THE EFFECT OF EDUCAPLAY INTERACTIVE MEDIA ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS CHARACTER OF GRADE FIVE STUDENTS AT RURAL PRIMARY SCHOOL

Abstract

Examining how Educaplay interactive learning materials affect students' cognitive learning results and environmental care character in Natural and Social Sciences (IPAS) at SDN Bojongsari 04 is the goal of this study. Students' lack of environmental awareness and poor academic performance—with an average IPAS score 64.84 below the minimal mastery criteria (KKM) of 75—were the driving forces for the study. A real experimental method—more precisely, the posttest-only control group design—was used to apply a quantitative approach. The study comprised 42 fifth-grade pupils from SDN Bojongsari 01 and SDN Bojongsari 04, who were split evenly between the experimental and control groups. Questionnaires to gauge environmental character and multiple-choice assessments to evaluate learning outcomes were used to gather data. Using SPSS version 26, an independent sample t-test was used to evaluate the data. The findings showed a significant positive effect of Educaplay on cognitive learning outcomes (p = 0.017 < 0.05) and on the development of environmental care character (p = 0.033 < 0.05). The study concludes that Educaplay is an effective interactive media tool that enhances both academic performance and environmental values in elementary students, contributing to more engaging and value-based learning practices in primary education.