Integrating Sipakatau Local Wisdom into Interactive Digital Comics to Enhance Civic Learning and Character Development in Elementary Schools

Ratna Rendi; Abdul Kadir; Harmita Sari

doi:10.35445/alishlah.v18i1.9364

Integrating Sipakatau Local Wisdom into Interactive Digital Comics to Enhance Civic Learning and Character Development in Elementary Schools

Ratna Rendi, Abdul Kadir, Harmita Sari

Abstract

Civic education in elementary schools is essential for developing students’ civic understanding and character; however, instruction often remains text-based and insufficiently connected to learners’ cultural contexts. This study investigates the effectiveness of integrating Sipakatau local wisdom into interactive digital comics as a culturally responsive instructional medium.A quantitative quasi-experimental design with a non-equivalent control group pretest–posttest model was employed. The sample comprised 19 sixth-grade students from an Indonesian elementary school. Data were collected from a civic learning outcomes test and a character values questionnaire. Analyses included descriptive statistics, assumption testing, paired-sample t-tests, and effect size calculation.The intervention produced a statistically significant improvement in civic learning outcomes, with mean scores increasing from 57.00 to 77.53 (p < 0.05). The effect size was large (Cohen’s d = 1.65), indicating substantial practical impact. Gain analysis revealed that 84.2% of students achieved moderate to high improvement, demonstrating consistent learning enhancement across participants.Embedding Sipakatau values within interactive digital narratives appears to enhance student engagement and deepen conceptual understanding of civic content. The culturally grounded approach supports meaningful learning by connecting abstract civic principles with students’ lived experiences.Interactive digital comics incorporating local wisdom represent an effective and practical pedagogical strategy for strengthening elementary civic education and advancing culturally responsive digital learning practices.

Keywords

culturally responsive pedagogy; civic education; digital comic; local wisdom (sipakatau); character education

References

Afifah, N. U., Purwati, P. D., & Widiyatmoko, A. (2025). Development of basic literacy e-comic based on local wisdom efforts to improve the skills of reading narrative texts in elementary school class. International Journal of Research and Review, 12(1), 476–484. https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20250156

Anggraeni, D., & Taniady, V. (2020). Local wisdom-based character education in elementary schools. Journal of Social Studies Education Research, 11(3), 91–109. https://doi.org/10.17499/jsser.748273

Ardiawan, I. K. N. (2022). Civic education learning innovation in elementary schools. International Journal of Instruction, 15(2), 245–260. https://doi.org/10.29333/iji.2022.15214

Belda-Medina, J. (2024). Inclusive education through digital comic creation in higher learning environments. Social Sciences, 13(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13050272

Consorti, F., Fiorucci, S., Martucci, G., & Lai, S. (2023). Graphic novels and comics in undergraduate and graduate education: A scoping review. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education, 13(10), 2262–2275. https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe13100160

Dash, S., & Paul, J. (2021). Quasi-experimental research in education: Concepts and applications. Educational Research Review, 34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2021.100398

Etikan, I. (2021). Comparison of convenience sampling and purposive sampling. American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics, 10(1), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20211001.11

Fathoni, A., Prasetyo, Z. K., & Widodo, S. A. (2022). Digital comic-based learning media to improve students’ learning outcomes. Journal of Educational Media and Technology, 6(2), 101–112. https://doi.org/10.21831/jemt.v6i2.49512

Hardiansyah, F. (2022). Snowball Throwing: A Method To Uplift Elementary School Students’ Responsibility on Environment. AL-ISHLAH: Jurnal Pendidikan, 14(3), 3853–3864. https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v14i3.1966

Hardiansyah, F., & Zainuddin, Z. (2022). The Influence of Principal’s Motivation, Communication, and Parental Participation on Elementary School Teachers’ Performance. Al Ibtida: Jurnal Pendidikan Guru MI, 9(2), 319–334. https://doi.org/10.24235/al.ibtida.snj.v9i2.9936

Huencho, A., & Chandía, E. (2023). Humanizing mathematics education through indigenous cultural practices. ZDM Mathematics Education, 55, 1085–1099. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11858-023-01490-7

Junaid, I., Hidayat, A., & Rijal, S. (2022). Sipakatau values in character education: A cultural approach. Journal of Moral Education, 51(4), 512–526. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057240.2021.1961357

Lee, I. (2023). Promoting computational thinking in primary education: A systematic review. International Journal of STEM Education, 10, 55. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-023-00455-2

Maharani, Y., Suyanto, S., & Wibowo, A. (2023). Strengthening civic competence through innovative civic education. Journal of Social Studies Education Research, 14(1), 44–60. https://doi.org/10.17499/jsser.1122334

Masfufah, R., & Nurdyansyah. (2023). Constructivist-based digital learning media in elementary education. Educational Technology Research and Development, 71(2), 613–629. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-022-10149-7

Montuori, C., Gambarota, F., Altoè, G., & Arfé, B. (2024). The cognitive effects of computational thinking: A meta-analysis. Computers & Education, 210, 104961. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2023.104961

No, S. H., Kim, Y., & Lee, J. (2024). Digital comics as multimodal learning tools for elementary students. Computers & Education, 195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2023.104702

Ospanova, A., Mukhametzhan, A., Nurbayev, Z., Mukanov, M., & Baigabylov, N. (2025). Strategic reflections on digital transformation. Iberoamerican Journal of Science Measurement and Communication, 5(3). https://doi.org/10.47909/ijsmc.256

Parepare, A., Rahman, F., & Basri, M. (2023). Integrating local wisdom into character education: A systematic review. Education and Culture Journal, 38(2), 155–169. https://doi.org/10.21831/ecj.v38i2.57321

Putri, D. A., Sunarso, & Wuryandani, W. (2021). Civic education and character formation in elementary schools. Cakrawala Pendidikan, 40(2), 456–469. https://doi.org/10.21831/cp.v40i2.40102

Rizqi, A., & Zumrotun, E. (2023). The use of digital comics to improve learning motivation in primary schools. Journal of Educational Innovation, 17(1), 33–45. https://doi.org/10.21831/jei.v17i1.56321

Safitri, V., & Dafit, A. (2023). Graphic story media and reading motivation at the primary level. Journal of Learning Media Innovation, 11(3), 145–160. https://doi.org/10.21831/jlmi.v11i3.61245

Sastra, H., Pramono, S. E., & Wibowo, M. E. (2024). Character education through digital storytelling in elementary schools. Educational Technology & Society, 27(1), 88–100. https://doi.org/10.30191/ETS.202401_27(1).0008

Selwyn, N. (2020). Digital education in the aftermath of COVID-19. Learning, Media and Technology, 45(4), 347–351. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439884.2020.1833453

Sugiantara, I. M., Putra, I. K. A., & Sujana, I. W. (2024). Multimedia learning design for elementary students in the digital era. Education and Information Technologies, 29(3), 3451–3470. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-023-11890-4

Tang, M., & Samsuduha, S. (2023). Local wisdom and culturally responsive pedagogy in Asian education. Asia Pacific Journal of Education, 43(4), 725–739. https://doi.org/10.1080/02188791.2022.2145637

DOI: https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v18i1.9364