Narrative Literacy and Digital Storytelling in Indonesian Language Education: A Humanistic Framework for Values, Identity, and Critical Digital Literacies

Authors

  • Zathu Restie Utami UIN Raden Intan Lampung
  • Agus Kurniawan Agus UIN Raden Intan Lampung

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63203/hana.v1i2.510

Keywords:

Narrative literacy, digital storytelling, multiliteracies, critical digital literacy

Abstract

Humanities-centered education positions language learning as a space where identity, values, and meaning are negotiated through narrative. In Indonesia, persistent challenges in reading performance, alongside rapid digital transformation, create an urgent need for pedagogy that strengthens narrative literacy while cultivating critical digital literacies (OECD, 2023a; OECD, 2023b). This article develops a humanistic framework for integrating digital storytelling (DST) into Indonesian language education to support (a) narrative competence, (b) value formation and cultural identity, and (c) ethical, critical, and creative participation in digital culture (UNESCO, 2024; Katadata & Sibercakap Digital, 2023). Using a scoping review approach, literature from 2021–2025 on DST, multimodal composing, multiliteracies pedagogy, and narrative inquiry is synthesized (Jiang & Hafner, 2024; Veyis et al., 2025). The synthesis highlights mechanisms through which DST contributes to writing development and engagement (Ajabshir, 2024; Meletiadou, 2022), and it foregrounds GenAI-era risks and equity issues that demand critical ethical literacy (Kim et al., 2025; Rapanta et al., 2025). The paper proposes design principles, an instructional sequence, assessment indicators, and safeguards to guide Indonesian language teachers.

References

Ajabshir, Z. F. (2024). Empowering EFL writing through digital storytelling: A quasi-experimental assessment of CALF measures and multidimensional engagement. Acta Psychologica. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104564

Ciğerci, F. M., & Yıldırım, M. (2023). From Freytag pyramid story structure to digital storytelling: Adventures of pre-service teachers as story writers and digital story tellers. Education and Information Technologies. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-023-12042-7

Darvin, R., & Hafner, C. A. (2022). Digital literacies in TESOL: Mapping out the terrain. TESOL Quarterly, 56(3), 1–18.

Ergül Sönmez, E., & Urfalı Dadandı, P. (2023). Does digital storytelling have an effect on writing outcomes? Malaysian Online Journal of Educational Technology, 11(2), 147–157. https://doi.org/10.52380/mojet.2023.11.2.441

Jiang, L. G., & Hafner, C. A. (2024). Digital multimodal composing in L2 classrooms: A research agenda. Language Teaching. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261444824000107

Katadata & Sibercakap Digital. (2023). Status Literasi Digital di Indonesia 2023 (Report). https://cdn1.katadata.co.id/media/Report_LITDIG_2023.pdf

Kim, N., Lee, V. W. Y., Mecham, S., & De Costa, P. I. (2025). Problematizing and addressing equity issues in multiliteracies and the use of generative AI: Why critical ethical literacy matters. Pedagogies. https://doi.org/10.1080/1554480X.2025.2557481

Meletiadou, E. (2022). Using educational digital storytelling to enhance multilingual students’ writing skills in higher education. IAFOR Journal of Education: Technology in Education, 10(2), 111–130.

Mukul, E., & Büyüközkan, G. (2023). Digital transformation in education: A systematic review of education 4.0. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 194, 122664. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2023.122664

OECD. (2023a). Education GPS: Indonesia—Student performance (PISA 2022). https://gpseducation.oecd.org/CountryProfile?primaryCountry=IDN&topic=PI

OECD. (2023b). PISA 2022 results (Volume I and II): Country notes—Indonesia. https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/pisa-2022-results-volume-i-and-ii-country-notes_ed6fbcc5-en/indonesia_c2e1ae0e-en.html

Rapanta, C., Bhatt, I., Bozkurt, A., Chubb, L. A., Erb, C., Forsler, I., ... Jandrić, P. (2025). Critical GenAI literacy: Postdigital configurations. Postdigital Science and Education, 7, 1296–1333. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42438-025-00573-w

Sevilla-Liu, A. (2021). From Mori Akira to narrative education: Weaving the tapestry of narrative philosophy, analysis, therapy, pedagogy, and research. Human Arenas. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42087-021-00202-5

UNESCO. (2021). AI and education: Guidance for policy-makers (Report).

UNESCO. (2023). Digital learning and transformation of education. UNESCO (Policy page). https://www.unesco.org/en/digital-education

UNESCO. (2024). UNESCO framework for culture and arts education. https://www.unesco.org/sites/default/files/medias/fichiers/2024/02/WCCAE_UNESCO%20Framework_EN_0.pdf

Veyis, F., Gözüyeşil, E., & Ciğerci, F. M. (2025). The effect of digital storytelling on students’ language skills performance: A meta-analytic study. Education and Information Technologies, 30, 24463–24501. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-025-13722-2

Yu, B., & Wang, W. (2024). Using digital storytelling to promote language learning, digital skills and digital collaboration among English pre-service teachers. System. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2024.103577

Zhang, Y., & Dikilitaş, K. (2025). Investing in critical digital literacies involving generative AI: A multiple-case study of second language novice teachers. International Journal of TESOL Studies. https://doi.org/10.58304/ijts.250626

OECD. (2021). 21st-century readers: Developing literacy skills in a digital world (Report).

Downloads

Published

2026-04-11

How to Cite

Utami, Z. R., & Agus, A. K. (2026). Narrative Literacy and Digital Storytelling in Indonesian Language Education: A Humanistic Framework for Values, Identity, and Critical Digital Literacies. HANA: Humanities and Academic Narratives in Education, 1(2), 50–55. https://doi.org/10.63203/hana.v1i2.510