View in EDS

Frugal Thinking in Action: Improving Learning Outcomes through Loose Part-Based Instruction

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Frugal Thinking in Action: Improving Learning Outcomes through Loose Part-Based Instruction
Language: English
Authors: Zahid Zufar At Thaariq, Reno Nurdiyanto, Jasmine Nurul Izza, Devi Mariya Sulfa, Fikri Aulia
Source: Anatolian Journal of Education. 2026 11(1):169-180.
Availability: Gate Association for Teaching and Education. e-mail: aje.editorial@gmail.com; Web site: http://e-aje.net/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 11
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Junior High Schools
Middle Schools
Secondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Junior High School Students, Intervention, Instructional Materials, Cost Effectiveness, Instructional Effectiveness
Geographic Terms: Indonesia
ISSN: 2547-9652
Abstract: This study explores the impact of a frugal learning approach--using loose part-based instruction--on student learning outcomes in an elementary classroom setting. Rooted in the principles of frugal thinking, the intervention aimed to foster creativity, problem-solving, and contextual understanding by utilizing readily available and low-cost materials in the learning process. A one-group pretest-posttest design was employed, involving 16 students. The pretest was a paper-based cognitive assessment with multiple-choice and short-answer items and the posttest was a product-based task requiring students to create a tangible output using loose part materials. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test due to the small sample size and non-normal distribution of data. The results revealed a statistically significant increase in learning outcomes after the intervention (p < 0.05), indicating that the use of loose parts effectively enhanced students' engagement and conceptual understanding. The study concludes that frugal instructional strategies, particularly those involving hands-on, material-rich activities, can be a powerful alternative in contexts with limited resources. The implications extend to curriculum designers, educators, and policy-makers seeking sustainable and inclusive educational innovations. Recommendations for further research include expanding the approach to diverse contexts and developing validated instruments for product-based assessment.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1504071
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
  – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=EJ1504071
    Name: ERIC Full Text
    Category: fullText
    Text: Full Text from ERIC
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1504071
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Frugal Thinking in Action: Improving Learning Outcomes through Loose Part-Based Instruction
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Zahid+Zufar+At+Thaariq%22&quot;&gt;Zahid Zufar At Thaariq&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Reno+Nurdiyanto%22&quot;&gt;Reno Nurdiyanto&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Jasmine+Nurul+Izza%22&quot;&gt;Jasmine Nurul Izza&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Devi+Mariya+Sulfa%22&quot;&gt;Devi Mariya Sulfa&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Fikri+Aulia%22&quot;&gt;Fikri Aulia&lt;/searchLink&gt;
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;SO&quot; term=&quot;%22Anatolian+Journal+of+Education%22&quot;&gt;&lt;i&gt;Anatolian Journal of Education&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/searchLink&gt;. 2026 11(1):169-180.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Gate Association for Teaching and Education. e-mail: aje.editorial@gmail.com; Web site: http://e-aje.net/
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 11
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles&lt;br /&gt;Reports - Research
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;EL&quot; term=&quot;%22Junior+High+Schools%22&quot;&gt;Junior High Schools&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;EL&quot; term=&quot;%22Middle+Schools%22&quot;&gt;Middle Schools&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;EL&quot; term=&quot;%22Secondary+Education%22&quot;&gt;Secondary Education&lt;/searchLink&gt;
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Foreign+Countries%22&quot;&gt;Foreign Countries&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Junior+High+School+Students%22&quot;&gt;Junior High School Students&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Intervention%22&quot;&gt;Intervention&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Instructional+Materials%22&quot;&gt;Instructional Materials&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Cost+Effectiveness%22&quot;&gt;Cost Effectiveness&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Instructional+Effectiveness%22&quot;&gt;Instructional Effectiveness&lt;/searchLink&gt;
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Indonesia%22&quot;&gt;Indonesia&lt;/searchLink&gt;
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 2547-9652
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This study explores the impact of a frugal learning approach--using loose part-based instruction--on student learning outcomes in an elementary classroom setting. Rooted in the principles of frugal thinking, the intervention aimed to foster creativity, problem-solving, and contextual understanding by utilizing readily available and low-cost materials in the learning process. A one-group pretest-posttest design was employed, involving 16 students. The pretest was a paper-based cognitive assessment with multiple-choice and short-answer items and the posttest was a product-based task requiring students to create a tangible output using loose part materials. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test due to the small sample size and non-normal distribution of data. The results revealed a statistically significant increase in learning outcomes after the intervention (p &lt; 0.05), indicating that the use of loose parts effectively enhanced students&#39; engagement and conceptual understanding. The study concludes that frugal instructional strategies, particularly those involving hands-on, material-rich activities, can be a powerful alternative in contexts with limited resources. The implications extend to curriculum designers, educators, and policy-makers seeking sustainable and inclusive educational innovations. Recommendations for further research include expanding the approach to diverse contexts and developing validated instruments for product-based assessment.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1504071
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1504071
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 11
        StartPage: 169
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Junior High School Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Intervention
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Instructional Materials
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cost Effectiveness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Instructional Effectiveness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Indonesia
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Frugal Thinking in Action: Improving Learning Outcomes through Loose Part-Based Instruction
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Zahid Zufar At Thaariq
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Reno Nurdiyanto
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Jasmine Nurul Izza
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Devi Mariya Sulfa
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Fikri Aulia
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 2547-9652
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 11
            – Type: issue
              Value: 1
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Anatolian Journal of Education
              Type: main
ResultId 1