Introducing Artificial Intelligence for Digital Learning Enhancement in an Islamic Boarding School Context

Abstract

The rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has created new opportunities for enhancing digital learning across educational contexts. However, the adoption of AI in religious-based educational institutions, such as Islamic boarding schools, remains limited due to traditional pedagogical practices and uneven digital literacy. This community service program aimed to introduce AI as a supportive tool for digital learning enhancement among Grade XII students in an Islamic boarding school in Riau, Indonesia. The program employed a participatory training approach consisting of preparation, implementation, and evaluation stages, emphasizing practical AI applications, ethical awareness, and contextual relevance aligned with Islamic educational values. Data were collected through observations, student reflections, and feedback discussions, and analyzed using descriptive and thematic analysis. The results indicate improved student awareness, understanding, and confidence in using AI for academic purposes, including information retrieval, academic writing assistance, and critical evaluation of digital content. The findings suggest that AI literacy can be effectively introduced in Islamic boarding schools through community-based initiatives that integrate ethical considerations and student-centered learning. This program provides a practical model for bridging traditional Islamic education with digital innovation to support students’ academic readiness and responsible technology use.