Digital Storytelling as an Instructional Tool in Teaching Reproductive Health Concepts in Values Education Subject

Abstract

Integrating reproductive health concepts into Values Education subject is challenging due to limited age and developmentally appropriate materials, lack of teacher training, and understudied classroom realities. With these implementation gaps, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of digital storytelling as an instructional tool in teaching reproductive health concepts in Values Education subject within the MATATAG Curriculum. Employing a quantitative approach, specifically quasi-experimental nonequivalent control group design with convenience sampling, the research involved 61 Grade 8 participants from Bulacan State University’s Laboratory High School. In the implementation, the four phases of Transmedia Integration Approach were used, specifically the analysis phase, design phase, development phase, and evaluation phase. The researchers also used 10 validated digital storytelling videos uploaded on YouTube by Roots of Health with original attribution to Amaze.org. Data collection utilized 20-item multiple-choice pretests and post-tests in both groups alongside the 10-item System Usability Scale (SUS) survey on experimental group only. Results showed the experimental group’s mean score improved from 17.85 to 18.65, while the control group showed no meaningful change. Moreover, paired samples t-test analysis revealed this improvement as statistically significant, but the independent samples t-test revealed no significant difference—an inconsistency that highlights the mixed effectiveness of the intervention. Meanwhile, the SUS score of 79 indicated "excellent" usability for the digital tool. In conclusion, digital storytelling contributes to improving knowledge levels in reproductive health and is highly usable. However, it requires further testing through a scaled-up research design to confirm its pedagogical impact and its broader academic effectiveness.