Integrating Local Wisdom Into Character Education

Abstract

This study aims to develop character education teaching materials based on the local wisdom of Aceh and to assess their validity, practicality, and effectiveness in the learning process. This study employed a design-based research (DBR) approach to develop and evaluate character education teaching materials rooted in the local wisdom of Aceh. Using the Plomp development model, the research was conducted in five iterative phases: preliminary investigation, design, realization, testing and evaluation, and implementation. The study involved a purposive sample of 30 tenth-grade students and 3 teachers from an Islamic boarding school (pesantren) in Aceh. Data were collected using expert validation sheets, classroom observation, student questionnaires, and pre-test/post-test instruments. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired-samples t-tests, while qualitative data were processed through thematic analysis. The results show that the materials were highly valid (expert score: 89.75%), practical in classroom use, and significantly effective in enhancing students’ moral understanding and engagement (mean gain = 15.8; p < 0.05). The study highlights the potential of culturally grounded content to strengthen character education and promote culturally responsive pedagogy within Islamic education contexts. The findings underscore the potential of localized content in shaping character education and support the integration of local wisdom into national curricula.