Effects of practices and teaching methods on different measures of the educational output: the case of Spanish universities

• Main Authors: Pedro José PÉREZ VÁZQUEZ, Luis Eduardo VILA LLADOSA
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ediciones Universidad de Salamanca 2016-07-01
• Series: AULA: Revista de Pedagogía
• Subjects: output educativo; función de producción educativa; métodos enseñanza/aprendizaje; competencias profesionales
• Online Access: https://revistas.usal.es/index.php/0214-3402/article/view/14688

This article analyses the relationships between the educational resources applied in higher education and two types of measures of educational output: average grade obtained by students and the contribution of studies to the development of diverse professional competencies. The relationships are modelled using multi-level production function equations, with the corresponding output measure as the dependent variable. The explanatory variables are the prevalence of various teaching/learning modes and a set of variables that control for the behaviour of students during their studies and for their personal attributes. Estimates, using data from European project Reflex, show significant relationships between the teaching and learning methods used and the alternative measures of educational output considered. The results show that attending lectures has the greatest impact on average grades; nonetheless, more proactive learning methods such as problem-based learning, internships and work provision, and practical knowledge are most influential for the development of professional competencies.