In-Service Teachers’ Perceptions of the Design and Quality of Mathematics Videos in their On-Line Learning

Abstract

This investigation is part of a continuing education program in mathematics, directed at in-service teachers in lower secondary schools holding teacher certificates. Online mathematics lessons, offered through a distant education course, consisted of a combination of text and video podcasts. University educators’ podcast development was guided by research-based design principles related to e-learning and multimedia instruction. The question arose as to whether in-service teachers enrolled in the course would perceive the podcast design as supportive for their learning. Using questionnaires, this study monitored how in-service teachers perceived podcast quality based on design dimensions. It sought to identify participants’ preferences and their recommendations for video development improvement. Key factors for quality included podcast length and the speaker’s narration. Inservice teachers perceived the podcasts as being useful for their learning processes and indicated efficiency, enjoyment, and concentration as critical learning conditions.