Cooperative Teaching Practices: The Experience of Multicultural Coordination between Spain and Ecuador

Abstract

This study presents the results of an analysis of teaching practices within the Master’s Programme in Teacher Training and Development, a collaborative Master’s coordinated by the University of Salamanca (Spain) for the Ecuadorian Teacher’s professional development. The objective is to reflect upon and analyse the Practicum processes from the multicultural model based on cultural pluralism complemented with a socio-critical approach, paying special attention to the dimensions of cultural and educational diversity framed in cooperative processes. In addition to documentary analysis, two Delphi studies were conducted, one involving administrators of educational centres hosting student teachers, and the other involving personnel responsible for Practicum management. The findings emphasise the importance of cooperative and collaborative processes involving all professionals from both countries, for binational teaching practices to respond constructively to the educational challenges of cultural diversity arising from globalization. The evidence of the elements from the cultural pluralism model provides an excellent reference point for this. The educational challenges of diverse and multicultural societies require responses from a socio-critical approach that analyses reality from broad perspectives such as cultural pluralism that permeates educational interventions, including teaching practices. This is a multidimensional process that requires continuous communication and cooperation processes.