Digital-Supported Problem-Based Learning in Islamic Education: Strengthening Students’ Critical Thinking Skills at Al Abdi Bahlias Junior High School
Keywords:
Problem-Based Learning, Digital Learning, Critical Thinking Skills, Islamic Education, 21st Century Learning.Abstract
This study aims to develop and examine the effectiveness of a digital-supported Problem-Based Learning (PBL) model in enhancing students’ critical thinking skills in Islamic Education. This research employed a Research and Development (R&D) approach using the ADDIE model, which includes analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation stages. The participants of this study were secondary school students involved in Islamic Education learning. Data were collected through critical thinking tests, observation sheets, questionnaires, and interviews. The results show that the implementation of the digital-supported PBL model significantly improved students’ critical thinking skills. The average score increased from 64.45 in the pre-test to 81.42 in the post-test, with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). In addition, students demonstrated positive responses toward the learning process, indicating increased engagement and participation. The findings suggest that integrating digital technology with PBL creates an effective and meaningful learning environment that supports the development of higher-order thinking skills. Therefore, this model can be used as an innovative approach in Islamic Education to meet the demands of 21st-century learning.
References
S. R. E. F. A.-K. Chris Joynes, “21st Century Skills: evidence of issues in definition, demand and delivery for development contexts,” United Kingdom, Aug. 2019.
C. F. Bernie Trilling, 21st Century Skills: Learning for Life in Our times. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2009.
Peter A. Facione, “Critical Thinking: What It Is and Why It Counts,” Insight Assessment, pp. 1–28, 2015.
Robert Ennis, “Critical thinking: A streamlined conception,” Teach. Philos., vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 5–24, Mar. 1991.
Danny Abrianto, Siti Sahrapmahita Saragih, “Pendidikan Agama Islam Sebagai Fondasi Resiliensi Spritual Dan Mental Dalam Menghadapi Disrupsi Teknoogi Society 5.0 Di SMK Terpadu Al-Farabi,” PROSIDING FAKULTAS AGAMA ISLAM UNIVERSITAS DHARMAWANGSA, vol. 5, pp. 483–496, 2025, doi: 10.46576/pfai.v5i0.602.
John R. Savery, “Overview of Problem-based Learning: Definitions and Distinctions,” Interdisciplinary Journal of Problem-Based Learning, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 9–20, May 2006, doi: 10.7771/1541-5015.1002.
M. Wahyudi, Model Dan Strategi Pembelajaran PAI. Sukoharjo: Tahta Media Group, 2025.
Howard S. Barrows, “Problem-based learning in medicine and beyond: A brief overview,” New Directions for Teaching and Learning, vol. 1996, no. 68, pp. 3–12, 1996.
S. Cindy E. Hmelo, “Problem-Based Learning: What and How Do Students Learn?,” Educ. Psychol. Rev., vol. Vol. 16, N, no. September, pp. 235–266, 2004.
B. K. P. N. S. N. S. B. J. Desak Made Anggraeni, “Systematic review of problem based learning research in fostering critical thinking skills,” Think. Skills Creat., vol. 49, Sep. 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.tsc.2023.101334.
S. S. C. T. P. M. M. S. R. R. M. A. W. May Hafizah, “Meta-Analysis: The Impact of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) Models on Students’ Critical Thinking Skills,” Journal of Digital Learning and Education, vol. 4, no. 3, Dec. 2024, doi: 10.52562/jdle.v4i3.1393.
Danny Abrianto, T. Ahmad Afandi, “The Implementation of Islamic Religious Education Management in Improving Teacher Competence and Spirituality at SD Rahmat Islamiyah Medan,” Proceedings of International Conference on Islamic Community Studies, pp. 1496–1501, 2025.
Charles Rangkuti, “IMPLEMENTASI METODE BAYANI, BURHANI, TAJRIBI DAN ‘IRFANI DALAM STUDI FILSAFAT PENDIDIKAN ISLAM ,” Waraqat: Jurnal Ilmu-Ilmu Keislaman, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 1–12, Sep. 2016, doi: 10.51590/waraqat.v1i2.37.
S. W. S. S. A. Q. B. S. R. Danny Abrianto. Ainun Mardiyah, “Integration of Problem-Based Learning in Science Learning with Digital Learning to Improve Critical Thinking and Collaboration Skills: A Review ,” Jurnal Pijar MIPA, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 86–96, Feb. 2026, doi: 10.29303/jpm.v21i1.10915.
H. S. Danny Abrianto, “PENGGUNAAN MEDIA PEMBELAJARAN BERBASIS KOMPUTER DAN SIKAP INOVATIF TERHADAP HASIL BELAJAR TEKNOLOGI INFORMASI DAN KOMUNIKASI,” Jurnal Teknologi Informasi dan Komunikasi dalam Pendidikan, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 50–62, 2014, doi: 10.24114/jtikp.v1i1.1869.
Mhd. Habibu Rahman. Faisal Hamid, “Implementation Of Problem-Based Learning Methods In Islamic Education To Strengthen Students’ Critical Thinking Skills At The Simalungun State Islamic School,” Multidisciplinary Indonesian Center Journal(MICJO), vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 2199–2206, Jan. 2026, doi: 10.62567/micjo.v3i1.2305.
A. K. Tomi Apra Santosa, Muhammad Wahyudi, Hadion Wijoyo, “The Role of Islamic Religious Education in Promoting Tolerance and Interfaith Dialogue,” Journal of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Business (RIGGS), vol. Vol. 4 No., no. Agustus-October, pp. 4162–4167, 2025, doi: https://doi.org/10.31004/riggs.v4i3.2578.
D. R. K. Lorin W. Anderson, A Taxonomy for Learning, Teaching, and Assessing: A Revision of Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives. New York: Longman, 2001.
Muhammad Yunan Harahap, “Family Based Education in Educating Youth Character,” Al-Fikru: Jurnal Ilmiah, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 176–187, 2022, doi: 10.51672/alfikru.v16i2.106.
W. M. E. B. W. A. A. S. F. M. Y. Sekar Ayu Aryani, “Exploring Student-Centered Learning as a Tool to Prevent Radicalization in Islamic Junior Schools: A Case Study of Indonesia and Bangladesh ,” Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 329–345, Dec. 2024, doi: 10.14421/jpai.v21i2.10492.
Richard E. Mayer, Multimedia Learning, 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009.
J. P. G. W. R. B. Meredith D. Gall, Educational Research: An Introduction, 7th ed. United State: Allyn and Bacon, 2003.
Robert Maribe Branch, Instructional Design: The ADDIE Approach. New York: Springer, 2009.
J. W. Creswell, Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches. New York: SAGE Publications, 2014.
V. C. Virginia Braun, “Using thematic analysis in psychology,” Qual. Res. Psychol., vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 77–101, Jul. 2006, doi: 10.1191/1478088706qp063oa.
Norman K. Denzin, The Research Act: A Theoretical Introduction to Sociological Methods. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1978.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Mega Dini Fitriani, Danny Abrianto; Charles Rangkuti
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
International Conference On Islamic Community Studies, Education and Science, its website, and the articles published therein are licensed under a 
