Critical Incidents for Technology Enhanced Learning in Vocational Education and Training - Observations from the field of mechanical engineering

TL;DR

This study applies the Critical Incident Technique to observe and classify key incidents in mechanical engineering VET, providing insights for improving Technology Enhanced Learning through a developed LMS over three and a half years.

Contribution

It introduces a classification of critical incidents in VET for mechanical engineering, informing TEL improvements based on field observations.

Findings

Identification of key incidents affecting learning outcomes

Classification framework for critical incidents in VET

Insights for enhancing TEL in technical domains

Abstract

In this study, observations of the Vocational Education and Training (VET) in mechanical engineering companies are carried out. A Learning Management System (LMS) had been developed for the assistance in solving typical task structures, that are used for a period of three and a half years in the apprenticeship. In this study, the Critical Incident Technique (CIT) is applied for the observations. For the subsequent analysis, a classification of incidents is performed. The most important incidents as well as conclusions for Technical Enhanced Learning (TEL) in similar domains are presented.