Navigating Digital Shifts in Arabic Language Education: A Contextual Inquiry in Indonesian Islamic Primary Schools
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53515/lmtae.v1i1.3Keywords:
Digital technology, Educational innovation, Madrasah Ibtidaiyah, Student motivationAbstract
Background of study: Arabic instruction in Indonesian Madrasah Ibtidaiyah often struggles with low student engagement and conventional methods.
Aims: This research sets out to explore how digital technology is applied in Arabic language teaching at the elementary Islamic school level. It focuses on identifying the types of tools used, their influence on students’ learning experiences, and the obstacles faced during implementation.
Methods: Using a qualitative descriptive approach, this study was carried out in a selected MI in Central Java. Data were collected through class observations, interviews with both teachers and students, and document reviews including lesson plans and instructional content. The analysis followed thematic coding to draw meaningful insights.
Result: The findings reveal that digital platforms like Duolingo, Quizizz, and interactive videos positively affect students' interest and understanding, especially in vocabulary and pronunciation. Many students reported enjoying the learning process more when technology was involved. Nevertheless, issues such as limited access to devices, unstable internet connections, and varying digital competencies among teachers remained significant challenges.
Conclusion: Integrating digital tools into Arabic language education at the MI level contributes positively to students' motivation and learning outcomes. However, its success relies heavily on continuous teacher training, improved infrastructure, and ensuring equal access to technology. A blended model that combines digital and traditional instruction appears to be a practical way forward.
References
Ahmad, S., Mohd Noor, A. S., Alwan, A. A., Gulzar, Y., Khan, W. Z., & Reegu, F. A. (2023). eLearning Acceptance and Adoption Challenges in Higher Education. Sustainability, 15(7), Article 7. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15076190
Alharbi, M. S. (2025). Digital transformation and EFL anxiety: A mixed-methods study on the impact of online learning on the language acquisition psychology of Saudi Arabian students. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 12, 101721. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101721
Allaithy, A., & Zaki, M. (n.d.). Evaluation of AI-generated reading comprehension materials for Arabic language teaching. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 0(0), 1–33. https://doi.org/10.1080/09588221.2025.2474037
Asmayawati, Yufiarti, & Yetti, E. (2024). Pedagogical innovation and curricular adaptation in enhancing digital literacy: A local wisdom approach for sustainable development in Indonesia context. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, 10(1), 100233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joitmc.2024.100233
Assalihee, M., Bakoh, N., Boonsuk, Y., & Songmuang, J. (2024). Transforming Islamic Education through Lesson Study (LS): A Classroom-Based Approach to Professional Development in Southern Thailand. Education Sciences, 14(9), Article 9. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14091029
Baroudi, S., & Shaya, N. (2022). Exploring predictors of teachers’ self-efficacy for online teaching in the Arab world amid COVID-19. Education and Information Technologies, 27(6), 8093–8110. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-022-10946-4
Brauckmann, S., Pashiardis, P., & Ärlestig, H. (2023). Bringing context and educational leadership together: Fostering the professional development of school principals. Professional Development in Education, 49(1), 4–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/19415257.2020.1747105
Chen, G., Wu, J., Ni, Q., Mao, X., Wang, Y.-C., & Yue, J.-J. (2025). Development and validation of an innovation competence instrument for medical mentors in China: A mixed-methods study. BMC Medical Education, 25(1), 1029. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07634-5
Chen, P., Liu, H., Ma, Y., & Jiang, F. (2025). Executives’ postgraduate education and corporate ambidextrous innovation: Evidence from China’s listed companies. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 12(1), 211. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04426-6
Cheng, J., & Qian, J. (2025). Exploring the key factors influencing tourists’ intention to use mobile AR educational applications from the perspective of structural equation modeling. Npj Heritage Science, 13(1), 119. https://doi.org/10.1038/s40494-025-01575-4
Constantinides, M. (2021). Understanding the complexity of system-level leadership in the English schooling landscape. Journal of Educational Administration, 59(6), 688–701. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEA-09-2020-0200
Dong, Y. (2025). Application research on classification and integration model of innovation and entrepreneurship education resources based on GNN-PSO algorithm. Systems and Soft Computing, 7, 200326. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sasc.2025.200326
Earle, A. G., & Leyva-de la Hiz, D. I. (2021). The wicked problem of teaching about wicked problems: Design thinking and emerging technologies in sustainability education. Management Learning, 52(5), 581–603. https://doi.org/10.1177/1350507620974857
Hanushek, E. A., Light, J. D., Peterson, P. E., Talpey, L. M., & Woessmann, L. (2022). Long-run Trends in the U.S. SES—Achievement Gap. Education Finance and Policy, 17(4), 608–640. https://doi.org/10.1162/edfp_a_00383
