Preparing 21st Century Professional Educator, Islamic Religious Education Program at UIN Malang Equips Students with Merdeka Curriculum in the Society 5.0 Era

PAI FITK UIN Malang – Not only are students satisfied with classroom learning, but they can also express themselves in forums and academic freedom through guest lectures, seminars, and conferences. At the end of the Even Semester 2022/2023, the Islamic Religious Education Program of FITK UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang study program held a Guest Lecturer event titled "Islamic Religious Education Teacher Strategies in Implementing the Merdeka Curriculum in the Society 5.0 Era" by inviting Prof. Dr. Eva Latipah, M.Si, the general chairman of the Association of Indonesian Islamic Religious Education Study Programs (PP-PAI-I) as well as a Professor and head of the Islamic Religious Education Program at UIN Sunan Kalijaga on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the 5th Floor Auditorium of the Ir. Soekarno Building.

This guest lecture was attended by more than 300 students of the Islamic Religious Education Program. In the opening remarks by the Head of the Study Program, it was stated that the policy of implementing the Merdeka Curriculum is the latest regulation from the government through the Ministry of Education and Culture that must be responded to by teacher training students, such as those in the PAI study program, to immediately adjust and adapt early. "PAI students must be adaptive to the changing regulations, especially the implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum, which is currently a hot topic among teachers in the country," said Mujtahid, the Head of the PAI Study Program.

At the beginning of her presentation, the speaker touched on the importance of digital literacy, which changes everyone's mindset and is most impactful on the teaching profession. "Currently, everyone uses smartphones as communication tools and at the same time transactions, and interactions that reach all levels. "Students, as chosen members of the academic community, must equip themselves with aspects of digital literacy to play a significant role in societal change. These abilities include Smart technology, Smart government, Smart environment, Smart economy, Smart institution, and (6) Smart people," said Prof. Eva Latipah.

Lebih lanjut, Prof. Eva melempar gagasan pentingnya sekolah memfasilitasi siswa sesuai dengan bakat dan minat sesuai dengan kurikulum merdeka. Kurikulum saat ini memberikan ruang kebebasan kepada guru dan siswa untuk menentukan tujuan pembelajaran, sesuai dengan tingkat atau fase peserta didik. “Kemerdekaan belajar, yang salahsatu misinya adalah memberi kesempatan kepada mahasiswa untuk belajar sesuai dengan bakat dan minatnya, mampu mendorong mahasiswa untuk mengembangkan potensi mahasiswa (sebagai generasi milenial) dalam bidang teknologi”, pasalnya.

The strategy of Islamic Religious Education teachers in implementing the Merdeka Curriculum is currently supported by artificial intelligence (AI) products. Islamic Religious Education teachers must be digitally literate, and able to access big data from Internet of Things (IoT) transactions to be used as teaching materials, making it easier to explain material that has traditionally been difficult for teachers to convey. The presence of artificial intelligence helps teachers create a contextual, up-to-date, creative, innovative, and engaging learning process for students. [mj]