Dra. Hebles-Ortiz, Melany

The main purpose of this study was to design and validate a scale to assess the teamwork competency of undergraduate students (TCS, Teamwork Competency Scale). The research instrument designed and subjected to validation has nine specific dimensions: Collective effectiveness, learning orientation, group goal setting, planning and coordination, communication, conflict management, problem solving, performance monitoring and supportive behaviour. The instrument was validated using a sample of 802 first-year students at a university in Chile. The method of partial least squares (PLS) was used within a structural equation modelling (SEM) framework for statistical analysis. The results show that the TCS is a valid and reliable research instrument for the assessment of teamwork competency in undergraduate students.

The goal of this study is to determine the extent to which faculty training in cooperative learning (CL) transfers to university teaching, according to students’ opinions. The design was quasi-experimental, with a control group and an intervention group. During two years, 346 first-year university Business School students and 12 university teachers of four disciplines (Business and Economy, Communication, Mathematics and Knowledge Integration) took part in the study. The results show that, after specific training in CL methodology, teachers showed significant improvement in the application of several CL dimensions: social skills, evaluation, reflection, interdependence, interaction and tutoring. In addition, a multivariate analysis of variance was calculated to examine the possible interaction effect of teacher training and disciplines on CL application. The results indicate that training based on participants’ needs and context fosters transference to university teaching. Teachers from different disciplines respond differently when applying CL to the classroom after training, especially in evaluation, heterogeneity, and tutoring. The results highlight the importance of a quality faculty professional development program.

El objetivo de esta investigación ha sido diseñar y validar un instrumento para evaluar la práctica evaluadora en la enseñanza universitaria desde un enfoque de Evaluación Orientada al Aprendizaje, caracterizado por incorporar las actividades de evaluación como actividades de aprendizaje, implicar a los estudiantes en el proceso y ofrecer retroalimentación con información precisa para orientar cambios hacia la mejora del aprendizaje. Para ello se elaboró la Escala sobre la Evaluación de los Aprendizajes (EEA) y se aplicó a una muestra de 1205 estudiantes de una Universidad Chilena. A partir de los datos recogidos se evaluaron las propiedades psicométricas de la escala propuesta así como su capacidad para reflejar los conceptos teóricos y constructos utilizados. Para el análisis estadístico se empleó el método de mínimos cuadrados parciales (PLS, partial least squares) en un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales (SEM, structural equation modeling). Los resultados indican que la escala es válida y fiable para medir el proceso de evaluación de los aprendizajes. Se han corroborado la fiabilidad de los ítems y de las dimensiones, y su validez discriminante y convergente. En consecuencia, los resultados de la investigación permiten confirmar el modelo teórico de nueve dimensiones de la Evaluación Orientada al Aprendizaje: coherencia entre objetivos de aprendizaje y evaluación, cobertura, utilización de los resultados, planificación, contenidos, sistematización, agentes, retroalimentación y momentos.