Publication Search

The presence of Generation Z, who grew up entirely in the digital era, has triggered a fundamental transformation in Muslim religious practices, where social media has replaced conventional religious institutions as the primary source of religious information. This condition creates a paradox: Gen Z has become a generation that is highly religious online, yet is often disconnected from physical communities and traditional religious authorities. This study aims to analyze the character of Muslim Gen Z religiosity, identify its forming factors, and examine the impact of the digital era on their religiosity. This study employed a descriptive qualitative approach using a library research method. The findings indicate that Muslim Gen Z religiosity is characterized by personalization, flexibility, and digital spirituality, strongly influenced by social media. These characteristics are shaped by massive digital technology accessibility, the effectiveness of contextual Islamic preaching on platforms such as TikTok, as well as spiritual needs and social pressure from the digital environment. The digital era brings positive impacts in the form of increased accessibility and religious literacy, but also negative impacts including shallow religious understanding, vulnerability to information bias, and potential exposure to extreme ideologies. This study implies the importance of an integrated digital religious literacy strategy through critical thinking-based Islamic Religious Education curriculum reform, enhancement of educators' digital capacity, and cross-sector collaboration to strengthen Gen Z's moderate and reflective religious understanding.

This study examines teachers’ strategies in instilling citizenship values among students to develop democratic character and social responsibility. The background of this study is rooted in the increasing need to strengthen students’ civic awareness and character in the face of rapid social and technological changes. The objective of this research is to identify and analyze effective strategies used by teachers in integrating citizenship values into the learning process. This study employs a library research method by analyzing various relevant academic sources, including journals, books, and scholarly articles related to citizenship education and character development. The findings indicate that effective strategies include student-centered learning approaches, the integration of character education into civic education, the use of inquiry-based learning methods, and the utilization of technology to enhance student engagement. Additionally, extracurricular activities and a democratic classroom environment play a significant role in reinforcing students’ understanding and application of citizenship values. These strategies contribute to the development of students’ critical thinking, participation skills, and social awareness. The implications of this study suggest that teachers need to continuously innovate and adapt their teaching strategies to meet the evolving needs of students and societal demands. Furthermore, educational institutions should provide adequate support and resources to optimize the implementation of citizenship education in fostering responsible and democratic citizens.

This study aims to analyze the structure, meaning, and values ​​of Malay culture in the animated film Upin & Ipin episode "Pesta Pantun", and its implications in learning for junior high school students in Riau. The method used is qualitative with a content analysis approach. The research data in the form of 19 pantuns were collected through listening and note-taking techniques, then analyzed based on the structure (sampiran and content), meaning, and cultural values. The results show that advice pantuns have a complete structure and function to convey moral values, humorous pantuns are flexible as a medium of entertainment, and riddle pantuns are relatively consistent and function to develop critical thinking skills. In terms of meaning, pantuns contain explicit and implicit messages that reflect the values ​​of politeness, togetherness, intelligence, and respect for Malay traditions. The implications of this study indicate that the use of animation media in pantun learning can increase student engagement and understanding contextually, so it is relevant to be applied to junior high school students in Riau.

This community engagement initiative was prompted by students’ limited understanding of how to package local content into educational products with economic value, as well as the suboptimal integration of entrepreneurial values into teaching. The aim of this initiative is to foster an entrepreneurial spirit among students through edupreneurship, developed in the form of an exhibition based on local product. The method employed was the Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach, which involved students as active participants in the training, production, and marketing of local products, as well as in the organisation of the exhibition. The activity began with training on the basic concepts of edupreneurship, product packaging, and marketing strategies. The exhibition showcased various creative products such as food & beverage, eco bodycare, eco living style, and fashion accesories featuring local product motifs. This activity successfully enhanced students’ capacity for critical thinking, innovation, and productive collaboration. An entrepreneurship talk show held concurrently further strengthened students’ motivation and entrepreneurial insights. The results of the activity demonstrated that the management  exhibition effectively served as a medium for transforming local product such as food & beverage, eco bodycare, ecoliving style, fashion accesories learning into a contextual, practical, and economically valuable experience through the edupreneurship approach.

