Sarcouncil Journal of Education and Sociology

Abstract: This study examines the gap between primary school teachers’ perceptions and their actual use of digital learning materials (DLMs) in teaching Grade 1 Natural and Social Science in Vietnam. A survey of 138 teachers from urban, rural, and mountainous areas was conducted using a structured questionnaire and analyzed with descriptive statistics. Results show that teachers highly value the effectiveness of DLMs in enhancing student engagement and understanding. However, their classroom practices mainly rely on basic tools such as videos, images, and PowerPoint, while interactive and learner-centered applications are rarely used. The findings indicate a clear mismatch between teachers’ positive perceptions and their pedagogical implementation. Key factors include limited training in digital pedagogy, insufficient digital competence, and restricted access to quality resources. This study contributes to the existing literature by providing empirical evidence of the mismatch between teachers’ perceptions and classroom practices in the specific context of Grade 1 Natural and Social Science education in Vietnam.