Design of Exophysics: Book-Based Mobile Application for Literacy Learning in the Remote Access Areas of Indonesia

Abstract

The Indonesian Ministry of Education pays much attention to education in remote areas. The lack of equal education and the level of access to education are two main reasons. In remote areas of Indonesia there are still very few educational facilities, either in the form of infrastructure or other facilities, one of which is learning resources. Today's learning resources can only be used in well-developed, easy-to-reach cities. They can't be used in less developed or remote areas. Reports and results of observations from some remote areas state that almost all children have used an Android but not to play games as it was meant to be used. This opens up opportunities, especially for making learning tools that can be used anywhere and anytime without a stable internet connection. This means that children can use them whenever and wherever they want. Therefore, the Exophysics book was designed with this in mind. This study aimed to develop a packaged Android application learning resource using design thinking and scientific literacy approaches. The design thinking phase comprised: (1) empathising, (2) defining, (3) ideation, (4) prototyping, and (5) testing. Five schools in remote parts of Southeast Sulawesi were selected. According to the Ministry of Education, Indonesia, the sample selection was randomly based on the relationships of several teachers, whose areas were included in the underdeveloped region category. To test products with students and teachers as respondents, the teacher sample selection was randomly conducted, involving five teachers, as the first stage of product testing. Learning media development resulted from the Exophysics book, with learning videos and game features, content, and questions. The study of how teachers and students felt about the Exophysics book strongly supports point 4 above: that it should be used as a learning resource. Therefore, exophysics books can be used as learning resources because the design development pays attention to network access needs so that students can use them anywhere and anytime.