Digital Literacy and Deep Learning Teaching Materials for Strengthen Generation Z Nationalism in the Indonesia Malaysia Border Area

Youth in Indonesia–Malaysia border areas face cultural identity challenges due to exposure to Malaysian popular culture and weak nationalism. This study aims to strengthen Generation Z's national identity by developing digital teaching materials grounded in deep-learning pedagogy and local wisdom. A sequential exploratory mixed-method design was employed, starting with qualitative exploration through interviews and observations, followed by quantitative validation using Structural Equation Modeling–Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS). A total of 90 students participated in the initial survey, and a limited trial with 30 students was conducted to assess pre- and post-intervention changes. Paired t-tests were used to evaluate the module's impact. Findings show that digital literacy mediates the influence of popular culture on nationalist attitudes, and the module significantly improved students' understanding and pride in national identity. Contributions of this study include: (1) proposing an innovative educational intervention that integrates deep-learning pedagogy with digital literacy; (2) validating a conceptual model that links popular culture, digital literacy, and nationalism; and (3) providing empirical evidence that contextual, technology-based learning can effectively reinforce civic values in culturally vulnerable regions.