Pervasive Education through Cultural Narratives: Nurturing Charismatic Leaders in Primary Schools

Abstract

This research explores the integration of ubiquitous learning with cultural storytelling as a means to foster moral development and leadership qualities in Indonesian primary school learners. Drawing inspiration from the epithets associated with Lord Shiva, which symbolise empathy, accountability, and collaborative spirit, the study adapts these traditional motifs into child-appropriate narratives aimed at nurturing ethical reasoning and behavioural growth. Employing an Exploration and Development (E&D) approach, the research incorporates qualitative assessments, digital instructional design, and a comprehensive review of existing literature. The outcome is an educational resource titled Stories of Shiva: Pathways to Leadership, a mobile-based storytelling application featuring interactive plots, reflective prompts, and engaging activities designed to extend moral learning beyond conventional classroom settings. Findings, supported by preand post-intervention assessments and qualitative feedback from educators, indicate notable improvements in pupils empathy, proactive behaviour, and sense of social responsibility. Learners were observed applying the instilled values within both academic and domestic spheres and demonstrated a strong emotional and cognitive connection with the story characters. Analytical data from the platform further validated sustained and active engagement. The study highlights the potential for scaling culturally grounded storytelling as a component of moral instruction. By integrating traditional narrative wisdom with contemporary digital tools, it introduces an effective, locally resonant, and learner-centred model of ubiquitous education, aimed at cultivating ethically minded, compassionate, and globally aware future leaders while maintaining cultural authenticity.