Implementing Image-Based Media to Improve Social Studies Learning Outcomes on Indonesia’s Foreign Policy: A Classroom Action Research Study
Keywords:
Classroom Action Research, Image-Based Media, Social Studies, Student Engagement
Abstract
Purpose of the study: This study aims to improve students’ Social Studies learning outcomes on the topic of Indonesia’s foreign policy through the implementation of image-based media in an Islamic elementary school classroom.
Methodology: This study employed Classroom Action Research (CAR) based on the Kemmis and McTaggart model. The research involved 25 sixth-grade students. Data were collected using achievement tests, observation sheets, questionnaires, and interviews. Data analysis used descriptive statistics and percentage techniques to evaluate learning outcomes and classroom activities across two research cycles.
Main Findings: The results showed that students’ mean scores improved from 38.26 to 65.52 in Cycle I and increased further to 80.50 in Cycle II. The percentage of students achieving the minimum mastery criterion rose from 48% to 60% in Cycle I and reached 92% in Cycle II. Student engagement and participation also improved significantly during the implementation.
Novelty/Originality of this study: This study provides a specific application of image-based media in teaching Indonesia’s foreign policy using a Classroom Action Research framework. It offers practical evidence on improving learning outcomes through visual media in Islamic elementary education. The study contributes to contextualized instructional strategies for abstract Social Studies topics at the primary education level.
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[3] M. M. Manfra et al., “Assessing computational thinking in the social studies,” Theory Res. Soc. Educ., vol. 50, no. 2, pp. 255–296, 2022, doi: 10.1080/00933104.2021.2003276.
[4] A. Minaye et al., “Student engagement in public universities in Ethiopia: University students’, instructors’, and officials’ perspectives,” Cogent Educ., vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 1–18, 2024, doi: 10.1080/2331186X.2024.2403275.
[5] L. Xu and A. Ma, “Coarse-to-fine waterlogging probability assessment based on remote sensing image and social media data,” Geo-spatial Inf. Sci., vol. 24, no. 2, pp. 279–301, 2021, doi: 10.1080/10095020.2020.1812445.
[6] T. Ngoc, T. Nguyen, D. Thi, and K. Oanh, “Cooperative learning and its influences on student engagement,” Cogent Educ., vol. 12, no. 1, p., 2025, doi: 10.1080/2331186X.2025.2513414.
[7] U. Haki, E. D. Prahastiwi, and U. T. Selatan, “Strategi Pengumpulan dan Analisis Data dalam Penelitian Kualitatif Pendidikan,” J. Inov. dan Teknol. Pendidik., vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 1–19, 2024, doi: 10.46306/jurinotep.v3i1.67.
[8] S. K. Roy et al., “Decision comfort and student engagement in higher education education,” J. Mark. High. Educ., vol. 1241, pp. 1–22, 2023, doi: 10.1080/08841241.2023.2186558.
[9] L. Smirnova, “Developing students’ agency and voice by using generative AI in an online EAP module,” Innov. Lang. Learn. Teach., vol. 1229, pp. 1–11, 2025, doi: 10.1080/17501229.2025.2538781.
[10] P. Johannesson, “Development of professional learning communities through action research: Understanding professional learning in practice,” Educ. Action Res., vol. 30, no. 3, pp. 411–426, 2022, doi: 10.1080/09650792.2020.1854100.
[11] E. S. Rivera, C. Louise, P. Garden, E. S. Rivera, C. Louise, and P. Garden, “Gamification for student engagement: A framework,” J. Furth. High. Educ., vol. 45, no. 7, pp. 999–1012, 2021, doi: 10.1080/0309877X.2021.1875201.
[12] N. Gakahu and N. Gakahu, “Image-centrism in Africa’s political communication: A social semiotic analysis of self-presentation practices by women political candidates in Kenya’ s social media space,” Information, Commun. Soc., vol. 27, no. 8, pp. 1687–1711, 2024, doi: 10.1080/1369118X.2024.2343367.
[13] S. Weber and R. Harris, “‘[N] ow I can be a poetic writer’: Using action research as a way of reclaiming and implementing professional values in the primary school,” Educ. Action Res., vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 3–21, 2022, doi: 10.1080/09650792.2020.1788621.
[14] F. E. Daudu, C. Bertram, and C. Bertram, “Pedagogic discourse in Nigerian grade 9 social studies lessons,” Pedagog. Cult. Soc., vol. 00, no. 00, pp. 1–22, 2025, doi: 10.1080/14681366.2025.2579683.
[15] D. Li et al., “Professional development through collaborative action research for early career academics - a collaborative auto-ethnography during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Educ. Action Res., vol. 33, no. 5, pp. 793–809, 2025, doi: 10.1080/09650792.2024.2333911.
