Artificial Intelligence-Supported Personalized Learning for Enhancing Student Engagement and 21st-Century Competencies: Evidence from Islamic Secondary Schools in Indonesia
Keywords:
Artificial Intelligence; Personalized Learning; Student Engagement; Twenty-First-Century Competencies; Islamic Secondary EducationAbstract
The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education has created new opportunities for personalized and adaptive learning experiences. While AI-supported personalized learning has gained increasing attention in educational research, its implementation within Islamic secondary schools remains underexplored. This study aims to investigate how AI-supported personalized learning contributes to student engagement and the development of twenty-first-century competencies in Islamic secondary education in Indonesia. This research employed a qualitative multiple-case study involving three Islamic secondary schools that have integrated digital learning technologies into their educational practices. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with school leaders, teachers, and students, complemented by classroom observations and document analysis. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis through data condensation, data display, and conclusion drawing. The findings reveal that AI-supported personalized learning facilitates adaptive learning through individualized content, personalized feedback, and flexible learning pathways. Furthermore, AI-enhanced learning environments promote behavioral, emotional, and cognitive engagement by increasing students’ motivation, participation, and learning autonomy. The study also found that AI integration supports the development of twenty-first-century competencies, particularly critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication skills. However, challenges related to digital literacy, teacher readiness, and technological infrastructure continue to influence the effectiveness of implementation. This study contributes to the literature on AI in education by providing contextual insights into Islamic secondary schools and highlighting the potential of AI-supported personalized learning to foster meaningful engagement and future-oriented competencies.
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