The Development of Digital Wayang-Based Learning Media to Enhance Cultural Literacy among Early Childhood Learners

Nur Fajrie, Rangga Alif Faresta

Abstract


Early childhood represents a critical developmental stage, often referred to as the golden age, during which children experience rapid cognitive, social, emotional, and cultural growth. Developing cultural literacy at this stage is essential because it strengthens children's understanding of local identity and cultural values. However, introducing traditional Indonesian culture, particularly puppet (wayang), has become increasingly challenging due to the limited attractiveness and relevance of conventional learning media in contemporary educational settings. Therefore, integrating cultural heritage with digital technology is necessary to create engaging learning experiences for young learners. This study aimed to design and develop digital wayang-based learning media to enhance cultural literacy among early childhood learners and to examine its effectiveness as an instructional medium. The study employed a Research and Development (R&D) approach using exploratory design. The research process involved stages of information gathering, planning, product design, validation, revision, limited trials, field testing, product refinement, and dissemination. Participants included teachers and students from five kindergartens during the 2025/2026 academic year selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using observations, interviews, questionnaires, and literacy tests, and were analyzed through descriptive qualitative and quantitative techniques. The findings revealed that digital wayang media effectively improved children's cultural literacy, demonstrated by an average experimental class score of 91.6 and a gain index of 74.4%, categorized as effective. These findings suggest that integrating digital technology with local cultural content can provide an innovative instructional strategy that supports cultural literacy development while preserving cultural heritage in early childhood education.

Keywords


Early Childhood; Cultural Literacy; Pandawa; Digital Wayang

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.21107/pgpaudtrunojoyo.v13i2.34148

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