Teaching Islamic Religious Education to Students with Hearing Impairments: Identification, Basic Communication, and Learning Strategies

Abstract

Introduction: Teaching Islamic Religious Education (IRED) for children with special needs faces many challenges that are not easy to manage. The challenges are dealing with difficulties in identifying student characteristics, basic interpersonal communication, and learning strategies to be applied for advancing students capacity and competence.
Objectives: This study aims to find strategies for identifying student characteristics, basic communication techniques, teaching and learning strategies of Islamic Religious Education (IRED) that are in accordance with the characteristics of students with hearing impairments.
Methods: This is a descriptive qualitative research by collecting data through observation, interview, and documentation. The data analysis techniques are data condensation, presentation, verification and drawing conclusions.
Results: The strategy for identifying hearing impairments through direct observation, dialogue with parents, and medical tests. There are three levels of student hearing; moderate hearing loss, severe hearing loss, and profound hearing loss. To build familiarity and mutual understanding, ten basic communication techniques were developed that built on the basis of love and respect for human existence. The application of learning strategies reaches students in groups and individually and is treated specifically according to the environmental conditions and physical abilities of students. The application of strategies is able to develop students' religious knowledge, positive attitudes towards reading and writing the Qur'an, and religious behaviour that reflects noble character.
Conclusions: The three levels of hearing were identified correctly to be considered when using teaching and learning strategies in teaching IED for students with hearing impairments. Various basic communication strategies should be earlier applied before implementing methods of teaching to build closeness and intimacy with students.