Email this article Integrating Folklore in Modern Education: A Review of Interactive Materials and SDGs Alignment
), Nurhaedah Gailea(2), Udi Samanhudi(3)
| 
Country:
(1) Department of Education Doctoral Program, Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa, Indonesia
(2) Department of Education Doctoral Program, Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa, Indonesia
(3) Department of Education Doctoral Program, Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa, Indonesia
Corresponding Author
Integrating Folklore in Modern Education: A Review of Interactive Materials and SDGs Alignment. Objectives: Integrating local culture through folklore is increasingly used to support next-generation learning competencies, here defined as learning performance, language/communication, cultural literacy, creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, ecoliteracy, and basic digital skills, while advancing SDG 4 (Quality Education), especially Target 4.7 on education for sustainable development and cultural diversity. Methods: The research employed a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) across Scopus, WoS, SINTA, ERIC, and Index Copernicus, using predefined inclusion criteria and quality appraisal. Findings: Across 35 studies, folklore-embedded interactive materials most consistently aligned with gains in learning performance and language/communication, with frequent co-benefits in cultural literacy and critical thinking when tasks were scaffolded through inquiry, story-based reflection, and locally meaningful problems. Evidence clusters were concentrated in Indonesia, which we interpret as a contextual pattern examined in the full paper and possibly reflecting glocalization in educational research ecosystems and/or national research policy incentives rather than a universal dominance. Conclusion: Taken together, the reviewed evidence supports a cautious, convergent claim: folklore-based interactive materials are associated with improvements in core competencies linked to SDG 4.1 (effective learning outcomes) and SDG 4.7 (cultural diversity and sustainable values), particularly when paired with teacher scaffolding and authentic tasks. The review contributes a mechanism-oriented synthesis: a “Folklore-as-Context” pathway (cultural familiarity → relevance → engagement → higher-order thinking) that specifies how and under what classroom conditions folklore supports 21st-century competencies, extending prior work that treated “local wisdom” and “innovation” only at a general level.
Keywords: folklore, interactive learning materials, learning skills, systematic literature review.
Abd Rahim, N., Abdul Halim, H., & Shahila MANSOR, N. (2017). E-story and writing skill among second language learners. TOJET: The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, 16(4), 27–32.
Ahmad, S., Hussain, A., Batool, A., Sittar, K., & Malik, M. (2016). Play and cognitive development: formal operational perspective of piaget’s theory. Journal of Education and Practice, 7(28), 72–79.
Al Farisi, M. Z., Maulani, H., Hardoyo, A. B., Khalid, S. M., & Saleh, N. (2024). Investigating Arabic language teaching materials based on Indonesian folklore: an ethnographic study on the folktale of “Bandung.” Asian Education and Development Studies, 13(2), 134–149. https://doi.org/10.1108/AEDS-07-2023-0082
Ali, M. F., Jeu, N. P., & Teeng, C. H. (2020). Enriching Malaysian cultural and folklore through mobile game learning development: Wau & Toyol. In 2020, IEEE Graphics and Multimedia, GAME (pp. 1–6). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/GAME50158.2020.9315081
Amandangi, D. P., Yulianeta, Mulyati, Y., & Prasetyo, S. E. (2020). Web-based learning design on folklore text for intermediate Indonesian language for foreign speakers (BIPA). In Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Education and Multimedia Technology (ICEMT 2020) (pp. 150–155). ACM International Conference Proceeding Series. https://doi.org/10.1145/3416797.3416810
Ambayon, C. M. (2020). Modular-Based approach and students’ achievement in literature. International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies, 8(3), 32–36. https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.8n.3p.32
Aniuranti, A., Rosyidah, N., & Suwartono, T. (2025). Designing local folktales based english grammar instructional materials with the PACE model procedure. Educational Process: International Journal, 14(e2025036), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.22521/edupij.2025.14.36
Arrajiv, D. A., Huda, M., & Al Ma’ruf, A. I. (2023). Development of teaching materials based on javanese culture on folklore materials in vocational high schools. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Learning and Advanced Education (ICOLAE 2022) (pp. 510–526). Atlantis Press. https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-086-2_43
Aryani, N., & Rahayu, S. (2023). Kearifan lokal dalam pembelajaran PAUD untuk memfasilitasi profil pelajar pancasila [local wisdom in early childhood education to facilitate the pancasila student profile]. Early Childhood: Jurnal Pendidikan, 7(1), 50–60.