This study starts from the observation that Christian education is still often delivered in a one-way, top-down manner. As a result, learners are less actively engaged in understanding their faith and social lives. Paulo Freire’s ideas on critical education offer an approach that emphasizes dialogue, participation, and social change. This study aims to examine Christian educational theology through Freire’s perspective and to explore how his ideas can be applied in learning processes. A qualitative approach was used, employing library research methods—reading, note-taking, and analyzing written sources related to Freire’s thought and Christian educational theology. The findings indicate that Freire’s approach can shift education from teacher-centered to learner-centered. Learning becomes more dialogical, encouraging critical thinking and deeper understanding of reality. Christian education then focuses not only on knowledge of faith but also on character development and spiritual life. Consequently, Christian education should be developed to be more open, participatory, and dialogical through activities such as group discussions, open Q&A sessions, and faith reflection. This enables learners to grow in faith while developing stronger social awareness. Future research is recommended to study the direct application of Freire’s ideas in Christian educational institutions.

This study aims to examine the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in learning to write scientific papers and its impact on the level of originality of students in the Indonesian Language and Literature Education Study Program (PBSI) Semester VI at Bina Bangsa University. This study uses a qualitative method with a descriptive approach, which was conducted through reference searches and interviews with 30 of the total 35 students. The results of the study indicate that AI is utilized functionally as an aid in the writing process, such as compiling outlines, paraphrasing, developing ideas, and reviewing writing. Based on the interview results, the use of AI platforms is dominated by Chat GPT at 50%, followed by Perplexity at 27%, and Gemini.ai at 23%. These findings indicate that students do not rely on a single platform, but rather utilize various technologies adaptively according to their needs. In terms of discussion, the use of AI has a positive impact in the form of improved writing quality, time efficiency, development of creative ideas, increased digital literacy, and the provision of instant feedback. However, there are also challenges that arise, such as the potential for decreased originality, dependence on AI, the risk of violating academic ethics, information bias, and data privacy issues. Therefore, AI should be used as a tool, not a substitute for students' critical thinking skills. This research emphasizes the importance of using AI wisely, critically, and responsibly so that students can produce original, high-quality, and integrated scientific work in the digital age.

The rapid development of digital technology has transformed patterns of communication, learning processes, and the ways believers access religious information in daily life. While this transformation provides easier access to information, it also fosters an instant culture characterized by fast, brief, and less reflective information consumption. This condition poses significant challenges for the Church, particularly in faith formation, as it may weaken the depth of believers’ understanding of faith. This study aims to examine the role of literate catechesis as a response to the instant culture of the digital era, while also exploring the opportunities offered by digital media in faith proclamation. This research employs a qualitative approach using a literature review method based on relevant academic sources. The findings indicate that literate catechesis plays a crucial role in fostering mature faith through reading, reflection, and critical thinking processes, enabling believers not only to consume information but also to internalize and live out their faith more deeply. On the other hand, digital media offers significant opportunities to develop catechesis that is broader, more participatory, and contextually relevant. Integrating reflective depth with creative digital approaches is essential to ensure that faith formation remains both meaningful and relevant within an increasingly instant-oriented culture.

The development of digital technology in the Society 5.0 era presents both challenges and opportunities in history teaching, particularly regarding teachers’ ability to integrate technology and adapt to changes in students’ learning styles. This study aims to analyse the challenges faced by teachers and the strategies employed in digital-based history teaching. The method used is a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) employing the PRISMA approach, involving the stages of identification, screening, eligibility assessment, and inclusion of scientific articles published between 2020 and 2025. From the selection process, 25 relevant articles were identified for qualitative descriptive analysis. The findings indicate that teachers’ digital literacy levels remain at a moderate level and are unevenly distributed, thereby affecting the sub-optimal integration of technology into teaching. Furthermore, changes in students’ learning styles which are increasingly technology-oriented require more interactive and contextual pedagogical innovations. On the other hand, the use of digital media has proven capable of enhancing student motivation and learning outcomes, although this is still hindered by limitations in infrastructure and teachers’ technical competencies. The abundance of historical information on the internet also poses challenges regarding the validity of sources, thus necessitating the strengthening of digital literacy and critical thinking. The implications of this research underscore the importance of the ongoing development of teachers’ digital skills, the improvement of educational facilities, and the implementation of innovative teaching models to ensure that history teaching becomes more relevant and effective, and is capable of fostering critical thinking skills in pupils in the digital age.

