The role of character education in shaping the digital ethics of students at State Islamic Junior High School

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the role of character education in shaping students' digital ethics at State Islamic Junior High School.  This study uses qualitative methods. In qualitative research, theory serves only as a guide for data gathering and analysis. The data were collected through direct observation, in-depth interviews, and written document analysis at the research site. The research was conducted in an Islamic junior high school in Palu city, Indonesia. The researcher chose the school because the school is a reputable government school that implements policies on digital ethics, which are relevant to Islamic education. The results of this study show that character education plays a fundamental role in shaping students' digital ethics. This role is not fulfilled through a single program or specific activity, but rather through a character education ecosystem that integrates the school policies, curriculum, instruction, school culture, teacher role-modeling, guidance and counseling services, and student participation. All these components function as interconnected mechanisms in the process of internalizing character values ​​among students. At the institutional level, character education is reinforced through policies and programs that position character building as an integral part of educational goals. At the curriculum and instructional levels, character values ​​are integrated into the learning process particularly within Islamic Religious Education by linking lessons on ethics and moral conduct to students' real-life issues, including their use of digital media and technology.