Paradigms and trends in higher education: the action research methodology as a teacher education strategy

The aim of this paper was to discuss the paradigms and trends in higher education today, pointing out strategies for teacher education. Action research was used as the method. Data were gathered using the techniques of up-and-down panorama, Wordle and class diaries, while conducting teacher training for mentoring actions in a discipline involving blended learning. The participants' testimonies indicated dissatisfaction with use of the traditional teaching model; the importance placed on teachers being open to new things; and also that use of innovative teaching processes was considered to be an important strategy for changing the educational paradigm. The process of training university teachers was shown to be effective with regard to raising awareness among these individuals about the importance of introducing teaching into the agenda of the university's priorities.