Digital Literacy & Computing

Thursday August 27th 2026

Digital Literacy & Computing in Al Azhar 55 Islamic Primary School

In today’s digital era, literacy in technology is no longer optional—it is essential. At Al Azhar 55 Islamic Primary School Yogyakarta, IT classes are thoughtfully designed to introduce students to digital tools in ways that are fun, meaningful, and age-appropriate. Beyond simply using technology, students are guided to develop logical thinking, creativity, and problem solving skills that will support lifelong learning in an increasingly connected world.

In the lower grades, students begin their journey with Coding Junior through ScratchJr. This visual platform allows young learners to create simple animations and stories by arranging colorful blocks. Through playful exploration, students learn foundational concepts such as sequencing, patterns, and cause and effect—without the need for complex coding syntax. The experience builds curiosity, confidence, and a love for creating.

As students progress to the upper grades, they are introduced to block-based programming using Scratch. Here, they develop more advanced skills, including loops, conditionals, and variables. Students design interactive games, simulations, and digital projects that reflect their ideas and creativity. This stage strengthens computational thinking and encourages a structured, logical approach to problemsolving, while also teaching the value of testing, refining, and improving their work over me.

Beyond coding, digital literacy lessons emphasize responsible and ethical use of technology.

Students learn about online safety, digital etiquette, and how to evaluate information critically—skills that are essential for becoming thoughtful and responsible digital citizens. IT learning is also integrated across subjects, helping students see technology not just as a standalone discipline, but as a powerful tool for communica on, crea vity, and collabora on.

Through these experiences, IT classes at Al Azhar 55 empower students not only to understand technology, but to create with it—preparing them with the skills and mindset needed to thrive in the world ahead.

(by Ms Novita & Ms Zahra)

Testimony

Prof. Dra. Hj. Suwarsih Madya, M.A., Ph.D.

Amidst the globalized situation which poses challenges of which one is a possible threat to identity, yet provides ample opportunities to excel for those who possess the prerequisites, we need to equip our children as the continuing generation with necessary competencies—affective, cognitive, psychomotor and interactive. In other words, we need to help them grow and develop into total persons and this can be achieved through the whole-child development approach which ensures the development of all potentials. In addition to this is the need for developing some competence which enables the children to communicate globally. All of this will ensure that the children will develop their citizenships both at the national and global levels. How can this ideal development be realized?

If you want to find out about how efforts are made to develop children’s whole potentials, you can come to SD Islam Al Azhar 55 Yogyakarta. Here you can see how the four-year old school has grown fast due to the stakeholders’ trust to send their children to study here. With only 54 children in the first year, this school now has 185 students. These students are educated to respect and preserve the social-cultural environment by learning the local language (Javanese, including the script) and arts (dance). Simultaneously, they certainly learn the national language (Bahasa Indonesia) and national content, which is unquestionable since it is compulsory, and English, which has now become a global lingua franca; thus, a prerequisite for successful global communication. More importantly, children in this school also learn to practise their religion consistently. So, in this school children’s identity is rooted in the local culture, with nationalism and global awareness being inherently developed together with reliogiosity.

Does the whole-child development approach at SD Islam Al Azhar still give room for children to excel? In my belief, when all their potentials are developed, children will have a greater chance to excel and I can see the truth in my belief in this primary school. In the last two years, the students have made great achievements in various competitions held at the local and national levels–gold medals in English, math and science competitions (national), silver and bronze medals in IT competitions (national), silver and bronze medals at colouring and swimming competitions (local) to mention some.

In conclusion, SD Islam Al Azhar has given evidence of the right efforts of true education to develop both intelligence and character.

Prof. DR. Budi S. Daryono, M.Agr. Sc.

Testimoni Sebagai Orang tua menyekolahkan anak Di Al-Azhar 55

Sudah menjadi kewajiban bagi orang tua untuk memberikan pendidikan yang terbaik bagi putra putrinya. Tantangan untuk mendidik anak di Era Global dan Digital pun semakin besar, kita tidak bisa lagi membendung segala perubahan yang begitu cepat terjadi, dan harus mempersiapkan anak-anak supaya bisa survive dan sholeh/sholehah tentunya. Saat ini dunia bagaikan kampung, dimana tidak ada batas-batas untuk melakukan transaksi kehidupan, untuk itu anak harus bisa berkomunikasi dengan bahasa universal sebagai modal utama. Disamping itu, pendidikah Ahlak dan Aqidah harus diberikan secara dini sebagai dasar anak dalam menghadapi gejolak gelombang kehidupan. Atas pertimbangan tersebutlah, kami selaku orang tua memilih untuk menyekolahkan putra kami tercinta Hikari di Sekolah Islam, yang menggunakan dua bahasa pengantar, yaitu Al-Azhar 55.

Prof. DR. Budi S.Daryono, M.Agr. Sc.