Search

Purpose: Whilst an urgent need for collaboration is increasingly seen in education to better respond to socio-educational challenges, in practice, collaboration between primary school teachers and their partners is hampered by barriers. The aim of this study is to shed light on these barriers from a human resource management (HRM) angle, using the ability, motivation and opportunity (AMO) framework. Design/methodology/approach: Quantitative and qualitative data were collected amongst staff in 16 child centres offering joint pre-school, education and childcare. Findings: The authors' findings suggest that in general, both teachers and childcare workers perceive themselves as skilled and motivated for collaboration. They perceive aspects of opportunity to perform as most important barriers. Practical implications: Based on this research, school leaders are advised to organise opportunities for collaboration, especially by fostering an inclusive organisational climate and scheduling sufficient time for collaboration. Originality/value: This paper contributes to the relatively scarce body of research on HRM within the education sector. Furthermore, it illustrates the applicability of the AMO model for gaining insight into how educational management can be utilised to foster increased collaboration between teachers and childcare workers.

The importance of social learning for student teachers' professional development has gained acknowledgement. One way in which teacher training institutes incorporate social learning in their curricula is by involving students in teacher learning groups (TLGs). Participation in TLGs not only enables students to develop social skills, but also prevents them from feeling isolated and losing motivation for their studies. The present study uses convergent parallel mixed-methods design to search for relationships between TLGs' social configuration and motivation among participating students (n = 55) of four Dutch primary teacher training institutes. The analyses reveal seven key variables for student motivation in TLGs: autonomous choices regarding content; new knowledge; sharing, support, and social skills; personal goals; autonomous choices regarding collaborating partners; scaffolding; equality in an informal atmosphere. Based on the findings, we advise teacher training institutes to consider integrating homogeneous and heterogeneous TLGs in their curricula, because both are valuable for student motivation.

The importance of reflection during learning process is widely recognized. Drawing on the literature, this article presents a study where students were stimulated to reflect during experiential learning, in order to both re- and de- contextualize their knowledge. We describe how different levels of prompted reflection can be related to academic performance and perceptions of the learning process. We found positive relationships between prompting reflection and the academic performance. It is therefore argued that prompting reflection leads to higher levels of reflection and better performance in writing. The results also show that higher levels of reflection do not have to diminish students' motivation, perception of usefulness, interest and enjoyment during learning. Finally, the results reveal needs for encouraging more collaborative reflection during learning.

Although reflection has been characterised as a personal process, increased attention has been given to how the social context can enhance it. The present article examines how different levels of collaborative reflection influence learning processes and outcomes in higher education. We used a triangulation of quantitative and qualitative research methods to answer our research questions about this relation.Within the context of an Educational Sciences Master course, the findings from our study show that guiding students to share, read, and above discuss written answers on reflection assignments from others can be helpful for a deeper and broader understanding and a higher level of reflection. Discussing reflection from different perspectives was related to perceived satisfaction with the learning process and the motivation to learn. The implications of this research, such as the five phases for social knowledge construction, can be used to strengthen the relationship between reflection and collaboration.

Increasingly, teacher learning groups (TLGs) are being deployed as a way to realise high-quality educational designs. There is a need for monitoring and for insights into the development of TLGs. Therefore, in the present study, the 'Dimensions of Social Learning Questionnaire' (DSL-Q) is developed that can be used to map the social configuration of TLGs. This article describes the validation of the questionnaire for student teachers, teacher educators and in-service teachers (n = 488) by means of successive exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, resulting in an instrument with good psychometric properties. The final version of the questionnaire contains 13 items, divided into three factors: practice integration, long-term orientation and goals, and shared identity and equal relationships. The instrument is suitable for quantitative research to gain more insights into the conditional and the outcome variables of social learning. Future research can incorporate theoretical dimensions regarding the value of the social learning process and its outcomes as well as insights concerning socially shared regulation of learning.

