appropriate and
varied educational media, so that it can overcome the passive nature of
students.
4. Cultivate a unique
attitude in each student, coupled with a different environment and experience.
C. Implementation of
social studies learning media in SD
Mass media is a type of
communication addressed to a number of dispersed, heterogeneous, and anonymous
audiences through print or electronic media, so that the same information
message can be received simultaneously and momentarily. The definition of
"can" here emphasizes the notion that the actual number of recipients
of information messages through the mass media at any given moment is not
essential.
As for the forms of mass
media, broadly speaking, there are two types, namely: print media (newspapers
and magazines, including books) and electronic media (television and radio,
including the internet).
Mass media can be used as
social studies learning media, because mass media is essentially an
audio-visual representation of society itself. So that factual phenomena that
occur in the community can be directly covered and broadcast by the mass media
(via television or radio broadcasts, for example). Utilization of mass media
means the use of various forms of mass media, both printed and electronic for
certain purposes-which in this study is referred to as Social Studies learning
media.
Teachers can utilize or
empower mass media as social studies learning media optimally and effectively
so that they can support the success of social studies learning in three ways,
namely: