Effectiveness of service learning in pre-service teachers for the development of their future teaching performance

Abstract

This research analyzes the effectiveness of service-learning projects in teachers in training with the aim of promoting Education for Sustainable Development from a double perspective: effects on the teaching/learning process and on their future teaching work. For this purpose, 107 students of the second year of the Primary Education Degree carried out the service-learning project adapted to experimental sciences. A cross-sectional quantitative study was carried out using a validated questionnaire in which 4 categories were analyzed: awareness, behavioral change, usefulness in their future profession and transcendence to society. The results showed that service learning is an effective way to address socio-environmental issues in future teachers, and that it allows them to transfer it to the field of their future professional performance. The awareness generated was significant, favoring reflection and provoking behavioral changes. The realization of the project has served as a feasible and motivating example to promote methodologies of this type in their future professional practice. In addition, the project achieved transcendence outside the classroom, thus constituting evidence that this type of projects are effective in promoting changes in society.