EKONOMI DIGITAL DAN TRANSFORMASI SOSIAL: PERSPEKTIF PENDIDIKAN IPS DI GENERASI ALPHA

The development of the digital economy has had a significant impact on various aspects of life, including education. In the context of Social Sciences Education (IPS), digitalization has changed how students interact with information, access knowledge, and engage in learning. This study aims to analyze the influence of the digital economy on IPS learning for Generation Alpha, as well as the challenges and opportunities arising from the social transformation driven by technological advancement. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, this research involves a literature review related to the development of the digital economy, IPS education, and the characteristics of Generation Alpha in adapting to the digital world. The results of the study show that the digital economy provides great opportunities for IPS education to adopt technology as a learning tool, such as the use of social media, educational apps, and digital platforms. Generation Alpha, who have grown up with easy access to digital technology, demonstrate quicker adaptation to technology-based learning methods. However, challenges such as the digital divide in access to technology in various regions, and the need to update the IPS curriculum to stay relevant to current developments, remain obstacles that need to be addressed. Technology-based IPS learning must integrate relevant digital skills and teach students to critically evaluate the information they encounter online. Overall, this study shows that while there are challenges in implementing digital-based IPS learning, the opportunities offered by the digital economy are vast. Therefore, IPS education must adapt to the needs of Generation Alpha to equip them with relevant social knowledge and the skills required to navigate an increasingly interconnected and digital world. The government and educational institutions are expected to play an active role in creating supportive infrastructure and providing training for educators to effectively utilize technology in the learning process.