Abstract:The development of digital technology has brought significant changes to Sunday School ministry and children’s faith education in the modern era. Children, as digital native generations, are increasingly connected to visual…
isual media, audiovisual content, and internet use, causing conventional learning methods to become less engaging and less effective in fostering active learner participation. This study aims to analyze Sunday School strategies in addressing the opportunities and challenges of digitalization, the utilization of digital media for children’s spiritual growth, and the roles of teachers, churches, and families in developing relevant and transformative spiritual learning. The research employed a qualitative approach with a library research design enriched through phenomenological analysis of digitalization practices in Sunday School ministry. Data were obtained through a review of literature on Christian educational theology, child pedagogy, digital literacy, and reflective observation of the use of Bible animation videos, social media, and online learning platforms. The findings indicate that the digitalization of Sunday School ministry through Bible animation videos, YouTube, Zoom, Google Meet, and Christian learning applications enhances children’s interest, participation, and understanding of God’s Word through learning experiences that are more interactive, communicative, and contextual. The challenges of digitalization are reflected in gadget-related distractions, digital dependency, reduced learning concentration, and unequal access to technology among certain families. The study concludes that the success of digital Sunday School requires the integration of technology, teacher competence, parental guidance, digital literacy, and continuous spiritual formation. The novelty of this study lies in the development of a digital Sunday School ministry model that integrates technological media, pedagogical strategies, family supervision, and children’s spiritual formation in a holistic manner, thereby ensuring that church ministry remains adaptive, inclusive, and centered on children’s faith development in the digital era.
Abstract:This study was motivated by the low level of professional competence among elementary school teachers despite the fact that most teachers have obtained certification and adequate academic qualifications. Curriculum changes,…
es, advances in educational technology, and the demands of 21st-century learning require teachers to possess adaptive, reflective, and collaborative professional competencies. The research problem focused on the influence of reflective practice and best practice on the professional competence of teachers at A-accredited public elementary schools in Cilegon City. The study employed a quantitative approach with a causal-comparative design involving 105 teachers selected through proportionate stratified random sampling. Data were collected using Likert-scale questionnaires and analyzed through multiple linear regression using EViews 12. The results revealed that reflective practice had a positive and significant effect on teachers’ professional competence, with a t-value of 4.697 and a significance value of 0.000. Best practice also demonstrated a positive and significant effect, with a t-value of 5.065 and a significance value of 0.000. Simultaneous testing indicated that reflective practice and best practice jointly had a significant effect on teachers’ professional competence, with an F-value of 43.72 and a coefficient of determination of 52.2%. The findings confirm that reflective and collaborative cultures are capable of improving teachers’ professional quality continuously through learning evaluation, sharing teaching experiences, and developing innovative instructional strategies. The novelty of this study lies in the simultaneous examination of reflective practice and best practice through a quantitative approach within the context of A-accredited public elementary schools in Cilegon City. The findings also demonstrate that best practice exerts a greater influence than reflective practice on the professional competence of elementary school teachers.
Abstract:This study is motivated by the low level of senior high school students’ critical thinking skills in Biology learning in Indonesia and the urgent need for instructional innovations that effectively foster higher-order thinking…
thinking skills. The primary research problem lies in the inconsistency of findings from previous studies regarding the effectiveness of Project-Based Learning, thus necessitating a comprehensive analysis to obtain more robust and integrated conclusions. The study aims to examine the effect of Project-Based Learning on students’ critical thinking skills and to identify moderating factors influencing this effect through a meta-analysis of 27 relevant studies. The results indicate that Project-Based Learning has a significant impact, with a cumulative effect size of 0.98, categorized as large and consistent, supported by low heterogeneity (I² = 18.70%) and strong resistance to publication bias. The findings further reveal that critical thinking indicators serve as the most dominant moderating factor, while sample size and additional variables do not show significant influence, and the standalone model demonstrates slightly higher effectiveness than combined approaches. The conclusion affirms that Project-Based Learning is effective in enhancing critical thinking skills through contextual, active, and student-centered learning. The novelty of this study lies in the systematic integration of multiple studies through meta-analysis, producing strong empirical evidence, as well as the comprehensive identification of moderating factors that have been rarely explored, thereby contributing both theoretically and practically to evidence-based Biology education development.
