Banten — A 2026 study by Tia Latifatu Sadiah, Maman Fathurrohman, and Suroso Mukti Leksono from Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa together with Yulistina Nur DS and Yudi Firmansyah from Universitas Buana Perjuangan Karawang shows that Kupin smart card learning media significantly improves student motivation in science and social studies learning at nature-based elementary schools. The study demonstrates that character-based interactive cards create a more engaging and structured learning atmosphere in outdoor education environments.
Science and Social Studies learning at the elementary level plays a critical role in building early scientific literacy. However, conventional teaching methods often rely heavily on theoretical explanations that reduce student engagement, especially in nature-school environments designed for experiential learning.
Nature Schools emphasize exploration through direct interaction with natural surroundings such as gardens, rivers, and open learning spaces. Despite these advantages, teachers still require structured instructional tools that help students maintain focus while exploring their environment.
The researchers developed Kupin as a portable smart-card learning medium designed to support flexible outdoor instruction aligned with student-centered learning principles. The study used a Research and Development approach following the ADDIE model, including analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation stages.
Field testing involved 30 elementary school students participating in environmental exploration activities supported by Kupin learning cards. Expert validation confirmed high media quality, with content validity reaching 92 percent and design feasibility scoring 90 percent.
Learning motivation increased substantially after the implementation phase. Average motivation scores rose from 64.0 before using the media to 87.5 afterward. More than 90 percent of students reported that science learning became more enjoyable because it resembled playing with an interactive learning companion rather than completing conventional assignments.
The “Smart Cat” character embedded in Kupin served as a symbolic learning partner guiding students through environmental observation tasks and conceptual exercises. This character-based approach strengthened emotional engagement and supported independent learning behavior.
The Kupin design followed the ARCS motivational framework, integrating attention through visual appeal, relevance through real-world exploration tasks, confidence through achievable challenges, and satisfaction through game-like learning experiences.
According to Tia Latifatu Sadiah from Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa, character-based learning media helps reduce students’ psychological barriers when interacting with complex science material.
Maman Fathurrohman from Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa explained that portable learning tools like Kupin are particularly effective in outdoor learning environments because they support structured exploration without requiring digital infrastructure.
Suroso Mukti Leksono from Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa emphasized that instructional innovation at the elementary level must integrate emotional engagement with conceptual understanding.
Yulistina Nur DS from Universitas Buana Perjuangan Karawang highlighted that Kupin helps teachers connect abstract science concepts with real environmental observations.
Yudi Firmansyah from Universitas Buana Perjuangan Karawang stated that interactive card-based learning tools have strong potential for broader application across elementary education subjects.
The study confirms that character-based instructional media can significantly strengthen student motivation in nature-based learning environments and support curriculum transformation toward active and contextual learning models.
Tia Latifatu Sadiah is affiliated with Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa. Maman Fathurrohman is affiliated with Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa. Suroso Mukti Leksono is affiliated with Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa. Yulistina Nur DS is affiliated with Universitas Buana Perjuangan Karawang. Yudi Firmansyah is affiliated with Universitas Buana Perjuangan Karawang.
0 Komentar