MODEL KOLABORASI ORANG TUA–GURU BERBASIS APLIKASI PARENTING UNTUK MENGEMBANGKAN KEMANDIRIAN ANAK DI TK MEKAR SARI 1 KECAMATAN MESUJI KABUPATEN OGAN KOMERING ILIR

Abstract

This study aims to develop a parent–teacher collaboration model using a parenting application to enhance children’s independence at TK Mekar Sari 1, Mesuji District, Ogan Komering Ilir Regency. The study was motivated by the need for an effective communication medium between school and home, as the development of independence requires consistent stimulation from both environments. The research employed a Research and Development (R&D) design, including needs analysis, model design, expert validation, revision, limited trials, and field trials. Data were collected through interviews, observations, questionnaires, and documentation, then analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively using the paired sample t-test. The findings reveal that the application-based collaboration model is considered valid by experts in terms of content relevance, design feasibility, and feature suitability for parents’ and teachers’ needs. Both the limited and field trials demonstrated that the parenting application improved two-way communication, strengthened parental participation, and supported teachers in documenting children's development more systematically. The results also indicate a significant improvement in children’s independence, particularly in eating independently, dressing themselves, organizing belongings, and completing simple tasks. This study concludes that the parent–teacher collaboration model based on a parenting application is effective in enhancing children’s independence and reinforcing educational synergy between school and home. The model is recommended for broader implementation in other early childhood education institutions, supported by digital literacy training for teachers and orientation sessions for parents.