teacher mediation

This study investigates the internalization of moral education values through traditional games in an Islamic early childhood education institution, focusing on the implementation of play-based activities, teacher facilitation, and children's emerging moral behaviors. Adopting a qualitative field research approach, the study was conducted at RA Athfalul Huda GUPPI, Qurnia Village, Mataram, Indonesia. Research participants were purposively selected and included the school principal, teachers, and children involved in traditional game-based learning. Data were collected through observation, interviews, and documentation, and analyzed using the Miles and Huberman interactive model, comprising data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing and verification. Data credibility was supported through source and methodological triangulation and sustained observation. The findings identify four traditional games Cublak-Cublak Suweng, Gobak Sodor, Petak Umpet, and Dakon—as learning activities that provide opportunities for children to experience and practice moral values through shared rules, peer interactions, turn-taking, and collaborative participation. Teacher facilitation, particularly through behavioural modelling, rule reinforcement, guidance, and post-activity reflection, emerged as an important component of the moral learning process. The values addressed through these activities included honesty, trustworthiness, responsibility, patience, cooperation, sportsmanship, tolerance, humility, and social awareness. Furthermore, parent-reported observations indicated that some positive behavioral practices were also reflected in children's interactions at home. These findings highlight the pedagogical potential of culturally embedded traditional games as a context for experiential moral education. The study contributes a contextually grounded understanding of how traditional play and teacher mediation can support the development of moral awareness and emerging behavioral practices in Islamic early childhood education.

Islamic Cultural History (Sejarah Kebudayaan Islam/SKI) learning requires students to understand values and meaning beyond historical facts, yet empirical explanations of how storytelling connects narratives with students’ meaning-making remain limited. This study analyzes storytelling as a narrative pedagogy practice in SKI learning, identifies its pedagogical potential and limitations in supporting students’ understanding and meaning-making of Islamic historical narratives, and formulates a conceptual model of the meaning-making process emerging from the practice. A qualitative approach with a case study design was employed at MA Khozinatul ‘Ulum Blora. Data were obtained from 10 informants, comprising one Grade XI SKI teacher, one vice principal for curriculum affairs, and eight Grade XI students, through classroom observation, semi-structured interviews, and documentation. Data were analyzed using the interactive model of Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña, involving data condensation, data display, and conclusion drawing and verification. The findings indicate that storytelling was implemented dialogically and adaptively rather than as a stand-alone method, being integrated with teacher explanations, questions, and classroom discussions. The practice supported students’ understanding of historical events, figures, conflicts, and values, while its limitations included students’ perceived difficulty in recalling factual details when narratives were lengthy or contained numerous names and dates, as well as dependence on teacher mediation. Meaning-making developed through narrative understanding, personal reflection, and pedagogical dialogue. The study contributes the Multi-Pathway Meaning-Making model, which conceptualizes storytelling as a trigger for engagement and meaning-making rather than as a single causal mechanism.