Investigating learning processes in modern pesantren : an understanding the process of learning through psychology of education

Abstract

This study explores the integration of educational psychology principles— behaviourism, cognitivism, and constructivism—within the traditional learning environment of pesantren. While pesantren has adopted elements of modern curricula, traditional methods, such as memorization-based teaching and kitab kuning, remain prevalent. These methods may potentially limit students’ critical thinking abilities. A significant gap exists between the learning paradigms in pesantren and the principles of educational psychology, which emphasize students as active participants in their learning process, considering their developmental stages, motivation, and individual learning style. The research aimed to investigate whether the integration of religious education and traditional methods in pesantren can incorporate modern learning values that address students’ mental and personal development, cognitive aspects, learning motivation, and individual differences. A qualitative case study was conducted at a modern boarding school in West Java, involving four students, four teachers, and a Kyai to gather insights into the learning process in pesantren. Data collection methods included interview and observation, with validity and reliability ensured trough triangulation and member checking. Manual thematic analysis was used to analysed the data. The study concluded that behaviourism, cognitivism, and constructivism are present in the learning processes in pesantren, both in classroom settings—such as in religious studies; Fiqh, Hadith, and kitab kuning—and in daily life. The research also identified several challenges in the learning process, which included internal and external challenges. As for the internal such as boredom, homesick, feeling backwards. As for external challenges such as economics backgrounds, overburdened, and grouping based on grades. The implications of this research suggest a need for pesantren to integrate more modern educational psychology principles into their teaching methods, to better support students’ holistic development. This includes fostering critical thinking, accommodating diverse learning style, and addressing the emotional and motivational needs of students to enhance their overall educational experience.