Abstract
A significant issue is the limited availability of educational media that can effectively nurture children’s character traits, particularly caring and responsibility. This study developed a comic-based learning medium aimed at fostering caring and responsibility in children aged 9–12 years. Using a Research and Development approach with nine stages, the comic titled ‘Si Ame dan Tongat’ was validated by media and material experts and tested for effectiveness among 25 third-grade students in Siosar. The study employed pre-test and post-test designs to measure cognitive understanding of caring and responsibility, showing a significant improvement with an N-gain score of 0.63. The comic comprises 36 pages featuring four main characters, Ame, Tongat, Bulang, and Mamak set in a rural environment that reflect everyday life situations relevant to children. Its content and visuals are tailored to the cognitive and moral development of elementary students, helping them understand and internalize the values of caring and responsibility. Media experts rated the comic with an average score of 3.88, and material experts gave it a 3.61, both indicating the product’s high validity and suitability as a learning tool. The comic’s design uses engaging visuals and relatable narratives, which make it a practical medium for both independent learning and classroom instruction. Overall, the comic effectively supports character education by embedding moral lessons into an engaging and culturally relevant storyline.
Keywords: Caring, Character, Comic, Responsibility