Implementasi Pembelajaran Berbasis Proyek Eksploratif: Dinamika Kolaborasi dan Konstruksi Pengetahuan Kognitif Siswa dalam Pendidikan Agama Islam

This study describes the implementation of Project-Based Learning (PBL) in Islamic Religious Education (PAI) at the Senior High School level in Samarinda. The research focuses on understanding how students construct cognitive knowledge and develop collaboration skills through PBL. A qualitative case study design was used, involving one PAI teacher and [X/XI] grade students at a school applying the Merdeka Curriculum, selected purposively. Data were collected through participatory classroom observation, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis of student projects. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings show that PBL enables students to build knowledge progressively, from conceptual understanding to practical application in real-life contexts. PBL also fosters collaboration skills through role sharing, discussion, conflict resolution, and teamwork synergy. The success of PBL depends greatly on the teacher’s role as an active facilitator and the availability of supporting resources at school. This study provides practical insights for teachers and schools to design meaningful and contextual Islamic education aligned with the principles of the Merdeka Curriculum.