Implementation of differentiated learning in stimulating cognitive intelligence of early childhood learners: A case study at Paud Attaqwa Bojonegoro in the Merdeka curriculum framework
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32502/ilead.v1i1.1638Keywords:
cognitive intelligence, differentiated learning, early childhood, early childhood education, Merdeka CurriculumAbstract
This study aims to analyze the implementation of differentiated learning in stimulating children's cognitive intelligence at Attaqwa Early Childhood Education Center (PAUD) in Bojonegoro, East Java. Cognitive intelligence, encompassing logical thinking, problem-solving, and memory, serves as a fundamental pillar for early childhood development. Differentiated learning is implemented as a responsive strategy to accommodate student diversity through content, process, and product differentiation, aligning with the Merdeka Curriculum's flexibility. Employing a descriptive-qualitative method, the research involved participatory observation, in-depth interviews with educators, and document analysis from October 2024 to January 2025. The findings indicate that differentiation at PAUD Attaqwa significantly enhances children's solution-oriented thinking, creative imagination, and active communication. Content differentiation was achieved through varied material complexity, process differentiation through flexible grouping based on learning modalities, and product differentiation by allowing children to express their understanding through diverse media. Quantitative data shows a significant reduction in the achievement gap among students, decreasing from 38% to 17%, while cognitive indicators such as creative problem-solving improved by up to 35%. This research confirms that the synergy between the differentiation approach and social cognitive theory effectively optimizes early childhood cognitive domains within the Indonesian curriculum context. These results offer practical insights for educators to design more inclusive and adaptive learning environments in early childhood settings.
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