Smart Ethnopedagogy And Local Wisdom Integration: A Sustainability-Based Character Education Approach In Social Studies Learning Through The Kabuyutan Batukarut Heritage

Abstract

The rapid dynamics of globalization and digital disruption have significantly transformed social structures and cultural values, leading to the erosion of local wisdom that forms the moral foundation of national character. This study aims to integrate the local wisdom of Kabuyutan Batukarut into Social Studies learning through a smart ethnopedagogy approach as a model of sustainability-based character education. A qualitative research method with an ethnographic design was employed to explore the value systems and cultural practices of the local community. Data were collected through participatory observation, in-depth interviews with 22 informants (comprising cultural leaders, school principals, Social Studies teachers, and students), and document analysis. The data were analyzed using Miles and Huberman’s interactive model with the support of NVivo 12 Plus software. The findings revealed six core values of local wisdom—self-orientation, religious interaction, ethics, compassion, social responsibility, and harmony with nature—that can be contextually adapted into Social Studies instruction through character habituation programs, experiential learning, and digital media integration. The implementation of this model enhanced students’ learning motivation (89%), social empathy (82%), and ecological awareness (75%). The integration of these values aligns with the Merdeka Curriculum and contributes to the achievement of SDG 4.7 (education for sustainability), SDG 11.4 (cultural heritage preservation), and SDG 13.3 (climate awareness through education). Theoretically, this study extends the paradigm of ethnopedagogy toward digital cultural transformation, bridging traditional values and 21st-century competencies while strengthening sustainable character education in the global era.