Teachers' assessment literacy affects the quality of assessments and is, therefore, an essential part of teachers' competence. Recent studies define assessment literacy as a dynamic, contextual and social construct, situated in practice and mediated by teachers' identity and conceptions of assessment. This study provides a further elaboration of assessment literacy by exploring teachers' conceptions of assessment literacy from a sociocultural perspective. Eleven online focus group interviews were conducted within the context of Dutch higher professional education between June and December 2020. A template analysis method was used to analyse the data. Seven interrelated aspects of assessment literacy were identified, namely 'continuously developing assessment literacy', 'conscientious decision making', 'aligning', 'collaborating', 'discussing', 'improving and innovating', and 'coping with tensions'. This representation of assessment literacy, based on teachers' conceptions, may guide teachers' development of assessment literacy in practice.

Despite the fact that innovative behaviour of teachers is important for the quality of teaching in our knowledge society, there is still little research into leadership and organizational factors that influence teachers' innovative behaviour. By combining self-concept leadership theory, social exchange theory and a hierarchical model of the distance of variables to human behaviour from an interactive perspective, we tried to unravel the relationships between school organization and teacher variables. Based on longitudinal data (2011, 2012, 2013) from a select sample of 597 teachers (being part of a research panel), a structural equation model (Mplus) was used for testing the relationship between transformational leadership, the school learning climate, the quality of teacher-leadership relationships (leader-member exchange), teachers' inquiry habit of mind and teachers' innovative behaviour. The findings show a very good fit for the model and contribute to confirmation of the combined used theories and concepts of leadership in education, leaderships' influence on the organizational learning climate, the crucial mediating role of leader-member exchange between organizational variables and teacher variables, and the mediating dispositional variable of teachers' inquiry habit of mind between leader-member exchange and innovative behaviour. This study adds to our insights into the complexity of innovation in school organizations.

Background: The majority of children with cerebral palsy (CP) experience challenges in functional communication from a young age. A pivotal aspect of functional communication is language comprehension. A variety of classification systems and questionnaires are available to classify and describe functional communication skills in children with CP. A better understanding of the convergent validity of (subsections of) these tools, as well as their relationship with spoken language comprehension, will be valuable in both clinical practice and research. Aims: To investigate the convergent validity of (subsections of) functional communication tools and the relationship with spoken language comprehension in children with CP. Methods & Procedures: Cross-sectional data on 138 children were subdivided into three developmental stages based on (Dutch) educational phases: ages 18 months-3;11y (n = 59), 4;0-5;11 years (n = 37) and 6;0-8;11 years (n = 42). The following functional communication tools were used to classify and describe functional communication: Communication Function Classification System (CFCS), subscales of the Caregivers Priorities and Child Health Index of Life with Disabilities--Dutch Version (CPCHILD-DV) and the Focus on Communication Under Six-34 (FOCUS-34) questionnaire. Spoken language comprehension was assessed with the Computer-Based instrument for Low motor Language Testing (C-BiLLT). Correlations between the functional communication tools, and with the C-BiLLT, were calculated using Pearson's and Spearman's correlation coefficients. It was hypothesized a priori that correlations of at least 0.60 suggest good convergent validity. Outcomes & Results: At all developmental stages, a significant ordered decreasing tendency of communication outcomes was found across CFCS levels; lower CFCS levels were associated with lower scores on the CPCHILD-DV and FOCUS-34, and with a lower level of spoken language comprehension (C-BiLLT). Correlation coefficients of the functional communication tools exceeded 0.60 at all developmental stages. Correlations between C-BiLLT raw scores and the functional communication tools varied between 0.351 and 0.591 at developmental stage 18 months-3;11 years, between 0.781 and 0.897 at developmental stage 4;0-5;11 years, and between 0.635 and 0.659 at developmental stage 6;0-8;11 years. Conclusions & Implications: The functional communication tools assessed in this study showed convergent validity at all developmental stages. The CFCS, currently most widely used in paediatric rehabilitation, is adequate in the classification of functional communication. However, for more detailed clinical goal setting and evaluation of change in functional communication, the additional use of FOCUS-34 or CPCHILD-DV is recommended.

