Effectiveness of Using Interactive Digital Media in the Independent Curriculum

Abstract

The Independent Curriculum emphasizes differentiated learning, strengthening the Pancasila Student Profile, and assessment flexibility to achieve student-centered learning. However, its implementation faces challenges in selecting relevant strategies and media. This study aims to synthesize empirical evidence regarding the effectiveness of utilizing interactive digital media to address these demands. The use of interactive digital media is defined as the integration of technology-based platforms that feature immediate feedback, gamification, and active student participation, such as Wordwall for differentiated quizzes, Quizizz for game-based formative assessment, and Canva to support collaborative projects in P5. A systematic literature review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Articles were searched for articles from 2022-2026 in Scopus, ScienceDirect, ERIC, Google Scholar, and the Garuda Portal using the keywords "interactive digital media" and "Independent Curriculum." Study selection used inclusion-exclusion criteria and the JBI Checklist critical appraisal. Data synthesis was conducted narratively and thematically. A total of 35 primary studies met the inclusion criteria from 950 identified articles. The synthesis yielded three main findings: (1) Interactive digital media effectively improves cognitive learning outcomes with an N-gain of 0.70 and a 29.8% increase in learning motivation, in line with the principles of differentiated learning; (2) Media utilization contributes to the achievement of the Pancasila Student Profile Dimensions, particularly the creative and critical reasoning dimensions, with 82.6% of students reaching the Developing According to Expectations level in P5; (3) Implementation challenges include teachers' low digital literacy in designing differentiated activities, limited devices, and unstable internet connections. Conclusion: Interactive digital media has proven effective in supporting the essence of the Independent Curriculum when pedagogically integrated for differentiated learning and P5. Its success depends heavily on teacher competence in designing activities, not just the availability of technology. Strengthening teacher capacity through interactive learning design training aligned with authentic assessments of the Independent Curriculum and equitable infrastructure support is needed.