Development of PowerPoint Hyperlink-Based Digital Flashcards for Teaching Vowel Recognition to Young Children

Abstract

Recognizing vowels is an important part of early childhood literacy development. To support the development of this skill, digital flashcards incorporating PowerPoint hyperlinks were used to make learning more engaging and interactive. This study aimed to describe the development process of the digital flashcards, evaluate their feasibility, and assess their effectiveness in improving children's vowel recognition skills. The study employed a Research and Development (R&D) approach based on a modified seven-step Borg and Gall development model. The participants were 14 children, comprising nine boys and five girls. The developed media were evaluated through limited and extensive field trials. Data were collected through interviews, tests, and observations and analyzed using qualitative and quantitative methods. The development process included needs analysis, media development, expert validation, revision, and product testing. The validation results from subject matter experts, media experts, and practitioners indicated that the digital flashcards met the criteria for the highly valid category. The trial results showed improvements in children's vowel recognition skills, with scores increasing from 46.25% to 76.25% in the limited trial and from 64.25% to 91.08% in the extensive field trial. These findings suggest that the digital flashcards are a promising learning medium for improving vowel recognition skills in early childhood.