The environment in which Vocational Education and Training (VET) schools operate changes rapidly due to more varied student populations, personalised, blended and work-based learning paths, developments in digitalisation, industry, and labour markets. These changes and policy pressures to ensure VET quality, demand teachers to continuously develop their professionalism and demands efficient and effective teacher professional development (PD). This research purpose is to establish design requirements (DR) for effective PD that are usable in different VET institutes and therefore suitable for larger scale implementation. As one of the two iterative circles in a design-based research project, this study is based on findings from the first iteration. The context, respondents and the PD program were comparable to the first iteration. Data were collected with a mix of methods using validated instruments in several levels of impact (attitudinal-, organisational support, reaction- and learning). A comparison of the results from both programs resulted in several DRs which appeared to be functional in both studies. The DRs: 'tolerance for complex contexts', 'contribution to a professional identity' and 'team based and collective participation' proved to be effective in two iterative cycles of testing and are therefore suitable for large(r) scale implementation.

Research has shown that mobile technology could enhance the effectiveness of common language learning activities but in practice, few teachers are using mobile devices. Fishbein and Ajzen's (2010) reasoned action approach was used to identify to which extent certain personal factors influenced teachers' intentions to integrate smartphones in their language lessons. Data were collected from 63 teachers at language centres connected to 15 institutes for Higher Education in the Netherlands. Four subgroups were distinguished based on two variables: first basic versus smartphone owners and second non versus frequent phone users. The subgroup of basic phone owners had less favourable feelings, and a subgroup of frequent phone users had more favourable feelings towards integrating smartphones in their lessons compared with the whole group. Differences in the number of hours teachers worked and age were not significant. Some differences were found in the role of perceived norm and perceived behavioural control for the whole group and for the subgroup of smartphone owners (n = 49). This study contributed to the growing number of studies that found Fishbein and Ajzen's model suitable for predicting technology acceptance in an educational context.

This study explored the relationships between task beliefs about the empty number line (ENL), mathematical ability, gender, and voluntary ENL use in multi-digit subtraction and addition. One hundred twenty-three Dutch third-grade students and nine teachers from six schools participated in this study. The multilevel path analysis showed that task beliefs about the ENL mediated the relationship between students' mathematical ability and their voluntary ENL use. No gender differences were found in the multilevel path analysis. Finally, the results show that task beliefs about the ENL and voluntary ENL use differed across classrooms. The discussion focuses on the implications of the results for using the ENL in diagnostic assessment.

For investigating a comprehensive PLC framework, instruments are needed that capture the multi-layered PLC characteristics and that take into account the complex influencing educational context. Such instruments are currently lacking. This study aims at describing the development and validation of two qualitative classification instruments usable for systematically identifying changes in PLCs. The 11 characteristics and accompanying behavioural and attitudinal indicators of a recently designed PLC framework were converted into codes and measuring values. For this conversion the 'directed content analysis approach' was used. The result is two classification instruments that can be used to collect and classify behavioural and attitudinal data from interviews and observations. The instruments cover all the characteristics, respectively indicators of the PLC framework and are suitable for validation by triangulation. This study contributes to the methodology for investigating PLCs by presenting two theoretically grounded and validated sets of codes, and two sets of measuring values. The latter is important for systematically developing knowledge on PLCs in educational practice. In everyday educational practice the instruments can be used to determine the state of the PLC and steps can be taken to stimulate its development.

The past two decades research on teachers' professional development focusses increasingly on professional learning communities (PLCs). Based on a literature search a conceptual framework was developed including a comprehensive PLC-concept. Comprehensive because it takes into account the complexity of the educational context. The PLC-concept outlining 11 characteristics, is embedded in a framework, containing five external factors that influence. The framework was evaluated by interviewing educational experts. The literature search and the interviews showed a great diversity of distinct PLC characteristics and a wide range of external influencing factors. Based on expert interviews, no essential elements appeared to be lacking in the framework, moreover no other perspectives on the framework were mentioned. An additional search on recent literature confirmed the constructed framework. As yet we concluded that the developed concept is sufficiently comprehensive and feasible for conducting research on PLCs.

