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:Vocational education requires teachers with optimal performance in order to produce graduates who are competent and prepared to face the demands of the workforce. Teacher performance is influenced by various factors, including…
luding principal leadership and teacher workload, both of which are directly related to the implementation of instructional duties and school administration. This study focuses on the influence of principal leadership on teacher performance, the influence of teacher workload on teacher performance, and the simultaneous influence of both variables on teacher performance at SMKN 1 Puloampel. The study employed a quantitative method with a descriptive survey approach involving 55 teachers selected through a total sampling technique. Data were collected through observation and questionnaire distribution using a Likert scale and were subsequently analyzed using the t-test and F-test with the assistance of IBM SPSS Statistics 24.0. The findings revealed that principal leadership did not have a positive and significant effect on teacher performance, whereas teacher workload had a positive and significant effect on teacher performance. Simultaneous testing further indicated that principal leadership and teacher workload collectively did not exert a significant effect on teacher performance. These findings demonstrate that teacher performance is more strongly influenced by internal factors such as professional competence, work motivation, teaching experience, and task management abilities. The novelty of this study lies in the finding that a proportionally organized teacher workload is capable of enhancing teachers’ discipline, responsibility, and work effectiveness, while principal leadership has not yet demonstrated a significant influence on teacher performance within the vocational school environment. This study contributes to the development of vocational education management through the strengthening of teacher professionalism and balanced workload management.
Abstract:Twenty-first-century science education requires students not only to master scientific concepts but also to possess critical thinking skills to analyze, evaluate, and solve problems logically. The reality in schools indicates…
cates that science learning is still frequently teacher-centered, resulting in students’ conceptual understanding and critical thinking skills not being optimally developed. This study aimed to determine the relationship between conceptual understanding and critical thinking skills among eighth-grade students of SMP Negeri Karoaipi on the topic of the human respiratory system. The study employed a quantitative approach with a correlational research design. The research sample consisted of 25 students selected through a convenience sampling technique. Data were collected using descriptive tests of conceptual understanding and critical thinking skills, while data analysis was conducted through descriptive statistics, normality testing, and simple linear regression analysis using SPSS. The findings revealed that students’ conceptual understanding was categorized as good, with a mean score of 77.36, while critical thinking skills were also categorized as good, with a mean score of 78.76. Regression analysis demonstrated a correlation coefficient of 0.045 and an R Square value of 0.002, indicating that the relationship between conceptual understanding and critical thinking skills was classified as very low. These findings suggest that critical thinking skills are influenced not only by conceptual mastery but also by learning strategies, problem-solving experiences, analytical activities, and student engagement during science learning. The novelty of this study lies in the empirical finding that strong conceptual mastery does not necessarily correspond to high critical thinking skills among junior high school students in rural schools, particularly on the topic of the human respiratory system.
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: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:The development of digital technology has transformed how elementary school children interact with information through the dominance of images, videos, and interactive media, while instructional practices remain largely…
text-based and verbal. The mismatch between children’s neurocognitive characteristics and text-based instructional design creates a pedagogical gap that may hinder memory retention, attention, and learning motivation. This study aims to analyze the urgency of visual-based learning and the impact of textual design incompatibility on student learning outcomes in the digital era. The study employs a systematic literature review approach by synthesizing findings from neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and multimedia learning theory relevant to elementary education. The results indicate that the visual system has a strong neurobiological foundation, supports faster information processing, enhances long-term retention, and strengthens the formation of conceptual mental models when integrated with verbal narration. The findings also reveal that digitalization without instructional design grounded in cognitive principles risks generating excessive cognitive load and the screen inferiority effect. The study concludes that adaptive visual integration based on multimedia principles and cognitive load management constitutes a fundamental strategy for improving the quality of elementary education. The novelty of this research lies in its integrative neuro-pedagogical approach, which systematically connects neuroscience findings, learning theories, and instructional design practices to reconstruct the paradigm of twenty-first-century learning.
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.