COOPERATIVE- BASED DIGITAL COMIC MEDIA DEVELOPMENT INTEGRATED READING COMPOSITION TO IMPROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS' READING COMPREHENSION SKILLS

Abstract

Reading comprehension instruction in elementary schools is often delivered verbally and abstractly without the support of engaging visual media. Fourth-grade students show difficulty in understanding the content of reading material, determining moral messages, and summarizing the content. This study aims to develop a valid, practical, and effective digital comic media based on Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition (CIRC) to improve the reading comprehension skills of fourth-grade elementary school students. This study uses the Research Method. and Development with the 4D model (Define, Design, Develop, Disseminate). The research subjects involved fourth-grade students at SDIT Iskandar Muda, Bekasi. Data collection was conducted through observation, interviews, validation questionnaires from material and media experts, and reading comprehension skills tests before and after the intervention. Validation data were analyzed qualitatively descriptively, while test data were analyzed quantitatively using statistical tests. CIRC-based digital comic media met the valid criteria with high average scores in the aspects of material suitability, language clarity, visual appeal, and ease of use. Limited trials showed this media was practical and received positive responses from students and teachers. The test results showed a significant increase in students' ability to answer reading questions, determine moral messages, and summarize the contents of the reading. The integration of digital comic visualization with the CIRC cooperative approach created an active and collaborative learning environment that effectively improved reading comprehension. This research was limited to fourth-grade students in one school and requires the availability of digital infrastructure and teacher competence in technology. This study recommends the use of CIRC-based digital comic media as an innovative alternative in teaching reading comprehension and suggests further research at higher grade levels and in online learning contexts.