Improving Student Engagement and Outcomes Through a Digital Project-Based Learning Model in Islamic Education

Abstract

Conventional, teacher-centered instruction in Islamic education (PAI) remains a persistent barrier to student engagement and learning outcomes, particularly for abstract topics such as belief in the Prophets and Messengers of Allah, while research on digital learning models that integrate social media publication as an authentic assessment in PAI remains very limited. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a digital project-based learning (PjBL) model, in which Instagram served as the publication platform for an authentic assessment task and a vehicle for digital citizenship learning, in improving student engagement and learning outcomes in Islamic education at SMP Negeri 1 Ciwidey. The study employed Classroom Action Research across two cycles (31 students in Cycle I; 27 in Cycle II), with data collected through observation checklists, an essay-based online quiz, and a digital project assessment rubric, analyzed descriptively and quantitatively. Results showed significant improvement: average engagement rose from 59.17% (Cycle I) to 78.33% (Cycle II), and the proportion of students below the KKM dropped from 25.80% to 0%. These findings indicate that the Instagram-based digital PjBL model is not only academically effective but also provides an alternative instructional model for integrating digital literacy and Islamic character education.