Barli, J., Surtikanti, M. W., Sugeng, A. S., & Agung, N. (2024). The utilization of local folklore as teaching material: students’ viewpoint and character education. Journal of English Educational Study (JEES), 7, 82–91.
Budiman, A., Samani, M., Rusijono, R., Setyawan, W. H., & Nurdyansyah, N. (2020). The development of direct-contextual learning: a new model on higher education. International Journal of Higher Education, 10(2), 15. https://doi.org/10.5430/ijhe.v10n2p15
Chatterjee, P., Mishra, D., Padhi, L. K., Ojha, J., Al-Absi, A. A., & Sain, M. (2019). Digital story-telling: a methodology of web based learning of teaching of folklore studies. In 2019 21st International Conference on Advanced Communications Technology(ICACT) (pp. 573–578). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.23919/ICACT.2019.8702047
Cojocaru, F.-C. (2018). Developing (new) language skills through student mobility-the impact of an Erasmus+ experience. Journal of Educational Sciences, 1(37), 53–65.
Djono, Sudiyanto, Sukmawati, F., & Salimi, M. (2024). Systematic literature review: effects of digital teaching materials on learning achievement. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education, 13(4), 2678–2688. https://doi.org/10.11591/ijere.v13i4.26357
Fajari, L. E. W., & Meilisa, R. (2022). The development of augmented reality to improve critical thinking and digital literacy skills of elementary school students. Dwija Cendekia: Jurnal Riset Pedagogik, 6(3), 1–23.
Fajari, L. E. W., Sarwanto, & Chumdari. (2020). Improving elementary school’s critical thinking skills through three different PBL-assisted learning media viewed from learning styles. Journal of E-Learning and Knowledge Society, 16(1), 55–64. https://doi.org/10.20368/1971-8829/1135193
Fakhrutdinova, A., Chumarova, L., Belyaeva, E., & Sagitova, R. (2019). Pedagogical value of folklore prosaic genres in intellectual and moral education of future teachers at the foreign language lessons. ARPHA Proceedings, 1, 183–197. https://doi.org/10.3897/ap.1.e0111
Febriyanti, R., Mustadi, A., & Jerussalem, M. A. (2021). Students’ learning difficulties in mathematics: how do teachers diagnose and how do teachers solve them? Jurnal Pendidikan Matematika, 15(1), 23–36. https://doi.org/10.22342/jpm.15.1.10564.23-36
Ferrer-Estévez, M., & Chalmeta, R. (2021). Integrating sustainable development goals in educational institutions. International Journal of Management Education, 19(2), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijme.2021.100494
Hamzah, M. R., Mujiwati, Y., Khamdi, I. M., Usman, M. I., & Abidin, M. Z. (2022). Proyek profil pelajar pancasila sebagai penguatan pendidikan karakter pada peserta didik [the pancasila student profile project as a means of strengthening character education for students]. Jurnal Jendela Pendidikan, 2(04), 553–559. https://doi.org/10.57008/jjp.v2i04.309
Harjono, H. S., Hariyadi, B., & Yugo, P. (2023). Cik upik application as learning media to identify and describe the hikayat values. Journal of Education Technology, 7(2), 269–278. https://doi.org/10.23887/jet.v7i2
Hasanah, U., Astra, I. M., & Sumantri, M. S. (2023). Exploring the need for using science learning multimedia to improve critical thinking elementary school students: teacher perception. International Journal of Instruction, 16(1), 417–440. https://doi.org/10.29333/iji.2023.16123a
Herdiawan, R. D., Afrianto, A., Nurhidayat, E., Nurhidayah, Y., & Rofi’i, A. (2023). Folklore-Based virtual reality as a teaching media in the secondary school viewed from its implication and multimodal aspects. IJLECR - International Journal of Language Education and Culture Review, 9(1), 85–96. https://doi.org/10.21009/ijlecr.v9i1.37646
Hudhana, W. D., Sumarlam, & Sumarwati. (2025). Digital comics of folktales as learning media to strengthen elementary school students’ ecoliteracy. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 15(2), 443–451. https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1502.14
Humpherys, S. L., & Babb, J. (2020). Using folklore, fables, and storytelling as a pedagogical tool in assessment exams. Information Systems Education Journal (ISEDJ), 18(5), 34–54.
