Innovative pedagogical strategies and their impact on meaningful learning in contemporary educational contexts

Abstract

The social, technological and cultural transformations that characterise contemporary educational settings require the continual updating of pedagogical practices, aimed at responding appropriately to the formative needs of students. In this regard, innovative pedagogical strategies gain prominence by promoting teaching processes grounded in active participation, intellectual autonomy and the conscious construction of knowledge. In parallel, meaningful learning emerges as an essential element in improving educational quality, as it encourages the progressive integration of new knowledge with learners’ prior understanding, enabling deep, functional and transferable comprehension of content. The study was conducted through a descriptive–analytical documentary approach, focused on the analysis and organisation of specialised scholarly production, considering contributions published across diverse educational contexts. The selection and evaluation of sources followed the PRISMA protocol guidelines, ensuring methodological rigour and coherence throughout the research process. The findings indicate that active methodologies, collaborative practices, guided exploratory experiences and the pedagogical use of technological resources support the strengthening of meaningful learning by increasing academic motivation, student engagement and the ability to apply knowledge in varied situations. These contributions highlight pedagogical innovation as a key component in enhancing contemporary educational processes.