Multimodal Synergy in Motion Graphics for Children’s Career Inspiration

Children in remote regions of Indonesia often have limited exposure to diverse professions, which restricts their aspirations to familiar roles such as teachers or soldiers. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of motion graphics as an educational medium for expanding students’ awareness of various careers through integrated verbal and visual representations. The research involved 50 elementary students from Sekolah Dasar Katolik Oka, in Niramesi Village, Ende, East Nusa Tenggara, who participated in an inspiration class on August 17, 2025. Using a pre-test and post-test design, students were asked about the profession they knew and desired before and after viewing a motion graphics showcasing eight professions: astronaut, designer, chef, scientist, architect, train engineer, programmer, and pilot. All the students watched the 4-minute motion graphic projected onto the classroom whiteboard. During the viewing, they simultaneously performed movement that mimicked the symbolic gesture of professions depicted in the animation. The results indicate a significant diversification of students’ aspirations, with increased interest in unfamiliar professions, such as chef (24%), astronaut (20%), pilot (18%), and scientist (16%). These findings support Mayer’s cognitive theory of multimedia learning, which posits that learning is more effective when words and images are processed together. Additionally, students’ physical engagement through mimicking professional gestures aligns with Gardner’s multiple intelligence and Dewey’s learning by doing, reinforcing kinesthetic and visual-spatial learning. In conclusion, motion graphics can function not only as an informative tool but also as an inspiring and participatory visual medium that bridges educational and imaginative gaps for children in remote communities.