This study aims to examine the application of a modified direct learning strategy combined with the demonstration method to improve students' cognitive abilities. The direct learning strategy is an approach that emphasizes the systematic and gradual delivery of material, so that students can understand concepts in a more structured manner. However, in practice, this strategy needs to be modified to be more engaging and appropriate to the characteristics of students. The demonstration method is used as a form of reinforcement in the learning process, where students not only receive information verbally but also directly observe the processes, events, or concepts being studied. This allows students to gain a more concrete and meaningful learning experience. Modifications to the learning strategy are carried out through adjustments to models, methods, media, and learning facilities and infrastructure to optimally support the achievement of learning objectives. Students' cognitive abilities are the main focus of this study, which include aspects of knowledge, understanding, application, analysis, evaluation, and creation according to Bloom's taxonomy. With the implementation of appropriate learning strategies, students are expected to be able to develop more active and critical thinking skills. The results of the study indicate that a modified direct learning strategy with the demonstration method has the potential to significantly improve students' cognitive abilities. Therefore, this approach can be used as an alternative, effective learning strategy to create a more interactive, engaging, and meaningful learning process.

This study aims to analyze the effect of the inquiry learning strategy on students' critical thinking skills in Islamic Education (PAI) learning. The research employed a quantitative approach using an experimental design to examine the effectiveness of the strategy in improving students’ learning outcomes. The subjects of the study consisted of students who were divided into two groups, namely an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group received instruction through the inquiry learning strategy, while the control group was taught using conventional teaching methods commonly applied in classroom learning activities. Data collection was carried out through critical thinking tests and classroom observations to obtain comprehensive information regarding students’ learning processes and achievements. The results of the study indicate that students taught using the inquiry learning strategy experienced a significant improvement in their critical thinking skills compared to students who learned through conventional methods. Therefore, the inquiry learning strategy is proven to be effective in enhancing students’ critical thinking skills in PAI learning. This study is expected to become a useful reference for educators in developing more innovative, interactive, and student-centered learning strategies in the educational process.

This study aims to critically analyze bioethanol production from water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) based on previous research findings and to develop a project-based learning design for SMA/SMK students. This study employs a qualitative approach using a literature review method by analyzing relevant scientific articles published in the last five years. Data were collected through documentation and analyzed using descriptive qualitative techniques, including data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The findings indicate that bioethanol production efficiency is strongly influenced by pretreatment methods, fermentation conditions, and process control, with yields generally categorized as low to moderate. Previous studies also reveal that project-based learning significantly enhances students’ conceptual understanding and critical thinking skills. Based on the synthesis of these findings, this study proposes a structured project-based learning design that integrates bioethanol production as a contextual learning medium. The implications of this study emphasize the importance of aligning technical feasibility, educational objectives, and sustainability principles in developing science-based learning projects in secondary education.

Social Studies (IPS) learning in elementary schools plays an essential role in developing students’ critical thinking skills and civic attitudes as part of 21st-century competencies. However, in practice, IPS learning is still commonly teacher-centered and lacks contextual learning experiences, resulting in low student engagement and limited development of higher-order thinking skills. This study aims to analyze the implementation of Project-Based Learning (PjBL) in IPS learning to enhance critical thinking skills and civic attitudes of grade VI students at SDN Prekbun. The research employed a qualitative approach with a case study design. Data were collected through classroom observations, semi-structured interviews with teachers, students, school principals, and parents, as well as documentation of learning activities. Data analysis was conducted using the interactive model of Miles and Huberman, including data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing and verification. The findings indicate that the implementation of PjBL effectively enhances students’ active participation, critical thinking skills in analyzing social issues, and civic attitudes such as responsibility, cooperation, and social awareness. Learning becomes more meaningful as students are directly involved in contextual, collaborative, and problem-based project activities. Despite these positive outcomes, several challenges were identified, including limited learning facilities, time management constraints, and variations in students’ confidence levels. This study implies that PjBL is an effective instructional model for strengthening character education and developing 21st-century skills in elementary social studies learning

A mid the growing complexity of contemporary education, the challenge of integrating intellectual achievement with moral and spiritual development has become increasingly urgent. This study examines educational strategies in the Qur’an through the perspective of tafsir tarbawi, focusing on four core approaches: exemplary conduct, advice, dialogue, and storytelling. The research aims to explore how the Qur’an presents pedagogical methods that not only convey knowledge but also shape character and internalize values in learners. Employing a qualitative library research design with thematic and tafsir tarbawi approaches, this study analyzes relevant Qur’anic verses and supporting scholarly literature. The findings reveal that the Qur’an offers a holistic and dynamic model of education in which exemplary conduct functions as a behavioral model, advice serves as a means of value internalization, dialogue promotes reflective and critical thinking, and storytelling strengthens moral awareness through narrative experience. These strategies are interconnected and operate across cognitive, affective, and behavioral domains. The study concludes that Qur’anic educational strategies remain highly relevant for contemporary Islamic education, particularly in strengthening character formation, reflective learning, and the integration of values in educational practice.

