Development of a STEM-Based Board Game "Nest" on the Harmony in Ecosystems Subject to Support Fifth Grade Elementary School Students' Learning Motivation
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Student learning motivation in Natural and Social Sciences (IPAS) in elementary schools remains low because of teacher-centered learning and limited media. This study aimed to develop Nest Boardgame, a physical STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) board game on Harmony in Ecosystems, and to test its feasibility for supporting learning motivation. This research and development (R&D) study used the ADDIE model with 31 fifth-grade students. Instruments included needs questionnaires, expert validation sheets, teacher and student response questionnaires, STEM-based Student Worksheets (LKPD), and ARCS (Attention, Relevance, Confidence, Satisfaction) motivation questionnaires. Nest Boardgame was rated very valid by language experts (92.5%), material experts (96.2%), and media experts (91.9%). In the small- and large-scale trials, student responses were 90.63% and 90.16%, teacher responses 80.56% and 86.11%, and worksheet achievement 84.37% and 78.85%. In the large-scale trial, effectiveness was measured by changes in ARCS motivation scores after a short simulation and a full game increased significantly (Wilcoxon, p < 0.001; normalized gain (N-Gain) of 0.36, moderate). The novelty lies in the integrating STEM into the game mechanism, each round requires a specific STEM domain while simulating the food chain, energy transfer, and natural events. This medium is valid, practical, and quite effective.
Source: JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL SCIENCES
Institutions: Mulawarman University, Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Samarinda
Language: English
Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7222394720
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