Classroom Action Research Approach, Method and Technique

14 have been identified that are most directly associated with peer group involvement ”. They are as follows: a. To some extent, peer group takes the place of the family. b. Peer group membership is a useful stabilizer during a period of rapid transition. c. The peer group can be an important source of self-esteem in the sense of being important to someone outside the family. d. The peer group insulates and protects adolescents to some extent. e. The peer group provides the opportunity to practice by doing. f. The peer group offers a psychosocial model that many parents simply cannot provide. The involvement of peer group relations can be the inspiration of teachers to make the learning process becomes more memorable and enjoyable for the students through group learning. It may also suitable for the nature of the adolescent students, in which the learning environment must be a place where the students want to be and creatively developed through the process of learning. Dealing with the situation, the researcher suggested cooperative learning as a teaching approach that maybe applicable for the adolescents learners to improve their participation. Glasser 1990, states that “cooperative learning is a way to make the classroom a place learners want to be. Classrooms emphasizing cooperative learning motivate all learners to engage in learning activity ” as cited by Borich, 1996:511. It may also give good result to the learning process because in cooperative learning, the idea is that the students want to succeed as a team, so they should encourage their teammates to excel and help them to do so. 15

b. Characteristic of Adolescent

Adolescence is actually a remarkable and complex period of human growth Hamachek, 1985: p. 93. Hamachek 1985 states that “in this period, boys and girls move from childhood to young adulthood. They experience changes in themselves that influence their behaviour and life. Practically every aspect of a growing youngster‟s physical being, emotional functioning, social existence, and cognitive ability is subject to change ” p. 93. They are starting to experience some physical changes and their socially friendship become more important and deeper. According to Clark and Starr 1991, they are facing many conflicts and moment of indecision. At one side, they may searching for self- actualization independently as young adult, but on the other side they may feel confused, afraid, and need assurance as children. As they enter early adolescence, they encounter personal, social, educational, and vocational problems that they are incapable of analyzing and logically solving. As a teacher, if we understand the characteristics and reasons behind the adolescents‟ behavior, we may, as well becoming big help for them to find solution for their problems. Firstly, as their teacher we need to understand and know our students ‟ personality. Then the teacher should approach them and create friendly atmosphere between teacher and students in order to get their trust. According to Clark and Starr 1991, “the early adolescent, now more descriptively called a transescent, confused by the mysteries of physiological changes and concerned over the development of secondary sex characteristic and new social and emotional pressures, need strong support, not only from home but