Herrera-Franco, G., Peña-Villacreses, G., & Bravo-Montero, L. (2025). Women’s participation in the research development of a country. International Journal of Educational Research Open, 8. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedro.2024.100413
Ika Sari, G., Winasis, S., Pratiwi, I., Wildan Nuryanto, U., & Basrowi. (2024). Strengthening digital literacy in Indonesia: Collaboration, innovation, and sustainability education. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 10, 101100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2024.101100
Kasneci, E., Sessler, K., Küchemann, S., Bannert, M., Dementieva, D., Fischer, F., Gasser, U., Groh, G., Günnemann, S., Hüllermeier, E., Krusche, S., Kutyniok, G., Michaeli, T., Nerdel, C., Pfeffer, J., Poquet, O., Sailer, M., Schmidt, A., Seidel, T., … Kasneci, G. (2023). ChatGPT for good? On opportunities and challenges of large language models for education. Learning and Individual Differences, 103, 102274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lindif.2023.102274
Kickbusch, I., Piselli, D., Agrawal, A., Balicer, R., Banner, O., Adelhardt, M., Capobianco, E., Fabian, C., Gill, A. S., Lupton, D., Medhora, R. P., Ndili, N., Ryś, A., Sambuli, N., Settle, D., Swaminathan, S., Morales, J. V., Wolpert, M., Wyckoff, A. W., … Wong, B. L. H. (2021). The Lancet and Financial Times Commission on governing health futures 2030: Growing up in a digital world. The Lancet, 398(10312), 1727–1776. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01824-9
Lessy, Z., Pary, L. K., & Adamek, M. E. (2024). Communication Methods for Moving from Authoritarian to Allocative or Distributed Leadership, in Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia, as Adopted by a High School Principal: A Case Study. Leadership and Policy in Schools, 23(2), 331–353. https://doi.org/10.1080/15700763.2022.2131580
Li, Z., Wang, X., Zhang, K., Zheng, T., Zhou, J., Alsudais, T. A., & Zhi, X. (2025). Exploring the influence of educational capital on college students’ entrepreneurial performance: A moderated multi-mediation model approach. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 12(1), 983. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05050-0
Lorenz, G. (2021). Subtle discrimination: Do stereotypes among teachers trigger bias in their expectations and widen ethnic achievement gaps? Social Psychology of Education, 24(2), 537–571. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11218-021-09615-0
Manegre, M., & Sabiri, K. A. (2022). Online language learning using virtual classrooms: An analysis of teacher perceptions. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 35(5–6), 973–988. https://doi.org/10.1080/09588221.2020.1770290
Mattar, M. G., & Lengyel, M. (2022). Planning in the brain. Neuron, 110(6), 914–934. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2021.12.018
Qin, S., Jia, S., & Su, S. (2025). How does teacher collaboration impact teachers’ innovation ability? The chain mediation of teaching motivation and teaching efficacy. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 12(1), 924. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04965-y
Rezai, A., Namaziandost, E., & Hwang, G.-J. (2024). How can ChatGPT open promising avenues for L2 development? A phenomenological study involving EFL university students in Iran. Computers in Human Behavior Reports, 16, 100510. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chbr.2024.100510
Schriever, V. (2021). Early childhood teachers’ perceptions and management of parental concerns about their child’s digital technology use in kindergarten. Journal of Early Childhood Research, 19(4), 487–499. https://doi.org/10.1177/1476718X211030315
Semo, G., & Eliyahu-Levi, D. (2025). An educational beit midrash as a bridge between religious and secular identity. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 12(1), 152. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04468-w
Sliwka, A., Klopsch, B., Beigel, J., & Tung, L. (2023). Transformational leadership for deeper learning: Shaping innovative school practices for enhanced learning. Journal of Educational Administration, 62(1), 103–121. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEA-03-2023-0049
Sofi-Karim, M., Bali, A. O., & Rached, K. (2023). Online education via media platforms and applications as an innovative teaching method. Education and Information Technologies, 28(1), 507–523. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-022-11188-0
Sokhanvar, Z., Salehi, K., & Sokhanvar, F. (2021). Advantages of authentic assessment for improving the learning experience and employability skills of higher education students: A systematic literature review. Studies in Educational Evaluation, 70, 101030. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stueduc.2021.101030
Sposato, M. (2025). Artificial intelligence in educational leadership: A comprehensive taxonomy and future directions. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 22(1), 20. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-025-00517-1
Urlaub, P., & Dessein, E. (2022). From Disrupted Classrooms to Human-Machine Collaboration? The Pocket Calculator, Google Translate, and the Future of Language Education. L2 Journal: An Open Access Refereed Journal for World Language Educators, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.5070/L214151790
Xia, Y., Shin, S.-Y., & Kim, J.-C. (2024). Cross-Cultural Intelligent Language Learning System (CILS): Leveraging AI to Facilitate Language Learning Strategies in Cross-Cultural Communication. Applied Sciences, 14(13), Article 13. https://doi.org/10.3390/app14135651
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Tasniya Yusup, Muhammad Afthon Nuha (Author)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

All publications by the UNIKHAMS [e-ISSN: