The Development of Textbooks Using Modern Javanese Novels of 1950s-2000s Periods to Strengthen the Character Education: An Exploratory Research

This research aims to describe the state of teaching materials and the needs analysis of textbooks about modern Javanese novels within 1950s - 2000s eras based on the character education viewpoints through which the urgent literary learning in Javanese Language Education Study Program and Javanese Language and Literature Education Study Program at some universities in Central Java is mainly concerned. The data were gained from the students and lecturers of Literary Criticism subject at 4 (four) colleges, namely (1) Sebelas Maret University of Surakarta (UNS), PGRI Teachers Training and Education Institute (IKIP PGRI Semarang), (3) Muhammadiyah University of Purworejo (UM Purworejo), and Veteran Bantara University of Sukoharjo (Univet Bantara Sukoharjo). The results of the research show that Literary Criticism learning, especially modern Javanese novels, is still far from what is expected. Modern Javanese novels are unusual materials for students to learn resulting from the limited numbers of Javanese novels and reference books on Javanese novels to support learning. The materials used in the learning activities do not pertain to the needs analysis of the students. The subjects of this research development were the students and lecturers of Literary Criticism subject. The techniques applied for obtaining the data were questionnaires, interviews, and observations. The researchers gained data from many sources to strengthen the validity. The sources were events, informants, and documents. The techniques used to ensure the data validity were data triangulation, source triangulation, method triangulation, and theory triangulation. The techniques in the data analysis were data collection and classification, data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion or verification.