Optimization of Character Education in Social Studies Learning at Merdeka Belajar Era

Abstract

Merdeka Belajar is a Ministry of Education and Culture program that aims to provide freedom for teachers and students in planning the learning process. The freedom (merdeka) in Merdeka Belajar meant the freedom to innovate and learn independently and creatively. So far, the learning paradigm, especially in social studies subjects in the independent era of learning, is still oriented to students' learning outcomes. This results in the inadequate implementation of character education for students in social studies learning. Therefore, it is necessary to optimize students' character education in social studies learning using effective learning methods in the independent learning era. This is relevant to the principle of independent learning, namely student-centred learning, where there are eight values of character education in the concept of student-centred learning developed in the era of independent learning. This research method uses descriptive qualitative methods with a library research approach. The results of the research, through the optimization of character education in social studies learning in the era of independent learning, students are expected to be able to implement character values as an effort to face the development of science and technology. In addition, later social studies learning in the independent era of learning will be more meaningful and relevant to the goal of independent learning, namely to make students who have generic life skills (GLS) and specific life skills (SLS).