Shaping Character Through Islamic Education: A Systematic Review of Instructional Design Approaches

Abstract

Character education in elementary schools has a strategic role in shaping students’ personality and moral character. Islamic Religious Education (PAI) serves as a primary medium for internalizing Islamic values so that they are not only understood cognitively but are also manifested in students’ attitudes and daily behavior. Based on this background, the focus of this research includes the strengthening of character in the objectives and content of PAI, the principles of effective instructional design, value-based learning approaches and methods, the role of teachers in character formation, and the assessment of students’ attitudes and character. The purpose of this study is to identify the design of Islamic Religious Education learning that is oriented toward character strengthening. This research employs a library research method with a descriptive-analytical approach by examining various relevant scholarly sources. The results of the study indicate that character strengthening should be designed in an integrative and holistic manner through the principles of role modeling and habituation. It should be developed through contextual, value-based, and reflective learning approaches, and supported by participatory methods and continuous authentic assessment in order to form students who are faithful and possess noble character