Inphoo, P., & Nomnian, S. (2019). Dramatizing a northeastern thai folklore to lessen high school students’ communication anxiety. PASAA Journal, 57(1), 33–50.
Lee, J. H.-M., Lee, F.-L., & Lau, T.-S. (2006). Folklore-based learning on the web (pedagogy, case study and evaluation). Journal Educational Computing Research, 34(1), 1–27.
Li, R. (2022). Chinese folk music: Study and dissemination through online learning courses. Education and Information Technologies, 27(7), 8997–9013. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-022-11003-w
Masie, S. R., Malabar, S., Mulyanto, A., & Lantowa, J. (2025). Development of e-module for learning folklore based on local wisdom. Journal of Ecohumanism, 4(1), 1565–1577. https://doi.org/10.62754/joe.v4i1.5967
Masmuzidin, M. Z., Jiang, J., & Wan, T. (2012). Learning moral values through virtual technology: The development and evaluation of Malaysian virtual folktales-Hikayat Land. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 31, 315–322. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.12.061
Moltudal, S. H., Krumsvik, R. J., & Høydal, K. L. (2022). Adaptive learning technology in primary education: implications for professional teacher knowledge and classroom management. Frontiers in Education, 7, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2022.830536
Mulwa, E. C. (2015). Difficulties encountered by students in the learning and usage of mathematical terminology: A critical literature review. Journal of Education and Practice, 6(13), 27–37.
Nugraheni, L., Suyitno, Ekowardani, N., & Waluyo, H. J. (2020). Pictures series as learning media of folklore at elementary school. In Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Learning Innovation and Quality Education (ICLIQE 2020) (pp. 1–4). ACM International Conference Proceeding Series. https://doi.org/10.1145/3452144.3453760
Nur, A. S., Waluya, S. B., Rochmad, R., & Wardono, W. (2020). Contextual learning with Ethnomathematics in enhancing the problem solving based on thinking levels. JRAMathEdu (Journal of Research and Advances in Mathematics Education), 5(3), 331–344. https://doi.org/10.23917/jramathedu.v5i3.11679
Onodera, K., & Fujii, H. (2024). Learning about the coexistence between nature and humans in elementary science education: developing lessons using folktales that reflect ancestors’ views on nature. Education Sciences, 14(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14010028
Pierard, C., Svihla, V., Clement, S. K., & Fazio, B.-S. (2020). Undesirable difficulties: investigating barriers to students’ learning with ebooks in a semester-length course. College & Research Libraries, 81(2), 1–32.
Polat, H., & Özkaya, M. (2023). The effect of problem posing-based active learning activities on problem-solving and posing performance: The case of fractions. Journal of Pedagogical Research, 7(1), 67–81. https://doi.org/10.33902/JPR.202317880
Prahmana, R. C. I., Risdiyanti, I., Peni, N. R. N., Ristiana, N., & Ramadhani, R. (2025). Javanese folklore with moral values: An impactful context in learning relations and functions. Journal on Mathematics Education, 16(1), 197–224. https://doi.org/10.22342/jme.v16i1.pp197-224
Prasasti, T. I., Solin, M., & Hadi, W. (2019). The effectiveness of learning media folklore text of north sumatera based on blended learning by 10th grade students of vocational high schoolharapan mekar-1 medan. Budapest International Research and Critics in Linguistics and Education (BirLE) Journal, 2(4), 480–490. https://doi.org/10.33258/birle.v2i4.548
Rezeki, S., Andrian, D., Wahyuni, A., & Nurkholisah, H. (2020). The sustainability concept of Riau cultures through development of mathematics learning devices based on Riau folklore at elementary schools. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1538(012066), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1538/1/012066
Sanjaya, D. B., Suartama, I. K., Suastika, I. N., Sukadi, & Mas Dewantara, I. P. (2021). The implementation of balinese folflore-based civic education for strengthening character education. Cypriot Journal of Educational Sciences, 16(1), 303–316. https://doi.org/10.18844/cjes.v16i1.5529
