Journal of Smart Education and Learning

Analyzing literal and non-literal meaning in poetry: “What if” by Claudia Rankine

Chintya A Sinambela — 2025-04-30

Literal language in poetry provides clarity and concrete imagery, while non-literal expressions reveal deeper psychological and cultural meanings. This combination enables readers to engage intellectually and emotionally, fostering a more profound, reflective, and empathetic experience. Using a qualitative descriptive method grounded in semantic theory, this study examines Rankine's use of metaphor, irony, symbolism, and conditional expressions to convey themes of identity, emotional conflict, and social tension. This study highlights how Rankine's layered language encourages multiple interpretations, reinforcing the emotional and thematic impact of the poems. Findings suggest that combining literal and figurative analysis in literary studies, particularly in an educational context, can enhance students' understanding and critical thinking skills. By examining how language shapes meaning, this research confirms the educational value of poetry in fostering interpretive skills and emotional awareness.

Analisis kesulitan mahasiswa pendidikan geografi dalam memahami materi ajar SMA berbasis kurikulum merdeka di kampus UNADA Banda Aceh

Devya Kartika — 2025-02-27

Teaching difficulties are a big obstacle for teachers, especially in managing the student learning environment. These barriers can be psychological, sociological, or physiological. The Independent Curriculum emphasizes student independence and requires adjustments to technology and infrastructure. Observations show that FKIP UNADA Banda Aceh students have not mastered the teaching materials based on the Independent Curriculum. This study analyzes these difficulties and aims to determine the difficulties of geography education students in understanding the high school teaching materials based on the Independent Curriculum at FKIP UNADA Banda Aceh. This study uses a qualitative descriptive method. The study results showed that 77.1% of Geography Education students had a "very understanding" understanding of high school teaching materials based on the Independent Curriculum. However, they face difficulties understanding the new curriculum's principles, having limited teaching experience, and lacking practice. The availability of quality learning resources also affects the ability to implement the curriculum. Of the six indicators, two indicators, namely student involvement (81.9%) and creativity in learning (77.1%), obtained high percentage values, while two indicators had low percentage values, namely critical thinking (75%) and feedback (76.4%).

National education policy: Implementation of Artificial Intelligence in higher education

Ghasa Faraasyatul 'Alam — 2025-04-30

The application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in higher education continues to experience rapid development along with the digital transformation in various aspects of life. Universities are required to adapt to technological advances in order to strengthen institutional competitiveness and reputation. This study aims to analyze national education policies in the digital era related to the implementation of AI in universities to build institutional reputation. The methods used are policy analysis and literature study, with the help of Publish or Perish software for searching scientific articles, and VOSviewer for visualization and bibliometric analysis. Results of the study show that national education policy has created a basis for the use of digital technologies such as AI by encouraging adaptive learning, increasing administrative efficiency, and adjusting education services. However, several challenges still hinder the implementation of AI in higher education. To support digital transformation in education, the government, universities, and the industrial sector must work together by creating a supportive ecosystem. Implementation of AI use in higher education can change the paradigm of digital-era education in Indonesia into a more inclusive, responsive, and data-based system.

Implementasi model pembelajaran discovery learning untuk meningkatkan hasil belajar mahasiswa pada materi reading comprehension

Susanti Susanti — 2025-04-30

This study examines the effectiveness of the discovery learning model in improving students’ learning outcomes in reading comprehension. The background of the study stems from students' low reading comprehension skills, largely due to the dominance of conventional teaching methods that lack critical thinking engagement. Using a quantitative approach with a quasi-experimental design (pretest-posttest control group), the study involved 60 fourth-semester students divided into experimental and control groups. Data were collected through reading comprehension tests and observations of learning activities, then analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including t-tests. The results showed a significant improvement in the experimental group compared to the control group. These findings demonstrate that discovery learning is effective in enhancing reading comprehension and learning engagement, and contributes to the development of innovative instructional models in higher education.

Implementasi pendidikan seks pada santri di pondok pesantren

Nur Hasanah — 2025-04-30

Sexuality education is a process of providing information and understanding about the body, relationships, sex, gender, and reproductive health. Its purpose is not merely to inform about sex, but to help individuals make healthy, safe, and responsible decisions. This study aims to: (1) examine the implementation of sexuality education for students (santri) in Islamic boarding schools (pesantren), and (2) identify the challenges and solutions in its implementation. The research employed observation, interviews, and documentation as data collection methods. The findings reveal that sexuality education at Pondok Pesantren Al Bahroniyyah in Demak and Pondok Pesantren Al Manar in Tengaran is carried out in stages, beginning when students reach puberty (baligh). Preparatory classes are provided, including instruction in language and Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh), as well as guidance on social interaction ethics. As a solution to overcome implementation barriers, both pesantren enforce written rules that all students must follow. These rules are posted in strategic locations such as the hall, dormitory rooms, and classrooms. Any violation of these regulations results in sanctions, adjusted according to the severity of the offence.