UNDERSTANDING ACTIVE LEARNING

Active learning is all forms of learning that enables learners actively participate in the learning process, whether in the form of interaction between learners or students with the teacher in the learning process (Hamruni, 2009), while according Bonwel (1995), active learning has several characteristics as follows:

1. Emphasize the learning process, not the delivery of content by teachers. This process is an attempt to instill the value of hard work to students. The learning process is no longer just a transfer of knowledge or the transfer of knowledge, but rather the transfer of values or value transfer. Values are referred to here are values widely characters, one of which is curiosity.
2. Learners should not be passive, but must be actively working on something related to learning materials. Active in this context is an attempt implantation on the responsibilities, which the participants have to practice even prove the theory learned, not just unknown.
3. The emphasis on the exploration of values and attitudes with regard to learning materials. In this case the learners are entitled to receive or reject the subject matter subject matter which is not in accordance with his outlook on life. This learning model is a process of forming a mature attitude.
4. Learners is required to think critically, analyze and evaluate rather than merely receiving and memorizing theory. This demand is further actualization of the value of the character's curiosity, so that students are not anti-reality because of the view that the reality of what happened is not in accordance with the theory learned and memorized, which resulted in learners easily provoked by information that can not be accounted for righteousness. The fulfillment of the demands in this study (critical-analysis) will prevent learners from brutality and indiscriminate or bandwagon-brawl for example.
5. Feedback and faster dialectic process will occur in the learning process. Lessons dialogue, indirectly shape the character of learners more democratic, pluralist, respect dissent, inclusive, open and high humanity.

In addition to the above characteristics, it is generally an active learning process allows obtaining several things. First, the interaction that occurs during the learning process will foster a positive interdependence, where consolidated knowledge learned can only be acquired jointly through active exploration in learning. Second, each individual must be actively involved in the learning process, and teachers should get an assessment of individual learners so that there is accountability. Third, the active learning process requires a high level of cooperation that will eventually foster social skills.