LEARNING ACQUIRED IN GROUP WORK. PERCEPTIONS OF CIVIL ENGINEERING TEACHERS AND STUDENTS

Abstract

The construction industry is evolving rapidly, therefore, it is demanding a new type of civil engineering professionals with technical, social and behavioral skills that contribute to improving the performance of construction companies. In the training of civil engineers, group work (GW) is used as a methodological strategy. This strategy has many advantages for collaborative learning. However, teachers see it as a means for curricular cognitive development only, leaving the contribution of the GW in the development of skills and behavior unexplored. This research with a qualitative-interpretive approach, seeks to unveil the learning acquired by the students and teachers of the civil engineering career during the implementation of the GW. Through interviews with teachers and students and the application of grounded theory, the knowledge, skills and behaviors that students and teachers of civil engineering acquire during its application were identified. The obtained findings will allow to potentiate the GW strategy during the teaching-learning process, contributing to the development of professional and personal competences of university students.