doi: 10.18178/ijiet.2026.16.10.2735
AI-powered Chatbot for Cultural Learning: The Case of Kompang
Vinothini Kasinathan1,*
,
Samantha Tee Ker Xin1 ,
Aida Mustapha2 ,
Lim Jia Leong1 ,
Tan Wai Ken1 ,
I-Hsien Ting3
- 1School of Computing, Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation, Jalan Teknologi 5, Taman Teknologi Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- 2Faculty of Computing, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia
- 3Department of Information Management, National University of Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Manuscript receivedOctober 28, 2025
- revisedJanuary 25, 2026
- acceptedMarch 6, 2026
- publishedOctober 26, 2026
Abstract
The kompang is a traditional single-headed frame drum that holds significant cultural value within the Malay Archipelago. However, modernization and the proliferation of digital entertainment technologies have contributed to a decline in both its popularity and the number of skilled practitioners. Contributing factors include limited access to qualified instructors, fragmented scheduling and coordination of training sessions, and the absence of interactive learning platforms. This study presents Pak Bung, an intelligent chatbot system designed to promote cultural preservation and public engagement with kompang music through adaptive digital learning. The chatbot Leverages Large Language Models (LLMs), cloud-based knowledge retrieval, and interactive dialogue systems to deliver personalized educational content across seven curated topics. Features include multimodal tutorials, gamified quizzes, multimedia demonstrations, and real-time scheduling for consultations with human experts. A chatbot usability testing was conducted to assess usability, engagement, and perceived usefulness for learning, with results indicating that Pak Bung can successfully support user engagement, accessibility, and perceived learning support in cultural knowledge exploration. The system aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) by integrating AI-driven pedagogical interaction into the preservation of traditional musical knowledge.
Keywords
- kompang
- chatbot
- education technology
- cultural heritage preservation
- interactive learning
How to Cite
Vinothini Kasinathan, Samantha Tee Ker Xin, Aida Mustapha, Lim Jia Leong, Tan Wai Ken, and I-Hsien Ting, "AI-powered Chatbot for Cultural Learning: The Case of Kompang," International Journal of Information and Education Technology, vol. 16, no. 10, pp. 2812-2823, 2026. https://doi.org/10.18178/ijiet.2026.16.10.2735
Copyright & License
Copyright © 2026 by the authors. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited (CC BY 4.0).