STUDENTS’ PERCEPTION ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF DISCOVERY LEARNING METHOD INTEGRATED WITH PHOTOMINDSET MEDIA IN EFL LEARNING

This research explores students' perceptions of integrating the Discovery Learning Method with Photomindset media in English reading activities at a junior high school in Batam. The method was chosen for its promotion of active learning, critical thinking, and student-centered exploration, while Photomindset media aids in visually organizing ideas. A mixed-method approach was employed, with quantitative data collected via a Likert-scale questionnaire and analyzed using Pearson’s correlation, and qualitative data gathered through semi-structured interviews. The validity test results confirm that all questionnaire items surpassed the r-table value, ensuring the instrument's reliability in measuring students' perceptions. Quantitative results indicated generally favorable student responses toward the implementation of Discovery Learning enhanced by Photomindset media. Qualitative findings revealed that students felt more motivated and engaged, improved their text comprehension, and became more active in discussions and presentations. They also reported better vocabulary retention, increased grammatical awareness, and heightened confidence in sharing ideas. Despite some challenges, such as time constraints and difficulties with complex texts, the overall results suggest that the integration of Discovery Learning with Photomindset media fosters an interactive and effective learning environment. This approach enhances students’ comprehension, participation, and motivation, proving to be a valuable strategy for junior high school English instruction.