SMARTPHONES AMONG PUBLIC MADRASAH ALIYAH STUDENTS; CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHARACTER VALUES OF CILEGON STATE ALIYAH MADRASA STUDENTS

Abstract

A smartphone is a cellular phone using various services such as memory, display, microprocessor and built-in modem so that the features in the smartphone are more complete than the features of other phones (Sawyer and Williams, 2011. In one device, a smartphone combines the functions of a telephone, camera, music player, video player, internet access, and stores various kinds of data. Technological advances with human life including students seem to be inseparable. Technological advances can bring about profound changes to human life in various fields and have a huge impact on the character values adopted by society including lifestyle and mindset. The use of smartphones among Madrasah Aliyah students in Indonesia, especially in Cilegon city, is both a challenge and an opportunity for Madrasah students' character values. This study is important to know in depth through a case study of students in Madrasah Aliyah in Cilegon city using a qualitative approach. Data collection techniques were conducted through interviews, observations, document studies, and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs).  While quantitative data was obtained through distributing questionnaires as supporting data in this study.