Abstract:

Bearing in mind the new methodologies proposed within the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), we have used group work as methodological strategy to develop constructivism and autonomy among students. The implementation of the EHEA and the proposal to revise teaching methodologies involve a new style of working for teachers in which the role of the student is enhanced through active involvement and independent work. In this study we seek to show the perceptions of varying Agricultural Engineering Students and Graduate in Agricultural Engineering Students on the use of group work as a methodological teaching strategy as valuable element in the teaching innovation process. A questionnaire on expectations was administered to would-be in Agricultural Engineering Students and in Graduate in Agricultural Engineering Students at Higher Technical School of Engineering, University of Huelva (Spain). These questionnaires shed light on students’ beliefs regarding the use of this strategy for the improvement of their learning. We used basic descriptive analysis. According to the results obtained, students have positively evaluated: the attitude of co-operation in team work, sharing ideas and information with their colleagues, being respectful when differences have arisen and ability to manage presentation techniques and use of audiovisual media.

Keywords:

Group work, methodological strategy, Agricultural Engineering.