Davinia Palomares-Montero

Empirical research in the school context

Service-Learning is an educational methodology which combines learning processes and community service. The aim of this chapter is to spread the conceptualisation of an educational method only recently applied in Spain and to present an SL initiative in which the stages for its application are set forth. A theoretical review of literature is given in order to substantiate the foundations of SL methodology and there is later a case study to carry out a contextualised proposal for a real situation. The results lead to the conclusion that the SL proposed creates learning processes favouring pupils’ personal and ethical development. This is an innovative procedure that represents a change in the organisation of the school and promotes networking.

Cooperative learning: a methodological innovation in teacher training / El aprendizaje cooperativo: una innovación metodológica en la formación del profesorado

Abstract Cooperative learning is an important methodological strategy to develop students’ general competencies. In this paper, we show an educational innovation experience of cooperative learning developed as part of the ‘Educational contexts and processes’ subject of the Speciality in Technology and Industrial Processes of the Master’s Degree in Secondary Education Teaching at the University of Valencia, during the 2011–12 academic year. The innovation experience becomes ‘meta-experience’ since it allows students to reflect on their own knowledge in building the learning process. The overall objective of this experience is to develop attitudes and skills for cooperative learning in future secondary education teachers. To this end, we designed the activity ‘Short Film’ that employs cooperative learning as a methodological strategy to foster learning and media literacy. The experience gave students the opportunity to reflect, discuss and be involved in their learning process. Furthermore, the academic results were excellent and students valued the educational innovation in a positive way.