TRANSFORMING ISLAMIC FINANCIAL EDUCATION: THE IMPACT OF SHORT-FORM DIGITAL STORYTELLING ON ZAKAT AWARENESS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35631/JISTM.1144044Keywords:
Adobe Animate, Digital Storytelling, Islamic Education, Multimedia Learning, Zakat LiteracyAbstract
Traditional methods of disseminating zakat and asnaf literacy, such as Friday sermons, printed pamphlets, and text-based websites, frequently fail to engage younger and digitally inclined audiences, contributing to persistent knowledge gaps regarding complex Islamic financial obligations. To address this pedagogical challenge, this study evaluates the usability and perceived effectiveness of short-form digital storytelling as an innovative tool to enhance public understanding and conceptual clarity of core zakat concepts. Utilizing Adobe Animate, animated video modules were developed under the Zakat and Asnaf Digital Storytelling (ZADIS) framework. Each module follows a concise 2-minute dual-segment architecture, seamlessly combining a 1-minute dramatic narrative to establish real-world emotional resonance with a 1-minute structured visual explanation detailing Shariah guidelines, calculation formulas, and nisab thresholds. Following a systematic four-phase instructional development framework (Needs Identification, Design & Development, Expert Verification, and User Validation), data were gathered through a qualitative usability pilot study involving 2 domain experts from Lembaga Zakat Negeri Kedah (LZNK) and 5 public participants of diverse backgrounds. Results demonstrate that short-form digital storytelling was perceived to enhance learner engagement, visual appeal, and conceptual clarity compared to conventional text-based materials. By leveraging core multimedia learning principles, specifically dual-coding, segmenting, and visual cueing, the dual-segment model is designed to reduce cognitive load during complex financial calculations. Furthermore, the findings reveal a strong public demand for visual dawah media while highlighting critical institutional gaps in technical production capabilities among zakat administration personnel. The study concludes that integrating standardized digital storytelling into official state zakat portals has potential as a scalable strategy for national financial literacy and digital governance, while underscoring the necessity for structured internal capacity-building programs to ensure the long-term sustainability of digital religious education initiatives.
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