Teacher training spaces as a tool for innovation in a higher education organization

Abstract

Traditionally, innovation was linked to the incorporation of technologies into organizations. However, various developments have made this concept more complex and expanded. Thus, in recent decades the concept of culture of innovation has gained relevance and is considered essential for the emergence of ideas, methods and strategies along with their subsequent implementation within organizations. A study is presented about different forms of innovation made possible in a higher-level educational organization from the virtualization of education due to the COVID19 pandemic. A questionnaire was applied to 81 teachers from an argentinian public Faculty of Psychology. Data analysis was performed from a multi-method approach, descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests were calculated, and discourse analysis was performed. The results show that, although the pandemic promoted the incorporation of ICT in education, the most significant innovations were the organizational conditions surrounding said implementation. The teacher training spaces enabled the circulation of experiences and collective learning and are presented as a fundamental tool to facilitate innovation in higher education. Subsequent studies should focus on specific innovations assimilated into the culture of the organization.