A Moral Educational Game for Formal Classrooms: Case Study in Indonesia

Abstract

Moral education is a critical process to teach individuals ethical values and principles to guide them in making morally responsible choices. In the modern era, moral education is essential in nurturing character, aligning with 21st-century skills outlined by the World Economic Forum. While Education 4.0 advocates using technology in learning environments, there is a gap in integrating technology into moral education. This study explores using video games as educational tools for moral education in Indonesia. The research involves designing and developing an educational game using the Digital Educational Game Methodology (GAMED) and Game Development Life Cycle (GDLC). The game presents players with moral dilemmas and offers in-game advantages and disadvantages based on their choices. The game’s narrative is structured around chapters focusing on different moral values and facets of Pancasila, Indonesia's diverse culture. Players must navigate complex human rights, political dynamics, and justice situations. The game incorporates a "choose your own adventure" mechanic, allowing players to make choices that shape the narrative and moral development. Beta testing involving 88 students from different high schools showed positive engagement and excitement toward the educational game. Students actively discussed options and their consequences, indicating the potential for the game to facilitate meaningful moral discussions in the classroom. The research demonstrates that video games, with interactive narratives and diverse moral scenarios, can be effective tools for moral education. The game's design and development process can be applied to create more immersive and inclusive character education in formal educational settings, bridging the gap between technology and moral values in Indonesia's education system.