Edutainment and Gen Z Student Engagement in Islamic Higher Education
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62039/ijiss.v4i1.140Keywords:
Edutainment, Generation Z, Higher education learning, Innovative learning strategiesAbstract
This study aims to analyze Generation Z students’ perceptions of the implementation of edutainment as a learning strategy in Islamic higher education and its perceived contribution to student engagement and conceptual understanding. This study is important because Generation Z characteristics require interactive, participatory, and adaptive learning approaches. Using a quantitative survey with open-ended responses, data were collected through a Likert-scale questionnaire distributed via Google Forms to fourth-semester students at UIN Sunan Ampel Surabaya. The findings indicate a highly positive perception of edutainment (mean = 4.59). Students perceived edutainment as reducing boredom, increasing learning interest, encouraging active participation, facilitating understanding, and creating a more comfortable learning environment. Nevertheless, respondents also highlighted challenges, including the possible dominance of entertainment elements over academic substance and the need for lecturers’ pedagogical and digital competence. Within the context of Islamic higher education, edutainment may support the principles of taysir and meaningful learning while remaining oriented toward academic depth and learning outcomes
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International Journal of Islamicate Social Studies
