Android-based Educational Games as Learning Media for Children Aged 5-6 Years in PAUD Permata UNDIP
Posted on: 2024-05-08 11:10:30
Education with smartphone media is an interactive learning approach that can stimulate the sense of sight and strengthen children's memory to improve children's education. One example of learning media with smartphones that are favored by early childhood is game-based learning (game). Game is one example of multimedia that can be combined with learning commonly called the game with the purpose of learning (education game). Interactive Learning Media can help a child in understanding the lessons given, learning methods for early childhood also learn while playing.
Games are also a learning medium that can stimulate human thinking including increasing concentration and solving a problem. Based on the pattern owned by the game, players are required to learn so that they can solve existing problems. Game Status, instructions, and tools provided by the game will guide players actively to dig up information so that they can enrich their knowledge and strategies while playing. If games are something that children are interested in, then the combination of games and education is something that will support the child's intelligence. Therefore, the game can be used as a children's play media that has elements of education or knowledge so as to improve reading and intelligence of children.
On Wednesday,February 7, 2024, the community service team of the Department of Information Technology FSM UNDIP, held a community service activity on the topic of Android-based educational games as a learning medium for children aged 5-6 years in PAUD Permata UNDIP. This activity was carried out by interacting directly with children, Permata UNDIP PAUD students and was also attended by 9 PAUD teachers.
The implementation method used is to provide learning games that are suitable for early childhood children aged 5-6 years, using android-based smartphones, then provide directions and explanations about the benefits and learning in the game, followed by asking children to try the game.
At the beginning of the game, the students are asked to log in by writing the name, guided by the teacher. Then the students enter the main menu of the game, where there are several theme options, namely : fruit theme, animal theme and plant theme. There is also an alphabet learning menu option at the bottom of the theme options, a cross button at the top right to exit the game, and a leaderboard button option to display the top scoreboard based on the games played by the students. Furthermore, after the user selects one of the themes on the previous page, the user will be redirected to the Play menu display based on the selected theme, including fruit theme, animal theme, and plant theme, each of which displays 3 minigame options, namely, minigame arranging letters, minigame coloring pictures, and minigame guess right.
This play application also evaluates students and tests the suitability of competence in teachers. The results of interviews with respondents, in this case the teachers of Paud Permata UNDIP, regarding the suitability of the TK-B curriculum implemented in Paud Permata UNDIP with educational games developed, respondents stated that all minigames were in accordance with the existing competencies in the curriculum in Paud Permata undip.
With the implementation of this community service, this digital educational Game is expected to become an alternative learning medium for children, especially those aged 5-6 years in PAUD Permata UNDIP in particular, and all children in general, because this educational game is in accordance with the competence and successfully adopted the Paud Permata UNDIP curriculum, which is suitable for children aged 5-6 years.
