Digitalisation of Craft Education: The Influence of IbisPaint X-Based Learning on Batik Design Creativity and Self-Efficacy of Vocational High School Students

Abstract

The current development of the industrial revolution era has brought about significant transformations across various sectors, including vocational education. Amidst the rapid advancement of digital technology, vocational high schools (SMK) as institutions responsible for producing skilled labour face considerable challenges in integrating digital competencies with the preservation of local cultural heritage, particularly in the field of textile crafts. Data from the Ministry of Industry in 2023 indicates that 78% of the textile creative industry has now adopted digital technology in the design process, while the majority of learning methods in SMKs still rely on conventional manual techniques. This situation creates a competency gap wherein students, who are predominantly digital natives, are inadequately trained in the utilisation of digital tools for the development of culture-based craft products. Traditional batik design learning using conventional media often encounters obstacles in terms of the flexibility of idea exploration, time efficiency, and design iteration capabilities. IbisPaint X, as a mobile-friendly digital design application, offers a potential solution with its standout features such as a layer system, brush customisation, and undo/redo functions, enabling limitless creative experimentation. This research aims to address this strategic need by examining the extent to which the integration of digital technology in learning can enhance design creativity while simultaneously building the self-efficacy of SMK students as a key factor determining their readiness for employment in the modern creative industry. This research aims to analyse the impact of IbisPaint X-based learning on the enhancement of design creativity in batik and the self-efficacy of students in vocational schools (SMK) specialising in creative batik and textile crafts. The study employs a quasi-experimental method with a pretest-posttest control group design, focusing on students from the textile craft department in Sidoarjo. The sample consists of 60 students in the experimental group using IbisPaint X and 60 students in the control group employing traditional manual methods. Creativity data were measured using the Torrance Test rubric, which includes indicators of fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration, assessed both prior to and following a three-month intervention. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, supplemented by qualitative data derived from observations, questionnaires, and in-depth interviews. The findings of this study indicate a significant improvement across all creativity indicators within the experimental group, with specific increases of 50.3% in fluency, 68.6% in flexibility, 66.8% in originality, and 58.7% in elaboration. Qualitative analysis reveals three phases of student adaptation: initiation, imitation, and innovation, with peer learning and digital pride identified as the primary motivating factors. Furthermore, the experimental group demonstrated a time efficiency of 40% faster than the manual method.