Madrasah Ibtidaiyah as a Laboratory for Morality: Exploring the Potential for Holistic Character Building in the Digital Age

Abstract

The social transformation brought about by advances in digital technology has presented complex challenges for character building efforts in Madrasah Ibtidaiyah (elementary Islamic school) environments. The increasing dominance of digital exposure often conflicts with the moral principles and ethical values promoted by Islamic educational institutions. Therefore, this study aims to explore the strategic role of Madrasah Ibtidaiyah as a moral experimentation space in comprehensively shaping students' character in the digital age, while also identifying relevant and practically implementable approaches. This study was conducted qualitatively using content analysis with a content analysis approach on various scientific sources such as books, journals, and research reports published in the last five years. The analysis results indicate that character building can be strengthened through the integration of Islamic curriculum, the consistent instillation of moral habits, and the optimization of technology oriented toward values. Based on these findings, this study emphasizes that Madrasah Ibtidaiyah has great potential to become a center for adaptive digital character development, provided it is managed comprehensively, based on collaboration, and adapted to the dynamics of contemporary needs.