Leaf Prints on Fabric: Ecoprint Batik Training as a Vehicle for Student Creativity

Abstract

This community service program aims to evaluate the outcomes of ecoprint batik training  on students’ creativity, including conceptual understanding, application of ideas, and the ability to produce visual works based on natural materials. The evaluation employed conceptual understanding questionnaires, practical skill observation sheets, and ecoprint product assessment rubrics to measure participants’ knowledge, technical abilities, and creative outputs. The initiative responds to the growing need for creative, adaptive, and sustainability-oriented learning models in higher education. A one-day training was conducted on 21 April 2025 at Universitas Halu Oleo, involving 58 students from the Early Childhood Teacher Education Study Program. The implementation employed a structured approach comprising theoretical instruction, hands-on practice, and evaluation. The results of the program evaluation showed that 90% of participants demonstrated an understanding of basic creativity concepts, while 95% demonstrated an understanding of basic ecoprint concepts. All participants completed the ecoprint process, and 95% produced distinctive patterns through material selection, visual composition, and pigment transfer. Participants also demonstrated collaborative engagement and appreciation of local natural resources and environmentally responsible art practices. These findings indicate that the training supported immediate dimensions of creative capacity, particularly the application of ideas, experimentation with natural materials, and production of varied visual outcomes. In conclusion, ecoprint batik training serves as a relevant and sustainable model for fostering student creativity and appreciation of environmentally sustainable and culturally relevant art practices. Future programs should extend the duration, incorporate product development workshops, and involve community partners to broaden impact and ensure long-term continuity.