Fostering the development of Professional Learning communities (PLCs) should be a priority for education because of their capacity to enhance teachers' professional development. However, in everyday educational (school) contexts studying and supporting the growth of PLCs is a complex endeavour. As a consequence, there is a lack of instruments for extensively investigating PLCs on different levels of development as well as the factors that influence the development. This article describes the first steps of the construction of measuring instruments, suitable to investigate PLCs in the complex school context: a study of the operationalisation of PLC characteristics and influencing factors into attitudinal and behavioural indicators. The operationalisation is founded on relevant literature and on educational practice, the latter by focus groups consisting of educational practitioners. This study yielded indicators for the eleven characteristics of the PLC concept and two context factors, which were subsequently used for selecting and constructing instruments. This study contributes to the research methodology for investigating PLCs and to bridge the gap between educational research and educational practice. The latter by constructing instruments that are considered relevant, recognisable and practical by educational practitioners.

The power of portfolios in enhancing student motivation is frequently emphasised. Portfolios are conceptualised as a tool to implement Assessment for Learning (AfL) in classroom practice. However, the relation between portfolios and AfL on the one hand, and student motivation on the other hand, is complex and subject to many assumptions. This study investigates whether portfolio use actually supports the integration of AfL in classroom practice and the relation with students' motivation. Questionnaires were administered to a total of 419 grade 4 to 6 students from seven Dutch elementary schools. The results of structural equation modelling did not confirm a direct relation between portfolio use and students' motivational orientation. The findings indicate that the relation between portfolios and motivational orientation is fully mediated by students' perceptions of AfL. The findings indicate that the tool portfolio is not related to students' motivation, however, AfL practices do affect motivation.

Learning to solve subtraction problems that require borrowing (e.g., 83-57=) is challenging, and these problems often cause 'bridging' errors, such as the smaller-from-larger error. This study explores how bridging errors in subtraction are related to students' mathematical ability. The study involved 694 third-grade students and 35 teachers from 25 Dutch schools. Multilevel regression analyses showed that the number of bridging errors was positively related to the students' mathematical ability, after controlling for the total number of errors in subtraction. Thus, the students who had a high proportion of bridging errors within the total number of errors had a relatively higher mathematical ability compared to the students who had a low proportion of bridging errors. This result implies that diagnosing bridging errors may help to identify where students' stand within their mathematical development. The practical implications of this result for the design of diagnostic instruments are addressed in the discussion section.

The Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science has funded a five years program to encourage the use, creation and sharing of Open Educational Resources (OER) by teachers from various types of education. This program is known as Wikiwijs. Ultimo 2013, the program has come to an end. As some of the assumptions at the start of Wikiwijs proved to work out in unexpected ways the lessons learned could fuel the next steps in developing Wikiwijs. Besides, other national initiatives on "opening up education" may also benefit from the lessons learned reported here. The main conclusion from five years Wikiwijs was that to accomplish mainstreaming OER, the Wikiwijs program should go along with other interventions that are more oriented toward prescriptive policies and regulations. In particular: the Dutch government should be more directive in persuading executive boards and teachers on schools to adopt OER as an important part of educational reform and the acquisition of 21st century skills. [This paper was presented at the OpenCourseWare Consortium Global Conference (Ljubljana, Slovenia, April 23-25, 2014).]

In the present study the construct inquiry of mind explored and an instrument to measure it is proposed. Using three different samples, explorative and confirmative factor analyses were performed, resulting in three empirical dimensions that correspond to the three theoretical dimensions: 1) 'value deep understanding,' 2) 'reserve judgment and tolerate ambiguity,' and 3) 'taking a range of perspectives and posing increasingly focused questions.' Our findings suggest the teachers' inquiry habit of mind scale has good psychometric properties making it useful not only for research that investigates teachers' research attitude and intention to do research but also as an evaluation tool for the development of an inquiry habit of mind in both student teachers and teacher educators (in teacher education) as well as in experienced teachers (participating in professional development).