Group-based learning in the classroom plays a vital role in enhancing social interaction, individual responsibility, as well as students' critical thinking and collaborative skills. However, its implementation often faces challenges such as the dominance of certain members, social loafing, low participation, and interpersonal conflicts that hinder group effectiveness. This study aims to comprehensively examine the dynamics of learning groups by integrating four key aspects: the concept of group dynamics based on the Tuckman model, the characteristics of effective groups in cooperative learning, group formation techniques, and conflict management strategies. The research utilizes a qualitative approach with a literature study method, analyzing 25 sources including nationally accredited journals, academic books, and theses published between 2020 and 2024. Data analysis was conducted through reduction, thematic classification, content analysis, and conceptual synthesis. The results indicate that effective group dynamics can be achieved through the Tuckman stages, the application of the five elements of cooperative learning, the selection of appropriate group formation techniques with risk mitigation, and the implementation of the Thomas-Kilmann conflict management styles.The scientific contribution of this research is the development of an integrative model based on these four aspects, which serves as a conceptual framework to strengthen collaborative learning practices in the classroom. Practical implications include the formation of ideal groups consisting of 4–5 students, the establishment of initial group contracts, the use of dual assessment rubrics (individual and group), and peer evaluation mechanisms to enhance accountability and reflection.

In the current digital era, social media has become an open space filled with streams of information, including invalid ones. Santri, as the future generation of the ummah, are required to have critical thinking skills to filter, analyze, and make wise decisions. Islamic boarding schools as traditional Islamic educational institutions are faced with the challenge to remain relevant amidst technological developments. This study aims to: 1) Find out the strategies of Pondok Pesantren Daruttaqwa III Gresik in improving students’ critical thinking skills toward social media developments, 2) Identify supporting and inhibiting factors in the implementation of the strategy, 3) Understand the role of Pondok Pesantren Daruttaqwa III in integrating traditional values with modern approaches to sharpen students’ critical thinking skills. This research uses a qualitative method with a case study approach. Data were collected through observation, interviews, and documentation. The data analysis includes data collection, data reduction, data presentation, and drawing conclusions. The results show that the strategies include: 1) Integration of digital literacy and critical thinking in the formal education curriculum, 2) Character building and supervision in the dormitory environment as a key strategy, 3) Strengthening through extracurricular activities, awareness campaigns, and limited training. Supporting factors include strong leadership, dedication from teachers and administrators, presence of traditional Islamic values as ethical foundations, and increased student awareness. Obstacles include time limitations, lack of structured materials, varying digital literacy levels, and the rapid evolution of social media. The pesantren has successfully integrated Islamic values such as tabayyun, adab, amanah, and husnudzon with modern approaches.

In the current digital era, social media has become an open space filled with streams of information, including invalid ones. Santri, as the future generation of the ummah, are required to have critical thinking skills to filter, analyze, and make wise decisions. Islamic boarding schools as traditional Islamic educational institutions are faced with the challenge to remain relevant amidst technological developments. This study aims to: 1) Find out the strategies of Pondok Pesantren Daruttaqwa III Gresik in improving students’ critical thinking skills toward social media developments, 2) Identify supporting and inhibiting factors in the implementation of the strategy, 3) Understand the role of Pondok Pesantren Daruttaqwa III in integrating traditional values with modern approaches to sharpen students’ critical thinking skills. This research uses a qualitative method with a case study approach. Data were collected through observation, interviews, and documentation. The data analysis includes data collection, data reduction, data presentation, and drawing conclusions. The results show that the strategies include: 1) Integration of digital literacy and critical thinking in the formal education curriculum, 2) Character building and supervision in the dormitory environment as a key strategy, 3) Strengthening through extracurricular activities, awareness campaigns, and limited training. Supporting factors include strong leadership, dedication from teachers and administrators, presence of traditional Islamic values as ethical foundations, and increased student awareness. Obstacles include time limitations, lack of structured materials, varying digital literacy levels, and the rapid evolution of social media. The pesantren has successfully integrated Islamic values such as tabayyun, adab, amanah, and husnudzon with modern approaches.

