Utilizing Student Blogs To Improve Writing Skill (An Action Research at 8th Grade of SMP Negeri 1 Wonogiri in the Academic Year of 2010/2011)

Oleh :
Nisa Aulia Azam - K2207037 - Sekolah Pascasarjana

ABSTRAK This research aims at investigating whether and to what extent the use of student blogs improve students' writing skill and to analyze what happens when student blog is pplied. The method used in this paper is a collaborative action research. This research has been implemented within two sequenced cycles at the eighth grade students of SMP Negeri 1 Wonogiri in the first semester of the academic year 2010/2011. The research data were collected through questionnaire, observation, interview, diary, photographs and tests. In order to have a clear understanding, the data were analyzed through constant mparative method and descriptive statistic. The results of this research showed that students’ bility in producing recount text had improved along with the changes of classroom situation which became more motivating. The improvement in students’ writing skills includes: 1) the students had fewer misspelled words in their writings; 2) the students used the words in appropriate context; 3) they produced grammatically correct sentences related to recount text; 4) the students also could write the text chronologically; and 5) they are able to develop the text into interesting one. The final result of the tests showed that their scores were improving in the mean score; from 74.45 (pretest) to 82.18 (test in Cycle 1) and 84.50 (post-test). It was above the minimum standard of the school (Kriteria Ketuntasan Minimuml/KKM), which is 78.00. Related to the improvement in the classroom situation, the research findings showed that 1) the students could work effectively to finish the task; 2) the students had greater interest on the lesson; 3) they paid full attention during the class; 4) the students could utilized their own laptop in the lesson; and 5) there was no more student who did not like to share the writing. Considering the inspiring result of this study, it is suggested that other teachers be able to make use of this improvement in utilizing and developing other media. It is also hoped that the teachers conduct the Action Research in their classroom to solve the teaching-learning problems. Keywords: writing, blog, student blog