Perceptions toward cooperative learning in students of Master for the Secondary Teacher Training

This qualitative study explored the perceptions of students of the Master Teacher Training in Secondary Education, High School, Vocational Training and Language Teaching (MFPS) at the University of the Basque Country - Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (UPV-EHU) on cooperative learning (AC). The sample has been composed by 65 subjects of six different specialities of the MFPS. Students have worked collaboratively in 15 groups on the subject "Learning and Personality Development". For data collection we used a questionnaire with open questions was completed by each working group. We have obtained a total of 273 responses for three categories: 1) Identification of the knowledge acquired about the subject; 2) Identification of the knowledge acquired on the collaborative work; and 3) Evaluation of the experience with the AC methodology. The main conclusion is that all of the groups made a positive evaluation of the experience, which for some proved to be novel. The perceptions of students indicate that AC can enhance subject learning and group work skills; and that this methodology will be useful as a tool in their future careers as teachers of secondary education.