Teaching strategies to strengthen the practical training of aquaculture interns in Duzalarv, Sucre

Abstract

Introduction: This research addresses the design of teaching strategies to strengthen the practical training of Aquaculture interns at the Technical University of Manabí (UTM) in the DUZALARV laboratory (Sucre, Ecuador), given the evidence of weaknesses in training planning, insufficient pedagogical support from company mentors, and limited transfer of theoretical knowledge to practical production. Materials and methods: A mixed-methods approach of a descriptive-propositive nature was adopted, with a sample of 60 interns who completed an 18-item structured questionnaire (Likert scale, Cronbach's alpha not reported) and 6 laboratory staff members who participated in semi-structured interviews with 12 open-ended questions. Results: The interns' overall perception of the teaching strategies was low (mean = 2.86/5), with the dimensions of guidance and support (2.76) and knowledge transfer (2.84) at low levels; the item with the lowest score was specific feedback (2.60). In practical training, the overall average was 2.98, highlighting the low autonomy in problem-solving (2.47). 88.3% of the interns considered more structured strategies necessary, and the collaborators acknowledged their lack of pedagogical tools. Discussion: The findings confirm that the lack of pedagogical training among technical instructors hinders the systematization of knowledge; the identified gap between theory and practice reinforces the need for structured field practices to effectively transfer knowledge. Conclusions: Significant weaknesses in the teaching strategies implemented at DUZALARV are confirmed, particularly in training planning, pedagogical support, and knowledge transfer; interns develop basic technical skills but without achieving autonomy in problem-solving; there is a consensus on the need for more structured strategies, therefore, contextualized strategies are required to strengthen the formative role of the tutors and promote the development of technical skills in the interns.