Developing an Interaction-Based Digital Puzzle Game To Foster Critical Thinking in Children

Abstract

This research is motivated by the lack of development and utilization of learning media on the aspect of digital-based critical thinking, so this study aims to develop digital puzzle educational game media based on Interacty for early childhood in Kindergartens in Cirebon Regency. Research and development (R&D) method with the ADDIE Model. The research procedure goes through the stages of Problem Needs Analysis and literature review, data collection, Product Design, Design Validation, Design Revision, Small-scale Trial, Product revision, large-scale trial, product revision and production. The results of small-scale testing show that the effect size of the difference between the pretest and posttest is moderate to large (around 0.87 to 0.89), which shows a practically meaningful difference, not just statistics and the results of large-scale testing show Cohen's d = -1.672 indicates a very large effect (because the value far exceeds 0.8), and the negative sign indicates that the posttest value is higher than the pretest (because of the Pretest - Posttest sequence). The Hedges’ correction value = -1.653 also confirms a very large effect, with minor adjustments to address sample size bias. The 95% confidence intervals for both do not cross zero and are all negative, strengthening the evidence that there is a significant and large effect of the treatment given. In conclusion, the Interacty-based digital puzzle educational game is feasible to use and effective in improving critical thinking skills of early childhood in Kindergartens in Cirebon Regency