[16] P. Hansen and M. Puustinen, “Rethinking society and knowledge in Finnish social studies textbooks,” J. Curric. Stud., vol. 53, no. 6, pp. 857–873, 2021, doi: 10.1080/00220272.2021.1881169.
[17] S. Sanusi et al., “Social knowledge management to optimize adolescents’ social studies learning in Banda Aceh, Indonesia,” Cogent Educ., vol. 12, no. 1, p., 2025, doi: 10.1080/2331186X.2025.2506062.
[18] N. Fazal and P. Fränti, “Social media data for content creation in location- based games,” J. Locat. Based Serv., vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 167–194, 2025, doi: 10.1080/17489725.2024.2414000.
[19] F. Freitas et al., “Partners in academic endeavour: Characterising student engagement across internationally excellent medical schools,” Med. Teach., vol. 45, no. 8, pp. 830–837, 2023, doi: 10.1080/0142159X.2023.2174418.
[20] P. Johannesson and P. Johannesson, “Student participation in teachers’ action research: Teachers’ and students’ engagement in social learning,” Educ. Action Res., vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 234–250, 2025, doi: 10.1080/09650792.2023.2301335.
[21] P. Johannesson, A. Olin, and P. Johannesson, “Teachers ’ action research as a case of social learning: Exploring learning in between research and school practice,” Scand. J. Educ. Res., vol. 68, no. 4, pp. 735–749, 2024, doi: 10.1080/00313831.2023.2175253.
[22] W. Quirke, K. Mccrorie, S. Proctor, and K. Mccrorie, “Teaching social studies: Exploring the impact of a transdisciplinary approach towards initial teacher education in Scotland,” J. Curric. Stud., vol. 00, no. 00, pp. 1–19, 2025, doi: 10.1080/00220272.2025.2486109.
[23] D. SUsilowati, “Penelitian tindakan kelas (PTK) solusi alternatif problematika pembelajaran,” Edunomika, vol. 02, no. 01, pp. 36–46, 2018.
[24] A. Wdayati, “Penelitian tindakan kelas,” J. Pendidik. Akutansi Indones., vol. VI, no. 1, pp. 87–93, 2008.
[25] A. Prihantoro, “Melakukan penelitian tindakan kelas,” Ulumuddin J. Ilmu-ilmu Keislam., vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 49–60, 2019.
[26] Z. Mwangi and Á. Buvár, “The beauty complex: Social media trends, effects, and opportunities,” Cogent Soc. Sci., vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 1–17, 2024, doi: 10.1080/23311886.2024.2427350.
[27] T. Rončáková, “The image of Christian churches in the Slovak and Czech media during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic,” Church, Commun. Cult., vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 127–153, 2022, doi: 10.1080/23753234.2022.2036622.
[28] B. Alalola, L. Alghanim, S. Almoneef, and S. A. Numay, “The impact of orthodontists’ image-based social media posts on the public’s willingness to seek treatment in the central region of Saudi Arabia,” Patient Prefer. Adherence, vol. 19, pp. 1255–1261, 2025, doi: 10.2147/PPA.S521608.
[29] T. Uti and M. Marcella-hood, “The lifecycle of a social media beauty trend: A case study of the Instagram body,” Cogent Arts Humanit., vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 1–19, 2025, doi: 10.1080/23311983.2025.2472544.
[30] Ardiansyah, Sarinah, Susilawati, and Juanda, “Kajian psikoanalisis sigmund freud,” J. Kependidikan, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 25–31, 2022, [Online]. Available: file:///C:/Users/ASUS/Downloads/1097-Article Text-3401-1-10-20230117.pdf
[31] D. Vogler, L. Udris, and D. Vogler, “Transregional news media coverage in multilingual countries: The impact of market size, source, and media type in Switzerland,” Journal. Stud., vol. 22, no. 13, pp. 1793–1813, 2021, doi: 10.1080/1461670X.2021.1965909.
[32] M. Z. Kamarudin, M. Syafiq, A. Mat, and M. Z. Kamarudin, “What do we know about the selection of action research methodologies in primary science education? – A systematic literature review,” Educ. Action Res., vol. 32, no. 5, pp. 825–847, 2024, doi: 10.1080/09650792.2023.2261502.
Published
2026-05-07
How to Cite
Deatri, D., & Ratnawati, R. (2026). Implementing Image-Based Media to Improve Social Studies Learning Outcomes on Indonesia’s Foreign Policy: A Classroom Action Research Study. GeoEdu Insight Journal, 1(1), 43-49. https://doi.org/10.37251/gedij.v1i1.3171
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Copyright (c) 2026 Deatri Deatri, Ratnawati Ratnawati
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