Abstract:The paradigm shift in science education necessitates the development of critical thinking skills as a foundation for improving students’ problem-solving abilities; however, empirical conditions indicate that both competencies…
tencies remain low and have not been optimally developed. This study aims to examine the relationship between critical thinking skills and problem-solving abilities among eighth-grade students of SMP Negeri 2 Serui and to determine the degree of their empirical association. The study employed a quantitative approach with a correlational design, utilizing essay-based test instruments analyzed through simple linear regression. The findings reveal that students’ critical thinking and problem-solving abilities are in the low to moderate categories, with mean scores of 14.56 and 28.72, respectively. The linearity test indicates a significant relationship, while regression analysis produces the equation Y = 21.682 + 0.484X with a significance value of 0.009. The correlation coefficient of 0.487 indicates a moderate positive relationship, and the coefficient of determination of 23.7% shows that critical thinking contributes to problem-solving ability. The results confirm that improvements in critical thinking skills directly influence the enhancement of students’ problem-solving abilities, although other factors also contribute. The novelty of this study lies in the presentation of a quantitative relationship model that remains significant despite non-normally distributed data, as well as in establishing critical thinking as a significant yet partial predictor of problem-solving, thereby providing a foundation for developing more structured, contextual, and higher-order thinking-based instructional strategies.
Abstract:Research on leadership styles and the strengthening of school culture in Islamic schools has become increasingly significant in response to the growing demand for educational quality grounded in religious values. School…
principals play a strategic role in developing an adaptive, collaborative, and character-oriented organizational culture that supports students’ holistic development. This study focuses on publication trends, thematic cluster structures, and the tendencies of leadership style implementation in strengthening Islamic school culture based on bibliometric analysis. The study employed a descriptive quantitative approach using bibliometric analysis of 397 Scopus-indexed documents published between 2019-2025. Data collection was conducted using Publish or Perish, while data visualization analysis was performed using VOSviewer through keyword co-occurrence techniques. The findings reveal that school culture and distributed leadership emerged as the most dominant themes and occupied central positions within the bibliometric network. The shift in research paradigms indicates a transition from structural approaches toward participatory, collaborative, and contextual approaches in modern educational leadership. Another finding demonstrates that the concepts of Islamic school and Islamic leadership have not yet appeared prominently in international research networks, thereby indicating a significant research gap regarding the integration of Islamic values into school culture and educational leadership practices. This study concludes that the strengthening of school culture is influenced not only by the administrative capabilities of school principals, but also by their ability to foster collaboration, social relations, innovation, and the continuous internalization of moral values. The novelty of this research lies in the use of bibliometric analysis to systematically map the relationship between leadership styles and Islamic school culture, while also offering a perspective on integrating the values of amanah, shura, and exemplary conduct into modern collaborative leadership models.
Abstract:This study is motivated by changes in the education system due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which have led to the implementation of Limited Face-to-Face Learning (Pembelajaran Tatap Muka Terbatas/PTMT) in schools, thereby requiring…
equiring more adaptive and effective classroom management at SMAN 6 Sinjai. The research problem is how teachers’ classroom management strategies are implemented and the extent of their effectiveness in supporting the learning process under conditions of limited time, interaction, and facilities. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of classroom management during PTMT using a descriptive qualitative approach through observation, interviews, and documentation. The findings indicate that classroom management is categorized as highly effective, with 85% of learning activities implemented as planned, 88% of teachers applying active learning strategies, and 90% of classroom arrangements complying with health protocols, resulting in a 40% reduction in classroom disturbances. Furthermore, 78% of students reported greater comfort in a conducive learning environment, while the utilization of sanitation facilities consistently reached 95%. Although 82% of teachers experienced an increased workload, learning stability was maintained through adaptive strategies and collaboration. The study concludes that the effectiveness of classroom management is determined by the integration of instructional planning, environmental management, and students’ psychosocial adaptation. The novelty of this study lies in the concept of crisis-based adaptive classroom management that simultaneously integrates pedagogical, health, and character-building dimensions, while emphasizing teachers’ dual roles as facilitators and risk managers in the PTMT context. These findings are expected to serve as a reference for developing classroom management practices in secondary schools during crisis and educational transition situations, as well as strengthening more responsive, flexible, and sustainable learning policies aimed at improving student learning outcomes in the current Indonesian educational context.
Abstract:Early childhood is frequently understood as a golden period of development; therefore, the formulation of learning goals becomes a crucial component that influences the direction of children’s behavior, motivation, and engagement…
engagement in the learning process. Problems arise when learning goals are predominantly formulated from an adult perspective, while the characteristics of children’s cognitive development are not fully taken into account, causing learning objectives to be difficult for children to understand and internalize. This study aims to examine the formation of learning goals for early childhood through the perspective of Jean Piaget’s cognitive development theory in order to obtain a conceptual understanding that is more aligned with children’s developmental stages. The research method employs a qualitative approach through a literature review of textbooks and national and international journal articles relevant to learning goals, cognitive development, and early childhood education, which are then analyzed descriptively through processes of identification, classification, and synthesis of theoretical concepts. The findings indicate that learning goals for early childhood tend to be concrete, short-term, contextual, and activity-oriented, and are not yet supported by mature self-regulation abilities. Based on Piaget’s framework, early childhood falls within the preoperational stage; therefore, understanding learning goals is highly dependent on direct experiences, play-based activities, simple symbols, and teacher guidance. The conclusion emphasizes that the design of learning goals must be consciously adjusted to children’s cognitive developmental stages so that learning objectives can be understood, meaningful, and optimally achieved. The novelty of this study lies in the conceptual integration of Piaget’s cognitive development theory with the practical formulation of learning goals in early childhood education as a theoretical–practical foundation for teachers.
