Inquiry-based Learning in Pre-service Training for Secondary Education Counselors

Introduction: This article describes an experience carried out with a group of students from the Master's Degree in Secondary Education Teacher Training where Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) is applied to train future educational counselors. Method: The subject Educational Research and Innovation is structured around the task of evaluating an educational program. The students work in groups to evaluate the Master's Degree itself. To do this, they must develop a demand, design a project, collect and analyze data, and write and disseminate a report of findings with recommendations for the improvement of the Master's Degree. The experience has been evaluated through different means: learning achievements of students, reflections of the participants and a report based on the institutional evaluation of the experience. Results: All students have clearly achieved the learning objectives and are satisfied with the experience. They confirm to have developed technical skills related to the discipline and to have improved their teamwork skills. They also claim to have developed greater confidence in their own ability for future professional performance. Conclusions: IBL facilitates the development of professional skills for Educational Guidance. The use of this methodology requires that lecturers plan and be flexible during development. Additionally, it is necessary to monitor and support students throughout the process.