The growing complexity and numerous changes in Dutch vocational education and training (VET) pressures teachers to continually develop their teaching profession. Therefore professional development (PD) is needed, but policy-initiated and imposed PD might be ineffective. Thus the purpose of this research is to evaluate which design requirements (DR) in a mandatory PD programme delivered in a VET institute appear to show the most effectiveness. Based on a review study aimed at detecting effectiveness enhancing DR an assessor PD programme was redesigned and implemented. This programme was evaluated with respect to effectiveness on five different levels of impact considering participants' attitudes, their reactions, what they had learned or what behaviour they developed, and organizational support. Each level of impact was evaluated using existing and self-constructed instruments including questionnaires, surveys, interviews and observations. Thirty-nine teachers took part in this redesigned PD programme. Several DR appeared to show measurable levels of effectiveness: tolerance for complex contexts, contribution to a professional identity, and team based and collective participation.

Teachers' innovative behaviour and professional development are important aspects of high-quality education. It is often thought that motivation influences teachers' innovative behaviour and professional development. The main purpose of this study is to gain more insight into motivational processes contributing to teachers' innovative behaviour. Using Self-Determination Theory, both intrinsic motivation and basic psychological need satisfaction are addressed. From an organizational psychology perspective, occupational self-efficacy is also included in the hypothesized model. Online survey data from teachers in primary, secondary, and vocational education in the Netherlands (n = 2,385) are analysed using structural equation modeling. Results show that basic psychological need satisfaction affects both intrinsic motivation and occupational self-efficacy, and that the latter strongly supports innovative behaviour.

This study investigated whether school organizational variables (ie, transformative leadership (TL), ICT-infrastructure (technical and social) and organizational learning climate were related to teachers' dispositional variables (ie, attitude, perceived norm and perceived behavior control [PBC]). The direct and indirect influences of the organizational variables on teachers' intention and use of digital learning materials (DLMs) were also investigated. A longitudinal design was used with three measurements spread out over four years. A total number of 544 randomly selected teachers from the Dutch primary, secondary and vocational education responded to all questionnaires. Model fit was tested using structural equation modeling. All dispositional variables predicted the use of DLMs, mediated by teachers' intention. TL had direct and indirect relationships via ICT-infrastructure and learning climate with attitude, perceived norm and PBC. The longitudinal design proved the chronological effect of TL on learning climate and the dispositional variables. However, not all TL dimensions had relationships with ICT-infrastructure (only TL-vision and TL-intellectual stimulation) and with learning climate (only TL-intellectual stimulation). For educational practice, the results indicated that leadership can promote teachers' use of DLMs directly and by supporting a school wide learning climate under the condition that an ICT-infrastructure exists.

To gain insight into how to promote teachers' use of digital learning materials (DLMs) in their pedagogical practices we adopted the Integrated Model of Behaviour Prediction to investigate the relationships between organizational and teacher-related variables. A representative sample of 772 teachers from primary, secondary or vocational education took part in a survey study. Conjectured combinations of direct and indirect relationships between the variables were tested for the best model fit with structural equation modelling. The results suggest that a model with mediating relations from leadership through information and communication technology (ICT) policy and professional development activities to the variables self-efficacy, attitude and social norm, combined with direct relations from leadership to the latter, has the best fit for predicting teachers' intention to use DLMs.

Innovative behavior can be described as a process in which new ideas are generated, created, developed, applied, promoted, realized, and modified by employees to benefit role performance. Various reasons, such as rapid technological and social changes in society, underline the necessity for innovative behavior of employees and certainly of teachers. However, little research has been conducted that explores teacher innovative behavior and which factors influence this behavior or what effects can be achieved through such behavior. In this systematic literature review, we develop a preliminary model of factors that enhance innovative behavior in educational organizations. Similar to findings of studies in other human behavior fields, self-efficacy plays an important role as well as a variety of individual and environmental factors. Based on this review, we urge for more systematic research on teacher innovative behavior to enhance the future quality of education.

