Innovation of Acehnese hikayat video series in Merdeka Curriculum learning waste management material

This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of an Acehnese hikayat-integrated video series for teaching waste management within the Merdeka Curriculum to elementary school students. This study employed a quasi experimental method with a nonequivalent control group design. The population consisted of 154 fifth grade students at an elementary school in Langsa City, Indonesia, from which 47 students were selected using purposive sampling. The participants were divided into an experimental group (n = 25), which received instruction using a series of Acehnese hikayat-integrated videos, and a control group (n = 22), which received instruction using conventional educational videos. Data were collected using a multiple choice test measuring students’ understanding of waste management, covering the concepts, classification, environmental impacts, 3R principles, and waste sorting. The instrument demonstrated excellent reliability (KR-20 = 0.90). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), with posttest scores as the dependent variable and pretest scores as the covariate. The ANCOVA results showed a significant effect of instructional group on students’ posttest scores after controlling for pretest scores, F(1, 44) = 63.975, p < .001, partial η² = .592. The pretest score was not a significant covariate, F(1, 44) = 0.575, p = .452. These findings indicate that the Acehnese hikayat-integrated video series was significantly more effective than conventional educational videos in improving students’ understanding of waste management. The findings highlight the potential of integrating local cultural narratives into digital learning media within the Merdeka Curriculum.