Effectiveness and Challenges of Digital and Conventional Islamic Religious Education Learning Media: Quantitative Analysis Based on SLR

The rapid expansion of digital technology has increasingly influenced instructional practices in Islamic Religious Education (PAI), raising important questions regarding the effectiveness of learning media in supporting both cognitive achievement and value-based learning. This study aims to systematically examine the effectiveness of digital and conventional instructional media in improving student learning outcomes in PAI. A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was employed by selecting ten high-quality peer-reviewed articles indexed in Scopus and nationally accredited journals (SINTA 1–3). The selected studies were analyzed quantitatively using normalized gain (N-gain) calculations and qualitatively through thematic synthesis to identify patterns of effectiveness. The results indicate that instructional media consistently contribute to improved learning outcomes, with digital media demonstrating higher effectiveness in enhancing cognitive performance and learning motivation, while conventional media remain influential in supporting affective and moral development. The findings further suggest that blended learning models provide the most comprehensive instructional approach for PAI. This study concludes that the pedagogically integrated use of instructional media is essential for strengthening the quality of Islamic education. The study contributes by offering an evidence-based synthesis that informs educators and policymakers on media selection and instructional design in PAI.