Sutarto Sutarto’s research while affiliated with Institut Agama Islam Negeri Bengkulu and other places

This study aims to explore the strategic role of teachers in building students' enthusiasm for learning amidst modern challenges, such as technological developments, the impact of the pandemic, and social change. The research methodology uses library research with content analysis to review relevant literature on learning strategies and student motivation. The results of the study indicate that the role of teachers as facilitators, motivators, inspirators, guides, and evaluators is very influential in increasing students' learning motivation. Innovative and adaptive teachers are able to create a fun, relevant, and interactive learning environment, so that students are more motivated to learn. This study highlights the importance of professional training for teachers and the integration of educational technology to overcome obstacles faced in the learning process.

The Merdeka Curriculum is a diverse intra-curricular learning framework that maximizes content to allow learners ample time to understand concepts and strengthen competencies. This curriculum demands independence and creativity in teaching and learning, necessitating engaging and effective educational media. The FLS offers innovative solutions for creating interactive and engaging digital teaching materials. This study aims to assist teachers at Ma'arif Perintis 04 Senior High School in Tempurejo Village, Jember, in utilizing and implementing FLS to develop quality teaching materials in the era of the Merdeka Curriculum. The training activity approach is Participatory Rural Appraisal. With FLS, the learning process is expected to become more engaging, interactive, and effective, enhancing student interest and learning outcomes. The research methodology included identifying the needs and challenges faced by teachers in preparing teaching materials, training in flipbook creation using specific software, intensive mentoring in digital teaching material development, and evaluating and providing feedback on the created materials. The results indicated improved teachers' competencies in creating digital teaching materials using FLS. Teachers were able to produce appealing flipbooks that aligned with the Merdeka Curriculum standards. Moreover, using flipbooks in learning has increased student participation and motivation. Evaluations were conducted through observation, interviews, and questionnaires to assess the effectiveness of the training and the implementation of FLS in teaching. The findings show that this mentorship successfully improved the quality of the teaching materials. The hope for the future is that teachers can be more creative and innovative in creating learning in the classroom. Top of Form

This study aims to analyze the role of teachers in guiding morals and knowledge in Islamic education, and explore how the balance between these two aspects can be applied in the context of modern education. This study uses a literature study method by reviewing various library sources related to Islamic education, the role of teachers, and the integration of morals in learning. Data were obtained from books, journal articles, and other sources relevant to the research topic. The results of the study indicate that teachers have a very important role in guiding students' morals and knowledge. Islamic education teaches the importance of balance between these two aspects, where teachers not only teach knowledge, but also shape students' characters according to Islamic values. The main challenge faced is how to integrate morals with knowledge in the increasingly modern and developing world of education. Teachers are expected to be able to carry out dual tasks in educating morals and knowledge to students. Therefore, an effective strategy in combining these two elements is very important to produce a generation with noble morals and knowledge. This study provides important insights into the strategic role of teachers in creating a balance between knowledge and morals in Islamic education.

This research aims to analyze student needs, expectations, and policy strategies for improving academic services to support the timely completion of studies. The type of research used is qualitative with a case study approach. The research informants were 21 students of the IAIN Curup Postgraduate Islamic Religious Education Doctoral Program and four managers of the IAIN Curup Postgraduate Islamic Religious Education and Doctoral Study Program. Data collection techniques used semi-structured interviews. The validity of the data obtained was checked using source triangulation and analyzed using the Miles and Huberman analysis model, which consists of three stages: data condensation, data presentation, and conclusion. The research results found that students' needs and expectations to support the completion of their studies on time can be grouped into two, namely academic services carried out by lecturers and academic services carried out by education staff. To ensure they complete their studies on time, students need and expect academic services that are professional, precise, and fast. The policy strategy implemented by policymakers to support the completion of studies on time is to improve educational services to student needs and expectations by establishing quality policies.

