Enhancing Mentally Retarded Students’ Comprehension: The Development of MASH Project-Based Reading Material

Abstract

The development of reading material through Project Based Learning (PBL)
strategy using MASH is aimed to meet mentally retarded students’ learning and
target needs in EFL English reading courses. This study employed a research
and development design which comprises seven stages, namely: a) students’
need analysis, design of MASH Project based reading, development, expert
validation, implementation, reading material evaluation, and final product in
the form of MASH project based reading material. The result of the reading
material development took resulted six chapters in terms of number 11-20,
expression agree/disagree, and part of house where containing material of the
topic, video, and exercises that utilize Project-Based Learning strategy. The
result of experts’ validation from an English teacher who assessed the material
revealed the score was 78% that sorted out into ‘very good’ category and an
Informatics teacher who assessed the media revealed the score was 74% that
sorted out into ‘good’ category. While, the result of the students’ response
related to the product showed the total score was 79% that the students agree
with MASH media to be used in learning process. As its effectiveness toward
the improvement of mentally retarded students’ reading comprehension is not
measured yet, so an experimental study is addressed for further research to
meet the issue of MASH reading material effectiveness and conduct the similar
project with another media to develop more reading materials and activities.