The Doctoral Program (Ph.D.) in Indonesian Language Education (PBI) from the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) at Sebelas Maret University (UNS) Surakarta, in collaboration with the Research and Community Service Institute (LPPM) UNS and the Education Department of Surakarta City, has organized a Workshop on Digital Comics Development with the Theme as a Learning Media to Build Self-Confidence in Elementary School Students. This event took place on Wednesday, June 14, 2023.

The event featured three speakers, including Prof. Dr. Andayani, M.Pd., who serves as the Head of the Ph.D. Program in PBI at FKIP UNS, Dr. Veronika Unun, M.Pd., a lecturer from Universitas Veteran Bangun Nusantara (Univet) Bantara Sukoharjo, and Lalita Gilang, S.Sn., M.Ds., a lecturer from the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design (FSRD) UNS.

The workshop was opened by Tarno, S.Pd., M.Pd., the Head of the Elementary School Education Division in Surakarta City, who explained that the goal of this training was to enhance the competence of teachers in creating learning media, especially those related to building self-confidence in students post-pandemic.

Subsequently, the event continued with a session on the role of storytelling in character education for elementary school children, presented by Dr. Veronika Unun, M.Pd. Dr. Veronika explained that effective character education can be achieved through stories and real-life examples. Since young children are incapable of abstract thinking, they learn through imitation. Therefore, teachers need to be role models for good morals and character. She also suggested that folk tales could be used to educate and shape children's character.

Next, Prof. Andayani, the Head of the Ph.D. Program in PBI at FKIP UNS delivered a presentation on the importance of building self-confidence in students. Prof. Andayani mentioned several conditions in which students often lack self-confidence, such as when facing others, fear of speaking, difficulty in expressing opinions, feeling uncomfortable, and being hesitant. She suggested some steps that can be taken by parents and teachers, such as inspiring students with gratitude and belief in God, training students to speak confidently, and encouraging them to always appear neat and polite.

Finally, Lalita Gilang, S.Sn., M.Ds., a lecturer from FSRD UNS, explained the process of creating comic strips. She mentioned that teachers can utilize tools like Canva in creating comic strips. The process involves steps such as designing the storyline, creating a storyboard with suitable images and dialogues, and adding the finishing touch of coloring. Afterward, workshop participants were invited to practice creating comics, followed by a question and answer session.

Through this workshop, it is hoped that participants, especially teachers, can better understand how to use digital comics as a learning tool to build self-confidence in elementary school students.