HOLISTIC EDUCATIONAL APPROACH: COOPERATIVE LEARNING AND MINDFULNESS IN THE TRAINING OF FUTURE TEACHERS

Abstract

Traditionaleducationalinstructionis being replaced by new, more holistic paradigms requiring both a methodological change and a new definition of the role of the teacher and students. This study proposes a new education paradigm based on active teamwork methodologies (such as cooperative learning)and mindfulness techniques. Cooperative learning is a well-known strategy that has obtained very positive results in the development of competences and skills. Mindfulness techniques favor the development of attitudes and values as well as increase dinner-calm, resulting in lower levels of stress and anxiety among both students and teachers. The proposed paradigm was implemented in a course of the master’s degree program for Secondary School Teachers at the University of Almeria (Spain). The results show that students were more engaged with the learning process and developeda greater sense of responsibility and empathy,not only towards their own learning but also to their classmates’ learning. The procedure included the application of the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) at the beginning and at the end of the course to measure the evolution of the students in different items related to mindfulness.