Independent work as a contributing factor to the learners? cognitive independence should be present in the pedagogic formation process of educators-to-be to prepare them for the application of didactic and methodological strategies so that they are able to develop comprehensive personalities in their pupils in the future. The present study aimed at diagnosing the presence of independent work in the Pedagogy Discipline in Basic Education, Education in Informatics, Psycho-pedagogy and Initial and Kindergarten Education courses at Machala Technical University. The methodological strategy was systematized by means of scientific observation, hermeneutic, bibliographic revision and statistic methods. The data collected were obtained by means of direct observation of 15 lessons and surveys to 50 learners. It was concluded that there are teacher limitations in the orientation and control of task assignments; as well as deficiencies in the formation process of the necessary pedagogic skills that should be developed in the teachers-to-be to contribute to the achievement of cognitive independence in their pupils by means of independent work.