Purpose This paper aims to explore the perceptions of preservice teachers regarding their learning during the teaching practicum (TP) period in the context of the pandemic. Specifically, the objectives of this study are to analyze the difficulties and the learning consequences perceived by student teachers and also to identify proposals with which to improve the initial teacher education (ITE) during the TP period in times of uncertainty and crisis. Design/methodology/approach This study used a mixed-methods approach. The participants consisted of 89 preservice teachers (student teachers). An online questionnaire was used to collect data during January 2022 in two rounds. The data analysis was carried out from an integrative perspective and used both a descriptive approach and the content analysis of the participants’ narratives. Findings The results show the differences, adjustments and adaptations that have had to be implemented in schools as a whole. The findings also highlight the difficulties that the pandemic context has caused for the TP period in schools and the relevant implications that it has had on ITE during these past two academic years. Originality/value This research is relevant for a better understanding of the challenges faced during the pandemic in the field of early childhood and primary education. More specifically, this paper gives important clues to higher education institutions on how to carry out TP, especially in times of uncertainty and crisis.

Objetivo. Evaluar la promoción de la competencia cooperativa en el contexto de la formación inicial docente desde la percepción del alumnado y del equipo de docentes. Metodología: Se diseñó desde un enfoque cualitativo y desde las tradiciones metodológicas de la investigación-acción en el aula y de la narrativa-biográfica, una propuesta curricular basada en el guion metodológico del espacio pedagógico de psicología del aprendizaje, como formato didáctico a implementar en el aula; desde una mirada evaluativa se analizaron tres fases: inicial, procesual y final. Los instrumentos empleados fueron un cuestionario cerrado, para evaluar las necesidades formativas del alumnado, el diario del investigador o investigadora para registrar las reflexiones del equipo docente y una entrevista semiestructurada aplicada a estudiantes. Las personas participantes fueron 47 estudiantes y el equipo docente estuvo integrado por 3 profesionales. Resultados. Los resultados indican que, para el alumnado, la experiencia formativa implementada favoreció la reconstrucción de significados, experiencias y comprensiones sobre el trabajo cooperativo en el contexto de la profesión y, desde la percepción del personal docente permitió nuevos espacios de reflexión e integración de la teoría y la práctica. Conclusión. La experiencia curricular implementada en un contexto dialógico y cooperativo permitió comprender que la competencia cooperativa, no es un fin en sí misma, sino que favorece la construcción de la identidad docente.

<p style="text-align: justify;">The objective of this study was to promote the use of metaphorical stories based on classical Greek myths in academic teacher training. The aim is to favour processes of personal assemblage and the constitution of teacher identity. Based on 8 classical myths, 4 of them featuring a female character and another 4 a male character, the group of participants narrated positive as well as disappointing experiences they had lived through during their academic training. Moreover, they selected the myths, among those proposed, that provided the metaphors that best described their specific personal trajectories. Adopting a qualitative approach, we followed a narrative-biographical tradition and collected 37 stories. This narrative corpus was analysed using the AQUAD software. The results showed that classical Greek myths contain and provide a powerful and illuminating narrative scaffolding, helping students to adopt a different perspective in the narration of their own academic trajectories. The myths equally helped them to become more aware of the most genuine life and personal experiences that shaped their own teacher identity.</p>

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