Designing an Activity Book as a Batik Education Medium for Children Aged 6-12 Years at the Batik Museum

Abstract

The low level of focus among elementary school-aged children when observing the static collections at the Indonesian Batik Museum presents a challenge in effectively conveying cultural information. Children tend to miss complex historical narratives and only interact briefly with the exhibits. This study aims to design an interactive activity book as an adaptive educational companion for children aged 6-12 years. The design method used is the ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation) model with a qualitative approach. The analysis phase identified children's visual needs, who tend to prefer interactive elements and storytelling. In the development phase, an activity book was produced with mascot characters, simplified batik motif illustrations, and a bright color palette to maintain audience attention. The results of implementation in the field showed that the use of the activity book significantly increased children's focus duration and independence in exploring the museum's collections. Through a series of visual and motor challenges, children were able to understand the philosophy of batik in a more enjoyable and participatory way. In conclusion, the integration of interactive media into museum visits has proven effective in transforming passive learning patterns into active exploration. This design contributes to efforts to preserve batik culture through visual communication media that suits children's cognitive characteristics.