Developing Reading Materials Using Interactive Learning Multimedia for Grade VIII Students of SMP Muhammadiyah 2 Depok Sleman

Abstract

The objectives of this research were: (1) to find information of the target and learning needs for reading materials using interactive learning multimedia for Grade VIII students of SMP Muhammadiyah 2 Depok Sleman, and (2) to develop an appropriate interactive multimedia to teach reading for Grade VIII students of SMP Muhammadiyah 2 Depok Sleman. This was a research and development (R & D) study. The subjects were Grade VIII students of SMP Muhammadiyah 2 Depok Sleman Classes VIII A and VIII B consisting of 45 students. The procedure adapted a model of multimedia instructional design  process  by  Lee  and  Owens  (2004).  The  steps  were:  (1) analyzing students’ needs, (2) designing the course grid, flowchart, and storyboard, (3)  developing  the  first  draft  of  the  interactive  multimedia,  (4)   conducting evaluation through expert judgment for the materials and media aspects, and (5) revising the first draft into the final draft. The data collection instruments were a needs analysis questionnaire and an expert judgment questionnaire. The needs analysis data were analyzed quantitatively using frequency and percentage. Meanwhile, the expert judgment data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results of the needs analysis showed that: 1) the students lacked in vocabulary and pronunciation; 2) they preferred learning about their surroundings such as people, animals, non-animal things, and places; 3) they learned English to master all English skills properly, study abroad, pass the examination, and find a job in the future; 4) they preferred the interactive media to learn English easily; 5) the learning inputs for the materials included texts followed by pictures, vocabulary, and  questions;  6)  they wanted  various  learning  activities  such  as  completing sentences,          answering        questions,        identifying      grammar,         and arranging words/sentences; 7) they preferred learning English individually or in groups but still  needed  guidance  from  the  teacher;  and  8)  they  wanted  the  interactive multimedia  to  have   interesting  and  colorful  background,  easy  and  simple navigation, sounds and music, and the answer keys. Thus, this research developed an interactive learning multimedia which can be used in computers. It consisted of three units and each unit had 18 activities. The materials were evaluated in terms of the content, the language, and the presentation appropriateness. Meanwhile, the media were evaluated in terms of screen display, multimedia elements, navigation systems, and feedback. Both scores of the whole materials aspects and media aspects were 3.42 and 4.00, respectively, which were in the range of 3.25 ≤ x ≤ 4 and were “Very Good”. As a result, the interactive learning multimedia was considered appropriate for Grade VIII students.

Keywords: English Learning Materials, Interactive Learning Multimedia