Pedagogical practices for Tourism Programmes

Abstract

To think about higher education in tourism is to understand that professors need specific knowledge of its field of work as well as knowledge of pedagogical practices. Nevertheless, a great number of professors see themselves just as experts in one specific field of work, and act based on tacit knowledge, common sense and mimetically reproduced models. A paradox can be revealed: even though scientific research on tourism is growing, the same pace is not detected in teaching practices for education in tourism programmes. At the course Teaching Practices: Planning and Operation, at the Tourism Master Programm at Universidade de Caxias do Sul, theoretical and practical reflections led to rethinking teaching practices in higher education tourism programmes. From students point of view, outcome was positive, mainly compared with their own comprehension habilities at the beginning and at the end of the course and when enrichment due to epistemology of learning are identified.

Keywords

• Formação do turismólogo. Prática docente.