Between Policies and Practices: a Quantitative Analysis of Teacher Training in Private Higher Education in São Paulo

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate, analyze and discuss the aspects, paths and perspectives that permeate teacher training in Higher Education at a private university in São Paulo. Theoretical Framework: This research is based on theories and discussions in the areas of the history and philosophy of education, teaching and learning, teacher training, curriculum theories, active methodologies, reflective and researching teachers, and French discourse analysis. Method: This research will have a mixed approach, i.e. it will be quantitative and qualitative at the same time. It will make use of quantitative processes that require logistical and numerical proof, when we tabulate the answers to the questionnaires answered by the teachers. It will also use qualitative processes when analyzing the responses from the focus group conducted as data collection in this study. Results and Discussion: This study will investigate teacher training by collecting information from the teachers themselves who work in private higher education. Therefore, the main objective of this work is to understand how the training of these educators has been carried out in order to propose new paths and strategies to enrich teaching work. Research implications: One of the possible outcomes of this research will be a proposal for teacher training based on learning communities, in which there is space for discussion, creation and reflection on teaching and learning environments in higher education. Spaces for teachers to exchange and share information. U1, the university that is part of this study, already creates moments of reflection for the institution's teachers, as we will see in the course of this article. Originality/Value: The discussion about the training of higher education teachers at private universities in Brazil does not have many studies investigating the pedagogical work of these professionals, so this study seeks to understand the pedagogical work and training of these specific educators.