Collaborative Learning in teaching practice: A Need and Training Demand for Non-University Teachers

El Aprendizaje colaborativo: una necesidad y demanda formativa del profesorado no universitario

Abstract

Nowadays, teachers need to work as a team to meet social demands and deliver quality education. To do this, they require training based on collaboration that allows them to engage in collaborative learning. The purpose of the study presented here is to understand the training needs of non-university teachers with regard to collaborative learning and to identify if there are differences between early years, primary and secondary school teachers. The research also seeks to determine whether years of experience influence teachers’ perceived training needs regarding collaborative learning. The research developed was non-experimental, ex post facto and quantitative, based on surveys (α = .94), conducting a descriptive, correlational analysis with a total of 801 participants chosen by means of snowball sampling. The data show that teachers continue to demand training focused on collaborative learning, specifically in the form of in-school training. Primary school teachers are the most interested in this training proposal, finding differences with secondary school teachers. Similarly, there are differences between newly qualified and more experienced teachers, with more experienced teaching staff demanding greater training in collaborative learning. In conclusion, it is important to design training programmes that meet the specific needs of teachers focused on collaborative action research strategies, which implies both an economic and political commitment on the part of the institutions responsible for teacher training.