Sari, Y., Marini, A., Rahmawati, Y., Fitriasari, E., Wardhani, P. A., Safitr, D., Dewiyani, L., & Muda, I. (2024). Emerging technologies of interactive learning media with wordwall for students’ interest as an impact on SDGS. Journal of Lifestyle and SDGs Review, 5(2), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.47172/2965-730x.sdgsreview.v5.n02.pe03268
Sarwanto, Fajari, L. E. W., & Chumdari. (2020). Open-Ended questions to assess critical-thinking skills in indonesian elementary school. International Journal of Instruction, 14(1), 615–630. https://doi.org/10.29333/IJI.2021.14137A
Setiawan, D., Yuniarti, Y. D., & Rahmadani, N. K. A. (2022). E-Comic of folklore in the javanese language to increase 4th graders’ learning outcomes. Tadris: Jurnal Keguruan Dan Ilmu Tarbiyah, 7(1), 91–101. https://doi.org/10.24042/tadris.v7i1.11596
Siew Woei, L., Othman, I. H., & Kee Man, C. (2015). Learning programming using objects-first approach through folktales. Jurnal Teknologi, 75(3), 2180–3722. www.jurnalteknologi.utm.my
Smith, T., Eeva, Anttila., Bylica, K., Sunday, K., & Higgins, J. (2022). Examining the use of folk resources for creative arts education in ghana’s basic schools. International Journal of Education & the Arts Editors, 23(4), 1–27.
Songsirisak, P., Jitpranee, J., Saejao, Y., & Singsutin, N. (2024). Ethnic folktale-based materials development for secondary students’ learning. Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Studies, 24(1), 132–144. https://doi.org/10.69598/hasss.24.1.263505
Suryawati, E., & Osman, K. (2018). Contextual learning: Innovative approach towards the development of students’ scientific attitude and natural science performance. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 14(1), 61–76. https://doi.org/10.12973/ejmste/79329
Susani, I., Rasmi, P., & Syam, H. (2020). Improving reading comprehension through folklore story at man 1 palu. Datokarama English Education Journal, 1(2), 56–65.
Tulung, J. M., Waney, M., Mailool, J., Rogahang, H. J., Weol, W., & Wuwung, O. (2022). Teachers’ difficulties in implementing classroom action research: Experiences of elementary school teachers. Cypriot Journal of Educational Sciences, 17(6), 1957–1971. https://doi.org/10.18844/cjes.v17i6.7486
Vykydal, D., Folta, M., & Nenadál, J. (2020). A study of quality assessment in higher education within the context of sustainable development: A case study from Czech Republic. Sustainability (Switzerland), 12(11), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12114769
Wardani, N. E. (2024). The influence of digital comic folktale learning media on fantasy text writing skills in junior high schools. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 15(6), 1828–1834. https://doi.org/10.17507/jltr.1506.08
Xiao, Y., & Watson, M. (2019). Guidance on conducting a systematic literature review. Journal of Planning Education and Research, 39(1), 93–112. https://doi.org/10.1177/0739456X17723971
Youpika, F., Sumiyadi, Permadi, T., Sunendar, D., & Yandryati, J. (2024). The Endangered central malay folklore: a medium for internalizing character values in indonesian language and literature. International Journal of Language Education, 8(1), 48–63. https://doi.org/10.26858/ijole.v8i1.60908
Yuliana, Y., Fathurohman, A., & Siahaan, S. M. (2023). Analysis of needs for the development of local wisdom-based junior high school science e-modules related to ethnoscience in south sumatra. Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA, 9(10), 7865–7870. https://doi.org/10.29303/jppipa.v9i10.5292
Yulianeta, Yaacob, A., & Lubis, A. H. (2022). The development of web-based teaching materials integrated with indonesian folklore for indonesian language for foreign speakers students. International Journal of Language Education, 6(1), 46–62. https://doi.org/10.26858/ijole.v6i1.22957
Yuliani, S. (2020). Initial need assessment on english teaching based on riau malay folklore: digital innovation in preserving culture. Education Quarterly Reviews, 3(1), 66–71. https://doi.org/10.31014/aior.1993.03.01.118
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
View My Stats