Jambura Arena Sport
Vol 2, No 3 (2025): November 2025 Physical Education Innovation

Improving Forehand and Backhand Stroke Learning Outcomes in Table Tennis Through the Discovery Learning Method

Mohamad Fadli (Universitas Negeri Gorontalo)
Suriyadi Datau (Universitas Negeri Gorontalo)
Ella H. Tumaloto (Universitas Negeri Gorontalo)



Article Info

Publish Date
16 Nov 2025

Abstract

Mastery of forehand and backhand strokes is fundamental to student success in table tennis, yet conventional teacher-centered instruction in Indonesian junior high schools often leaves psychomotor learning outcomes below the Minimum Completeness Criterion (KKM), largely because students are rarely given the opportunity to construct stroke technique through guided exploration rather than rote demonstration. This classroom action research examined whether the Discovery Learning method could improve forehand and backhand stroke learning outcomes among 15 eighth-grade students (Class VIII B) at SMP Negeri 1 Kabila, Gorontalo, Indonesia. Using a two-cycle Kemmis and McTaggart design comprising planning, action, observation, and reflection, data were collected through practical skill tests, observation sheets, and documentation, and analyzed descriptively-quantitatively against the KKM. Results showed the mean backhand score rose from 56.81 (13.33% completeness) in Cycle I to 85.22 (100% completeness) in Cycle II, while the mean forehand score rose from 68.76 (33.33% completeness) to 86.42 (100% completeness), corresponding to normalized gains of 0.66 and 0.57, respectively. The novelty of this study lies in demonstrating that structured, teacher-scaffolded discovery cycles, rather than unassisted exploration, can rapidly close the completeness gap in a resource-limited junior high school setting. These findings confirm that Discovery Learning is an effective and replicable alternative for teaching table tennis stroke technique in physical education.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

jas

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Education Health Professions Public Health Other

Description

In the Jambura Arena Sport Focus and Scope in the Sports Sector Sports Science, Sports Training, Sports ...