Abstract:Schools are positioned as strategic social spaces that play a crucial role in shaping students’ character and social awareness amid the growing complexity of educational challenges in the era of globalization, digitalization,…
zation, and shifting social values. An educational orientation that continues to prioritize academic achievement has generated serious issues, including the weakening of character, low levels of empathy, and declining social concern among students. The research problem addressed in this study concerns how schools can fulfill their function not only as institutions for knowledge transmission, but also as spaces for the sustainable formation of values, attitudes, and social responsibility. This study aims to analyze the role of schools as arenas for character formation and social awareness, as well as to identify relevant educational approaches for internalizing moral, ethical, and social values. A qualitative approach was employed through a literature review with descriptive analysis of scholarly publications, educational policies, and character education practices. The findings indicate that schools function effectively as educational social environments when character values are systematically integrated through the curriculum, pedagogical interactions, school culture, extracurricular activities, and teacher role modeling. Character formation and social awareness become more meaningful when implemented holistically, contextually, and consistently. The conclusion emphasizes that schools bear moral and social responsibility to create a humanistic, participatory educational ecosystem oriented toward the development of students’ holistic personality. The novelty of this scholarly work lies in its conceptual affirmation of the school as a transformative social space that unifies academic dimensions, character development, and social awareness into an inseparable pedagogical whole.
Abstract:This study aims to explore the construction of students’ contextual understanding of the Qur’anic and Hadith texts and their relevance in addressing the challenges of modern life. The research is motivated by the persistence…
sistence of a textual-normative learning paradigm in Islamic-based teacher education institutions, which risks creating a dichotomy between the authority of sacred texts and the dynamics of contemporary issues. Specifically, this study analyzes the development of critical and reflective thinking competencies among students of the PGSD Program at the private higher education institution STKIP Al Islam Tunas Bangsa in interpreting and actualizing the messages of the Qur’an and Hadith in relation to contemporary social issues. The method employed is Classroom Action Research conducted in two cycles, each consisting of the stages of planning, implementation of contextual learning actions, participant observation, and critical reflection. Data were collected through structured observations of classroom discussion dynamics, in-depth analysis of students’ reflective journals, and evaluation of case analysis projects, which were subsequently processed using thematic analysis. The findings reveal a significant transformation in students’ patterns of religious understanding, shifting from a literal approach toward analytical-contextual competence, as evidenced by their ability to relate religious textual messages to current issues such as digital media ethics, social justice, and environmental sustainability. The implications of this study underscore the urgent need to internalize a contextual approach within the Islamic Religious Education curriculum in private higher education institutions in order to build religious literacy that is applicable and adaptive to the changing times.
Abstract:Educational program evaluation serves as a strategic element to ensure the improvement of learning quality at the elementary school level, particularly as schools are required to be adaptive to students’ diverse learning…
ng needs. A major issue frequently encountered is teachers’ limited capacity to implement evaluation models that are simple, sustainable, and relevant as a basis for instructional decision-making. This study aims to analyze the application of simple evaluation through formative and summative approaches as a systematic effort to enhance the quality of learning in elementary schools. The formative approach is employed throughout the instructional process to provide immediate feedback, identify students’ learning difficulties, and adjust teaching strategies in real time, while the summative approach is applied at the end of the instructional period to assess the level of goal attainment and the overall effectiveness of the program. The findings indicate that a balanced implementation of both approaches enables teachers to design learning activities that are more responsive, measurable, and oriented toward continuous improvement. Practically designed simple evaluations also encourage teachers to take an active role as controllers of learning quality rather than merely as curriculum implementers. The conclusion of this study confirms that the integration of formative and summative evaluation in a simple yet systematic manner effectively improves learning quality while strengthening a reflective culture in elementary school settings. The novelty of this study lies in its emphasis on an evaluation model that is easy to apply, contextual, and oriented toward teachers’ daily pedagogical decision-making, thereby offering a practical alternative for elementary schools with limited formal evaluation resources.