Paper Toysas Paikem Media to Introduce Local Character to Elementary School-Age Children

Abstract

The objective of research was to describe the use of Pandawapaper toysas the implementation of PAIKEM (Pembelajaran Aktif, Inovatif, Kreatif, EfektifdanMenyenangkan) (English: Active, Innovative, Creative, Effective and Joyful Learning) media in introducing local character for establishing positive personality values to Elementary School-age children in Surakarta City and to improve Elementary School-age children's understanding on Pandawa local character. The research method employed was action research design. The subject of research was students of SekolahDasarMuhammadiyah 1 Ketelan Surakarta (the 1 st Muhammadiyah Elementary School of Ketelan, Surakarta). This research employed subjective test, interview, and observation as the techniques of collecting data. The observation data was obtained by means of collecting data during learning process to find out the students' activity in organizing Pandawa paper toys pattern grids, observing and listening to class teacher and author's explanation, and students' story telling about Pandawa character by means of presentation before the class. Data analysis was carried out using qualitative analysis, consisting of data reduction, (2) data display, and (3) conclusion/verification. From the result of data analysis, the following conclusions could be drawn. (1) Elementary School-age students can identify Pandawa character by means of organizing paper toys pattern grid into 3D Pandawa visualpaper toys. Thereafter, the students listened to the class teacher and author's explanation about Pandawa character. Teacher and author's explanation was given using Pandawa paper toys as visual aid to delivery message; then evaluation was conducted to find out whether or notthe use of paper toyswas effective in introducing Pandawa local character to Elementary School students by means of (2) students retelling the Pandawa character through presentation before the class. Most students could retell well the names and characters of Pandawa with paper toys visual aid. It is because the paper toys figure created visualized physical characters and weapons of individual Pandawa characters, thereby it was easy to identify and to remember the description of their character.