Personalized Interactive E-Book on Air Pollution For Preschoolers Using Ren'Py Engine

Air pollution in Indonesian big cities, according to IQair 2024, ranks highest in Southeast Asia and has reached a dangerous level. This environmental crisis has significantly affected children’s health, and yet the abstract nature of pollution is difficult for them to comprehend. This study develops a personalized interactive e-book using the Ren’Py engine and Design Thinking to increase preschoolers’ awareness via gamification, such as character customization. Qualitative approach and Design Thinking methodology were used in this research to integrate gamification features to elevate preschoolers’ understanding of air pollution, which will improve their learning experience. Data gathered from observations, parent-educator interviews, and literature; preliminary validation confirmed 85% agreement on representation and symbolism. The five stages of Design Thinking include empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test. By utilizing the Ren’Py visual novel engine, preschoolers can visualize themselves as the protagonist in the story through customizable features, such as names, gender, hair, and skin tone. By positioning preschoolers as protagonists in the story. Early childhood education about air pollution will be easier to grasp in a fun way. This digital learning tools helps preschoolers to engage with air pollution concepts and align with SDG number 4 (Quality Education) by providing a practical and exciting tool for parents and educators to teach sustainable habits to the next generation.Keyword: Interactive E-book, Air Pollution, Ren’Py, Preschooler, Personalization, Gamification, Digital Learning.