Revitalising Learning Strategies to Improve Student Achievement

Learning is the interaction of a teacher in the process of imparting knowledge to learners, covering knowledge, the shaping of attitudes and character, so that students have the confidence to develop the potential within each of them. In the process of studying and learning, a supportive environment system is needed. Preparing a conducive environment is one way to help learners feel comfortable while learning is taking place.

Creating an effective and comfortable environment includes providing good and sufficient learning facilities and infrastructure. In addition, the way a teacher teaches also greatly affects students' response or impact . In fact, teachers who are smart, creative and communicative are better liked than teachers who merely explain the material monotonously and communicate little with learners. If the learning that takes place is less than optimal, then the students' new knowledge and understanding will also be less than optimal.

Education is very important in the teaching process, because education can bring change and transformation. Through education, students can develop the potential they have. This can have a positive impact because a creative, intelligent and active generation is formed. Through the potential they develop, a productive society is created. The right place to develop potential and to gain more knowledge is school.

According to the national school data of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, Indonesia has 436,813 schools at all levels. With so many schools in this country, can all students understand what the teacher conveys? Have all teachers provided optimal guidance? According to a survey conducted by PISA (Programme for International Student Assesment) on secondary education systems in the world in 2018, Indonesia ranked low, at 74th out of 79 countries in the survey. In other words, Indonesia has an education system ranked 6th lowest compared with other countries.

This means that the quality and relevance of education are low, because the stimulus given by teachers is less than optimal and the response given by students is also lacking. Therefore, a more effective learning theory needs to be applied in order to arouse learners' enthusiasm for understanding, mastering and developing competencies in school and outside school. A learning theory that can be applied is the behaviorist learning theory. Why behaviorism?

Learning theories were born from thinkers and experts with expertise in various fields of knowledge. They formulated learning theories and practised them in real life. One of them is behaviorism. This learning theory is suitable for all levels of education, including kindergarten, elementary school, high school and university, because this learning theory depends on the strength of two relations, namely between stimulus and response. A stimulus is any stimulation or learning activity that a teacher gives to students. A response, meanwhile, is a reaction to the learning activity that the teacher has given. In other words, the stimulus given by the teacher greatly influences the response that learners will give.

To apply this theory, teachers can provide readiness, or, according to the learning concept of Edward Lee Thorndike (one of the originators of behaviorist learning theory), the Law of readiness for their students. For example, a teacher can tell students about the material that will be delivered at the next meeting. Convey it in an interesting way so that learners become ‘curious’ and can study the material in preparation for the next meeting. It is even better if, at the end of the lesson, students are asked to share their impressions and messages or a conclusion of the material delivered that day. Before closing the lesson, teachers should also give ‘quotes’ or ‘motivation’ to build learners' enthusiasm for learning. By doing so, learners are expected to be able to understand the lesson and always be ready to learn at school.

Another thing teachers need to do to arouse students' enthusiasm for learning in developing the competencies within each of them is to use the learning concept of the  Law of exercise or practice. Learners will understand better if the lessons, the material delivered, and activities outside class hours, for example dancing, singing or other non-academic activities, are repeated many times, in the sense of being trained continuously. Why does this need to be done?

The Law of exercise learning concept needs to be applied because it affects students' learning outcomes. If learners are continuously trained or always repeat, in the sense of being given reinforcement (reinforcement), then learning outcomes will be optimal and they will be able to channel their potential, giving rise to intelligent and high-achieving learners. In this regard, teachers, as facilitators and also counsellors, are expected to provide maximum guidance and to understand the characteristics and psychology of every child. Each student's level of understanding is certainly different. Therefore, teachers must make sure to pay attention to each of their students. Guide them one by one and give reinforcement in learning so that all learners in the class can understand what their teacher teaches.

Teachers who are creative and communicative in the learning process will have a good effect on students' responses. The whole learning process depends on how a teacher delivers it. It is certain that if a teacher can make the learning atmosphere in the classroom more exciting and enjoyable, the students' response will produce positive value.  In other words, if teachers can help students be ready to learn, the learning process in the classroom will be more conducive, effective and active, so that learners can quickly understand, apply and develop the knowledge taught by their teacher.

In addition, the role of the teacher is not only to give material and theory, but also to give reward and appreciation to students who have succeeded in achieving or doing something through their hard work in learning. Reward or appreciation is important to motivate students to keep developing and learning. If appreciation or reward is not given, students will feel that their learning results and hard work have had no value in the eyes of their teacher. Therefore, appreciation and reward need to be given to learners.

Besides the appreciation given by teachers, friends and the surrounding environment also influence the character formation of each learner. Behaviour instilled in a person is governed by environmental factors. A simple example: if a learner's social circle is not good, their behaviour will also not be good; if a learner is able to position themselves and to sort out what is good and bad, the learning results obtained will be optimal. In behaviorist theory, a change in behaviour is the result of experience. What we do today will determine what happens in the future, and what we reap today is the result of what we did in the past.

Teachers have an important role in educating. The way a teacher delivers material will affect the response given by learners. Therefore, a strong stimulus needs to be given to every student: building readiness for learning, making the classroom atmosphere more active, and giving reinforcement so that learning results are optimal. Thus, students are expected to be able to innovate and produce works for the nation.