According
to Wina Sanjaya (2006) states that the characteristics of CTL are: (1)
Activating knowledge. It means, the material that will be learned is a unity of
previous knowledge that has relation each other. Teaching and learning process
actives knowledge. (2) Acquiring knowledge. Contextual teaching is a learning
to get and add new knowledge deductively; the teaching begins from universal
knowledge to detail one. (3) Understanding knowledge. The knowledge acquired is
not a memorizing but understanding it such as asking the other respond about
the knowledge acquired than improved it based on that respond. (4) Applying
knowledge. The knowledge and experience acquired enable to apply in real-world student
and appeared a student behavior change. (5) Reflecting knowledge. This is a
completing and evaluating process of acquiring, activating, understanding and
applying knowledge.
Johnson, as quoted by Alwasih (2002:65), characteristics of CTL are divided into 8 important thing as follows:
1. Making
Meaningful Connections
Students
can organize themselves as learners, who learn actively in improving their
interest individually, person who can work individually or collectively in a
group, and a person who can do learning by doing.
2. Doing Significant
Work
Student
can make relationship among schools and the various existing contexts in the
real world as business maker and as a citizen.
3. Self-Regulated
Learning
Students
do the significant work; it has purpose, it has connection with others, it has
connection with decision making and it has the concrete results or products.
4. Collaborating
Students
are able to work together. The teacher helps students in order to work
effectively in a group and teacher helps them to understand the way how to
persuade and communicate each others.
5. Critical
and Creative Thinking
Students
are able to apply higher level thinking critically and effectively. They are
able to analyze, to synthesize, to tackle the problem, to make a decision and
to think logically.
6. Nurturing
the Individual
Students
carry on themselves,
understand, give attention, posses high wishes, motivate and empower
themselves. Students cannot get the
success without the support from adult people. Students should respect their
companion and adult person.
7. Reaching
High Standards
Students
know and reach the high standard. It identifies their purposes and motivates
them to reach it. Teacher shows to students how to reach what called
‘excellent’.
8. Using
Authentic Assessments
Students
use academic knowledge in the real world context to the meaningful purposes.
For example, students may describe the academic information that have learn in
subject of science, health, education, math, and English subject by designing a
car, planning the school menu, or making the serving of human emotion or
telling their experience.
These eight components make CTL different from other approach and became the main components in applying CTL approach. It is also clearly seen that these eight components asks the students for actively involving in classroom activity. Collaborating, nurturing the individual and creative and critical Thinking ask the students to responsible for their own learning. The role of teacher in CTL is to facilitate student to find the fact or the meaning, concept, or principles for themselves. Once these eight components applied in classroom, it will help both student and teachers in creating a good atmosphere where the learners have a great responsibility in achieving their success in leaning.
These eight components make CTL different from other approach and became the main components in applying CTL approach. It is also clearly seen that these eight components asks the students for actively involving in classroom activity. Collaborating, nurturing the individual and creative and critical Thinking ask the students to responsible for their own learning. The role of teacher in CTL is to facilitate student to find the fact or the meaning, concept, or principles for themselves. Once these eight components applied in classroom, it will help both student and teachers in creating a good atmosphere where the learners have a great responsibility in achieving their success in leaning.