Contextual Teaching and Learning in Islamic Religious Education: Exploring Learning Interest and Islamic Character Formation in Vocational High Schools

Abstrak

The low interest of students in PAI subjects in vocational schools is often triggered by teaching methods that are too theoretical and do not touch on the practical aspects of the vocational world. This issue is what underlies this research to delve deeper into how the Contextual Teaching and Learning (CTL) approach can be applied. Through a qualitative-phenomenological lens, the main focus of the research is to examine how learning interest acts as a catalyst in the internalization of Islamic values and the formation of student character. The researcher strives to interpret the learning experience descriptively and interpretively. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, and documentation studies involving one PAI teacher and 32 students at SMK Negeri 40 Jakarta. The research results show that the application of CTL in PAI material, which is of an applicative nature, is able to provide meaningful learning experiences, increase students' affective engagement, and facilitate the emergence of learning interest. Learning Interest serves as a supporting factor that strengthens the process of internalizing religious values, which is reflected in students' attitudes of discipline, responsibility, empathy, and ethical awareness. However, the application of CTL is selective because not all PAI materials can be directly contextualized. This research offers a tentative conceptual model of CTL- Learning Interest -Islamic Character as an interpretative framework in PAI learning at vocational schools.

Kata kunci

• Learning Interest
• contextual teaching and learning
• islamic character
• islamic religious education