The Effectiveness of Wordwall in Enhancing Students' Understanding of the Rashidun Caliphs in Elementary Islamic School

Abstract

This study examines the effectiveness of Wordwall as an interactive learning medium in enhancing students' conceptual understanding of Islamic Cultural History (SKI), particularly the topic of the Rashidun Caliphs, among fifth-grade students at MI Baiturrahim. A quantitative approach with a quasi-experimental design employing a non-equivalent control group was adopted. Twenty students participated in the study and were divided into an experimental group (Wordwall) and a control group (conventional instruction). Data were collected through pretest-posttest assessments, classroom observations, and documentation, and analyzed using descriptive statistics and an independent samples t-test. The findings indicate that students in the experimental group achieved a substantially higher mean score (91) than those in the control group (75). The t-test results revealed a significant difference between the two groups (t = 3.281 > tcritical = 2.101), confirming that Wordwall significantly enhanced students' understanding of the learning material. Classroom observations further demonstrated higher levels of student participation, teacher-student interaction, and classroom engagement in the experimental group. These findings suggest that gamified digital media can create a more engaging, interactive, and meaningful learning environment in Islamic education. Therefore, Wordwall is recommended as an effective instructional medium for teaching Islamic Cultural History, particularly topics requiring conceptual understanding and active student participation.