Critical thinking is a skill needed to solve problems in the 21st century. However, the critical thinking skills of Indonesian students are still considered low, as confirmed by PISA research results. This low critical thinking ability is due to students' limited understanding of factual and conceptual information when solving problems. One learning model that can serve as an alternative to improving students' critical thinking skills is the Inquiry model with a STEM approach. In this model, students are actively engaged in learning, as the process focuses on them. Additionally, the STEM approach enhances students' critical thinking abilities because it integrates various fields of knowledge, enabling students to think from multiple perspectives and become accustomed to critical thinking. The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of the Inquiry learning model with a STEM approach on students' critical thinking skills. This quantitative research was conducted at Mts 1 Jember during the even semester of the 2024/2025 academic year. The sample included class VIII B as the experimental group and class VIII D as the control group, selected through purposive sampling. Data collection techniques involved tests as the primary instrument, with supporting instruments such as observation, interviews, and documentation. Data analysis was conducted using the Independent Sample t-test, which showed a significance value (2-tailed) of 0.000 < 0.05. The results indicated a moderate increase in students' critical thinking skills, with a score of 0.68. From this analysis, it can be concluded that the use of the Inquiry learning model with a STEM approach has a significant positive impact on improving students' critical thinking skills.

Character education is critical in developing students’ attitudes and personalities. One approach that can be used is through teacher interaction with students. This study aims to reveal teachers’ approach to interacting with students to develop good character values. This study is a qualitative study with a phenomenological approach. The research informants were eight teachers who intensively interacted with students for over a year. The data collection technique used in-depth interviews. The data analysis technique used was interpretative phenomenological analysis (AFI), which includes three stages: horizontalization, developing meaning units, and presenting the phenomenon’s essence. To obtain valid data, researchers conducted source triangulation. The study results showed that intensive teacher-student interaction, both classically and individually, can provide understanding and foster students’ awareness of having good character. Therefore, to build students’ character in a better direction, teachers are strongly advised to constantly interact with students intensively, both classically and individually, to foster sensitivity and students’ means of having good character.

The Suku Anak Dalam (SAD) community in Sumatra, Indonesia, faced unique educational challenges influenced by cultural, social, and economic factors. This study aimed to explore and confirm the influential relationships among cultural practices, social support, economic factors, and SAD’s perceptions of religious education. A total of 356 literate SAD from some regions in Sumatra were sampled. Utilizing Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), data were collected through a structured questionnaire translated into the local language. The results revealed that cultural practices positively impacted SAD’s perceptions of religious education (H1, t=7.550, p=0.000) and significantly enhanced social support (H4, t=3.870, p=0.000). Social support positively influenced perceptions of religious education (H2, t=4.880, p=0.000), while economic factors had a strong positive effect on both perceptions of religious education (H3, t=9.119, p=0.000) and social support (H5, t=31.108, p=0.000). These findings highlight the necessity of integrating cultural, social, and economic aspects in educational policies for the SAD community. The study's novelty lies in its structural model, offering deep insights into religious education perceptions. Future research should explore similar dynamics in other indigenous communities using longitudinal and qualitative methods.

This study aims to examine the implementation of the Merdeka Belajar Curriculum in the Aqidah Akhlak subject at MIS GUPPI 11 Talang Rimbo and the factors influencing its application. The research method used is descriptive qualitative, with data collection techniques including participatory observation, interviews, and documentation. The results show that the implementation of the Merdeka Belajar Curriculum is well-structured, utilizing various teaching methods and supported by teacher training. Internal factors such as school facilities, infrastructure, and teacher competence play significant roles, while obstacles like limited teaching resources, inadequate training, and resistance to change need to be addressed. The study concludes that strong support from the school, government, and community is essential to improve facilities, provide continuous teacher training, and conduct proper evaluations. Recommendations include enhancing facilities, continuous training, administrative support, and ongoing evaluation to improve the implementation of the Merdeka Belajar Curriculum.

This research aims to recognize student learning modalities and analyze the implications of learning modalities in optimizing PAI learning, because by recognizing them, students can determine learning styles, teachers can determine learning strategies and methods and parents can educate and treat children according to their respective learning styles. In this research there is David Kolb's learning modality theory, he believes that there are 4 learning styles, namely diverger style, assimilator style, converger style, accommodator style, while Richard Bandler, John Grinder, and Michael Grinder put forward 3 learning styles, namely Visual, Auditory and kinesthetic. This paper uses the library research method, with a qualitative approach, data collection techniques namely documentation, data taken in the form of primary data from articles, books and theses related to the theme of learning modalities and implications in PAI learning and secondary data from the Koran an interpretation. The conclusion is that the implications of learning modalities for optimizing PAI learning are that teachers can determine the learning curriculum, can determine learning resources, can determine learning materials, can choose media that are suitable for students, use varied methods, can carry out assessment strategies and develop student potential, and schools also contribute in providing school facilities.