IMPLEMENTASI PEMBELAJARAN PROJECT BASED LEARNING DALAM MENINGKATKAN CRITICAL THINGKING PADA MATA PELAJARAN PAI DI SMA AWH TEBUIRENG JOMBANG

Abstrak

Penguatan kemampuan berpikir kritis (critical thinking) menjadi tuntutan esensial dalam pembelajaran abad ke-21, termasuk pada mata pelajaran Pendidikan Agama Islam (PAI) yang menekankan integrasi antara penguasaan pengetahuan dan internalisasi nilai. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji secara mendalam implementasi Project Based Learning (PjBL) dalam meningkatkan kemampuan berpikir kritis peserta didik pada pembelajaran PAI di SMA AWH Tebuireng Jombang, sebuah sekolah berbasis pesantren. Penelitian menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif deskriptif dengan desain studi kasus. Data dikumpulkan melalui observasi partisipan, wawancara mendalam, dan studi dokumentasi, kemudian dianalisis melalui tahapan reduksi, penyajian, dan verifikasi data. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa penerapan PjBL mendorong pergeseran pembelajaran menuju student centered learning melalui keterlibatan aktif siswa dalam perencanaan, pelaksanaan, dan presentasi proyek. Model ini terbukti mampu mengembangkan kemampuan berpikir kritis siswa, seperti analisis masalah, evaluasi informasi, argumentasi logis, serta refleksi nilai-nilai keislaman. Implementasi PjBL didukung oleh lingkungan sekolah yang kondusif, kreativitas guru, dan antusiasme siswa, meskipun masih dihadapkan pada keterbatasan waktu dan sarana pembelajaran. Secara keseluruhan, PjBL merupakan pendekatan pedagogis yang relevan dan efektif dalam meningkatkan kualitas pembelajaran PAI serta membentuk kemampuan berpikir kritis yang reflektif dan bernilai islami di lingkungan sekolah berbasis pesantren

The demands of 21st-century education require a transformation of learning practices toward the development of higher-order thinking skills, particularly critical thinking. In the context of Islamic Religious Education (IRE), critical thinking is essential not only for conceptual understanding but also for the reflective internalization of Islamic values in social life. This study aims to examine the implementation of Project Based Learning (PjBL) in fostering students’ critical thinking skills in IRE at SMA AWH Tebuireng Jombang, a pesantren-based senior high school. Employing a qualitative descriptive approach with a case study design, data were collected through participant observation, in-depth interviews, and document analysis involving the principal, IRE teachers, and students. Data analysis was conducted through data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing, supported by triangulation techniques to ensure validity. The findings indicate that PjBL is implemented systematically and contextually through project planning, collaborative learning activities, presentations, and reflective evaluation. This learning model encourages active student participation, analytical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and ethical reasoning aligned with Islamic values. Moreover, PjBL contributes to the development of students’ confidence, communication skills, and learning responsibility. Despite challenges such as limited instructional time and restricted access to digital resources, adaptive pedagogical strategies enable effective learning implementation. Overall, PjBL proves to be a relevant and effective pedagogical approach in enhancing critical thinking skills and strengthening character education in Islamic Religious Education within pesantren-based schools.