Empowering Vocational Math Teachers by Using Digital Learning Material (DLM) with Workplace Assignments

Digital Learning Material (DLM) are fast becoming a key instrument in teaching. The focus on E-learning systems with Digital Learning Material (DLM) is mostly on the medium and resources, instead of on the role of teachers. But like students, teachers also need to professionalize their digital competencies. And rather than describing how the teacher should take up his/her online role, teachers can also be trained by using online materials and experiencing DLM themselves. Therefore the first objective of this study is to design an e-learning system with DLM to train seven vocational math teachers. The second objective is to investigate the aspects of the learning activities in terms of “learning engagement,” “teachers’ self learning process” and “professional learning to enhance teachers’ knowledge.” In this research, teachers participating in this project had a 6 week online training in an e-learning system with DLM. After this, teachers completed the questionnaires on these aspects. Teachers were satisfied with the components “learning engagement” and “teachers’ self learning process.” They specifically appreciated the domain-specific literature and the online moderation of the expert teacher. With regard to the component “professional learning,” teachers did not collaborate and only three teachers abstract and detach information from its original context and applied to it in new contexts by their questions and contributions in the forum discussions. For other teachers the “space to act and arrange” seemed too broadly. Future study should pay more attention to the development of assignments that require specific tasks in collaboration between the teachers.