Promoting analytical thinking skills development in elementary school students through animated cartoons

Traditional educational settings often struggle to engage students and cater to their individual needs when cultivating analytical thinking skills. This study addresses this challenge by exploring the potential of animated cartoons to enhance analytical thinking among elementary students. The research aims were to develop an animated cartoon format that encourages analytical thinking, evaluate its effectiveness, and investigate students' application of analytical thinking. Using cluster sampling, 2258 students were selected from 44 randomly chosen schools in Thailand's Mekong River Basin. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, utilizing document analysis, format suitability assessment, and an analytical thinking skills rubric. Data analysis involved qualitative summaries, descriptive statistics, and comparisons of pre- and post-intervention assessments. The findings revealed that the developed 3D animated series “Tang Na's Analysis" significantly improved students' analytical thinking skills, with high format suitability and good quality analytical thinking post-intervention. This study highlights the potential of animated instructional media to stimulate higher-order cognitive functions and make complex concepts accessible, contributing to the integration of engaging technological tools in education to nurture essential thinking skills.