Pekalongan – A research team from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), initiated the development of a digital animated video model as a multicultural learning medium through a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) for Needs Assessment in collaboration with the Social Studies Teachers Association (MGMP IPS) for Junior High Schools and Islamic Junior High Schools (SMP/MTs) of Pekalongan City. Held on 30 April 2026 at SMP Negeri 4 Pekalongan, the activity marked the first step in designing an innovative learning medium aimed at fostering tolerance, preventing social conflict, and strengthening students’ appreciation of diversity.
The research, entitled “Development of a Digital Animated Video Model as a Multicultural Learning Medium for Junior High School Students to Prevent Conflict and Intolerance among Adolescents,” is led by Dr. Kuncoro Bayu Prasetyo, S.Ant., M.A., with Prof. Dr. Tri Marhaeni Pudji Astuti, M.Hum., and Didi Pramono, S.Pd., M.Pd., serving as co-researchers. The project also involves three undergraduate students from the Sociology and Anthropology Education Study Program at FISIP UNNES. Conducted in partnership with the MGMP IPS SMP/MTs of Pekalongan City, the study reflects a strong collaboration between higher education researchers and school practitioners in developing innovative learning resources tailored to the needs of secondary education.
The research is motivated by the increasing prevalence of intolerance and conflicts arising from social diversity. According to the research team, these challenges highlight the urgent need for preventive educational strategies capable of effectively instilling multicultural values from an early age. The problem lies not only in the limited availability of multicultural learning materials but also in teaching methods that often fail to address students’ affective development and are not fully aligned with the characteristics of today’s digital generation. Consequently, the development of digital animated videos is proposed as an innovative instructional medium that offers engaging, contextual, and meaningful learning experiences.
The program began with a keynote presentation on the role of educators in multicultural societies, delivered by Prof. Dr. Tri Marhaeni Pudji Astuti, M.Hum. Following the presentation, Social Studies teachers from junior high schools and Islamic junior high schools participated in an interactive Focus Group Discussion to identify the needs of multicultural education in schools and to provide recommendations for designing digital animated videos that are relevant to students’ learning characteristics. The discussion also explored various challenges teachers encounter in teaching diversity, tolerance, and peaceful conflict resolution within the school environment.
This research has three primary objectives: (1) to identify the needs for digital media-based multicultural learning in schools; (2) to develop a digital animated video model as a multicultural learning medium; and (3) to implement the model to enhance students’ tolerance while reducing the potential for conflict among adolescents. Findings from this initial needs assessment will serve as the foundation for developing a learning model that not only enhances students’ knowledge but also fosters empathy, respect for diversity, and the ability to live harmoniously in a multicultural society.
The principal investigator, Dr. Kuncoro Bayu Prasetyo, S.Ant., M.A., stated that the activity marks the beginning of a strategic partnership between UNNES and educational practitioners in the region. He emphasized that collaboration between universities and schools is essential for producing educational innovations that address the challenges of the digital era while strengthening character education grounded in multicultural values.
Meanwhile, Frenti Kurniyanti, S.Pd., M.M., Chair of the MGMP IPS SMP/MTs of Pekalongan City, expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to collaborate with the UNNES research team. She hopes that the partnership will continue in the coming years, inspiring Social Studies teachers in Pekalongan to develop more creative, adaptive, and technology-oriented learning innovations.
This research aligns with UNNES’s commitment to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) by developing innovative, inclusive, and high-quality digital learning media that strengthen multicultural education in schools. It also supports SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by promoting tolerance, respect for diversity, and the prevention of discrimination and intolerance among young people. Through close collaboration among universities, teachers, and schools, FISIP UNNES continues to demonstrate its commitment to producing educational innovations that contribute to a more inclusive, peaceful, and equitable society.
