Implementation of Community Empowerment through Experiment-Based Smart Schools on Ambalau Island

Abstract

Community empowerment is a concrete manifestation of the contribution of higher education institutions in supporting sustainable development, especially in island regions and 3T (frontier, outermost, and disadvantaged) areas. Ambalau Island faces various challenges in human resource development, including limited access to education, low literacy culture, minimal facilities and infrastructure, and the suboptimal strengthening of religious values ​​integrated into the community's social life. This community service program aims to implement community empowerment, namely experiment-based Smart Schools as an effort to improve the quality of human resources holistically. The implementation method uses a community-based participatory approach through the stages of needs mapping, socialization, training, mentoring, and continuous evaluation by involving teachers, students, lokar volunteers, and community leaders. Core activities include simple experiment-based science learning, literacy strengthening, and the integration of Muhammadiyah Islamic values ​​into the learning process. The results of the activities show an increase in children's motivation and interest in learning, a growing interest in reading in the community, and a strengthening of religious and social character. This program is expected to become a model for sustainable integrated community empowerment in the island region.