CO-TEACHING RESEARCH METHODS TO MEXICAN STUDENTS AT OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY

UPAEP University and Oklahoma State University (OSU) have a strong academic relationship since 2002 when UPAEP University decided to open a Liaison Office in the United States. Both institutions have developed different academic programs, including Faculty and staff Experience Oklahoma, High School Summer Academy and Undergraduate Faculty Led Experience. In 2013, the Center of Interdisciplinary Studies (CIP) at UPAEP and the College of Human Sciences at OSU decided to offer Pedagogy Doctoral students a co-teaching research methods experience. This experience includes the participation of two professors one from each university jointly delivering instruction to a group of UPAEP Doctoral students. The syllabus of the class was designed by both professors with the main objective of enhance students’ success in their research project. The class includes, 1) introduction to the publication process, 2) academic electronic data bases and reference management software, 3) qualitative and quantitative research design, 4) publication according to the American Psychological association (APA). UPAEP Doctoral students traveled from Puebla, México to Stillwater, Oklahoma USA and stayed at Oklahoma State residences for three weeks, they attended 2 hours of class four days a week, and spent at least 6 hours daily in the OSU library writing their research proposal. The co-teaching professors were available every day to give guidance and answer their questions. Peer and professors interview were conducted as part of the course evaluation process. The evaluation included the level of understanding of the topics studied, the students’ self-directed and self-regulated process and the achievement of the students expectations. Co-teaching provided students with different perspectives and a broader point of view, enhanced students’ support, maximized the time of the students, increased adults’ students’ attention and a more powerful self-directed learning process.