The article explains the effects of the paradigmatic and epistemological changes of modernity and the contemporary world, in everyday school practice. The purpose is to reflect on the paradigmatic and epistemological renewal in the formative processes of everyday school practice, given the coexistence of the transmission of content and pedagogical initiatives qualitative science. Methodologically, a literature review was conducted to structure an analysis of positive knowledge and pedagogical transmissivity and construction of qualitative knowledge from subjectivity. We conclude that in the globalized scenario, be citizens of the century, motivating research processes required to promote educational training analytical, reflective and critical, from the participation, involvement and social responsibility.