Understanding Character Education and Experiential Learning Process in 21st Century Education in Indonesia

This paperpresents understanding character education and experiential learning process in 21st century education in Indonesia, a reflection and a number of future thoughts regarding Indonesian education. Education is not only a way to prepare for life, but education is life itself. Education should be the breath of every human being, society, especially the future generations of any nation, especially the Indonesian nation. Education is a life that introduces children that as humans they have the freedom to think and seek all kinds of knowledge in order to survive and share their lifes with other human beings. Research on education in Indonesia and several mainstream media writings, both national and international, seem to agree that education in Indonesia at this time has not provided room for freedom of thought. Education in Indonesia is also not connected to the realities of life’s challenges and the pace of world change in the future, including the challenges of the 21st century.