This study explores the integration of Creativity Education and Growth Mindset in Catholic Religious Education (CRE) at Senior High Schools and examines its alignment with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, focusing on quality and inclusive education. Using a Systematic Literature Review based on the PRISMA 2020 protocol, the study analyzed 1,263 articles from scientific databases, narrowing down to 106 relevant studies. The findings highlight that Creativity Education fosters critical thinking, cognitive flexibility, problem-solving, and the integration of moral and spiritual values. Growth Mindset enhances students’ intrinsic motivation, perseverance, and resilience, creating an adaptive, innovative, and inclusive learning environment. The synthesis led to the development of an integrative learning model, which includes the Creative Reflective Learning Cycle, Faith-Based Project Learning, Creative Growth Dialogue, and Digital Creativity Integration. This model aims to holistically develop students’ cognitive, creative, moral, and spiritual capacities. The study demonstrates that the combination of Creativity Education and Growth Mindset enriches CRE pedagogical practices and supports the development of 21st-century skills, such as critical thinking, collaboration, digital literacy, and moral literacy. It concludes that project-based learning, digital technology integration, and curriculum adjustments are vital steps in improving learning quality and inclusiveness. The study recommends further empirical research to test the effectiveness of the proposed model.

The development of discipline in children should begin at an early age, particularly in managing time for studying, playing, worship, and resting. Simple time management assistance activities are conducted to help children understand the importance of time regulation and to foster disciplined behavior in their daily activities. These activities include introduction sessions, material delivery, question-and-answer sessions, as well as the distribution of gifts and group photo sessions, all carried out in an interactive and participatory manner. The results indicate that children begin to organize their daily schedules, follow instructions, and demonstrate gradual improvements in discipline. The research method used is Participatory Action Research (PAR), which actively involves children, facilitators, and teachers/ustadzah in the stages of planning, implementation, observation, and reflection. This approach enables children to learn by doing, fostering a sense of responsibility, critical thinking skills, and the development of positive habits in a sustainable manner. The activity is also supported by the active participation of teachers/ustadzah and the facilitation team to enhance the effectiveness of the learning process; therefore, simple time management assistance based on the PAR method is effective in fostering discipline and orderliness in children from an early age.

This study aims to examine the effects of applying a Problem-Based Learning (PBL) method combined with PhET simulation tools on enhancing critical thinking skills among eighth-grade students at SMP Negeri 4 Singaraja when learning vibration and wave topics. It adopted a quasi-experimental approach with a Pretest-Posttest setup and non-equivalent control group design. The participant cohort comprised 75 students distributed across two groups: the treatment group (n=38) who engaged in learning activities using PBL supplemented by PhET simulation, and the comparison group (n=37) who received PBL instruction without PhET simulation support. Data collection was conducted through essay-type assessment instruments containing 7 questions designed to evaluate critical thinking competencies based on Ennis' theoretical framework. Data processing employed descriptive statistical analysis, N-Gain Score computation and ANCOVA testing were conducted at a 0.05 significance level. Results showed the treatment group's average Posttest score at 84, compared to 66 for the control group. The ANCOVA produced an F-value of 103.701 (p < 0.001), confirming a statistically significant difference in critical thinking skills between the groups. The adjusted mean Posttest scores were 83.99 for the treatment group and 66.01 for the comparison group, reflecting a differential of 17.99 points. Consequently, the findings substantiate that the integration of PBL with PhET simulation demonstrates greater effectiveness in fostering students' critical thinking skills in comparison to conventional PBL implementation without technology-enhanced simulation assistance.

This research purposes to improve the critical thinking skills of fifth-grade students at UPT SDN 274 Gresik regarding local culture for the 2024/2025 academic year. The methodology used is classroom action research. Data collection techniques were conducted through tests to assess students’ critical thinking skills and observations to assess student and teacher activities. The data analysis used included calculating the average scores from the tests and the results of the observations. The sample used in this research comprised of fifth-grade students at UPT SDN 274 Gresik during the 2024/2025 academic year. The results of the research indicate that the average score on the critical thinking skills test increased from 50.36 in the pre-action phase to 67.14 in Cycle I, and reached 86.43 in Cycle II. The findings of the teacher activity observations displayed an increase from 3.89 in Cycle I to 4.00 in Cycle II. The average results of student activity observations also increased from 68.21 in Cycle I to 86.43 in Cycle II. These results lead to the conclusion that the contextual approach proved effective in improving students’ critical thinking skills regarding local cultural material.