Background: Assessment for Learning (AfL) is believed to create a rich learning environment in which students develop their cognitive and metacognitive strategies. Monitoring student growth and providing scaffolds that shed light on the next step in the learning process are hypothesized to be essential elements of AfL that enhance cognitive and metacognitive strategies. However, empirical evidence for the relation between AfL and students' strategy use is scarce. Aim: This study investigates the relation between AfL and elementary school students' use of cognitive and metacognitive strategies. Sample: The sample comprised 528 grade four to six students (9-to 12-year-olds) from seven Dutch elementary schools. Methods: Students' perceptions of AfL and their cognitive and metacognitive strategy use were measured by means of questionnaires. Structural equation modelling was used to investigate the relations among the variables. Results: The results reveal that monitoring activities that provide students an understanding of where they are in their learning process predict Students' task orientation and planning. Scaffolding activities that support students in taking the next step in their learning are positively related to the use of both surface and deep-level learning strategies and the extent to which they evaluate their learning process after performing tasks. Conclusions: The results underline the importance of assessment practices in ceding responsibility to students in taking control of their own learning.

Liberal democratic states face new challenges in balancing between principles of religious freedom and non-discrimination and in balancing these constitutional principles with other concerns, including social cohesion, good education, and immigrant-integration. In a context of increased prominence of secular and anti-Islamic voices in political debate, there are demands to reduce legal "exceptions" for (conservative) religious groups in the Netherlands. This article focuses in particular on public debate and jurisprudence with regard to education and explores discussions of associational freedoms that are of importance to religious schools, including the right to select and refuse pupils (the debate on the so-called duty to enrol ("acceptatieplicht")), the possibilities for schools to refuse hiring staff who do not support the school's philosophy (for example in relation to sexual orientation), and teaching on sexuality and sexual diversity. The article concludes by arguing that the Netherlands is undergoing a shift in the conceptualisation of religious freedom in relation to liberal equality, which in the longer run may destabilise a tradition of toleration and substantial collective freedoms for conservative religious groups.

Feedback is essential in any kind of learning. This study focused on feedback in online learning and conceptualized feedback as a social interaction process. Online learning rests on social interaction, which is affected by feelings of social presence. Therefore, we investigated received and perceived online feedback, and the coherence between them. In addition, we studied the influence of social presence on feedback processes. Sixteen Dutch student teachers, who followed a 1 year customized postgraduate teacher education course, engaged in an online peer coaching program using Skype. Data could be collected from 8 different participants and 966 feedback utterances were analysed. In order to determine the quality of this received feedback, an observational instrument was used. In addition, questionnaires were filled in that addressed student teachers' feedback perceptions and feelings of social presence. Findings showed that participants with higher feedback perceptions received more effective observed feedback than participants with lower perceptions. Feelings of social presence affected perceived and observed feedback, however the social presence items need further validation. This study has practical implications for providing effective online feedback as well as providing a more holistic view on the processes of feedback among teachers.

In this article, we report on a study that investigated the motivational (e.g. intrinsic motivation) and dispositional variables (e.g. attitudes) that determine teachers' intention to use or not to use digital learning materials (DLMs). To understand the direct and indirect relationships between these variables, we replicated a study in which self-determination theory (SDT) and the theory of planned behaviour/integrated model of behaviour prediction (IMBP) are combined and a distinction was made between global level psychological needs, and contextual level as well as situational level motivational constructs. Using a sample of 1273 teachers, our preliminary findings support the findings of the previous study. The combined model potentially provides us with a more comprehensive explanation of teachers' volitional behaviour regarding their use of DLMs in their pedagogical practices than would be possible on the basis of SDT or IMBP alone.

Professional development plans (PDPs) have recently been introduced in Dutch schools to support teachers' professional development. However, teachers' beliefs regarding the use of PDPs have not been systematically researched, whereas research on the use of PDPs indicates that the implementation is not always successful and depends on how use is perceived by users. Some teachers may doubt the usefulness and purpose of a PDP, and this might influence their reactions to its introduction. Using Fishbein and Ajzen's theory of planned behaviour, the current study explored teachers' characteristics (such as age and years of experience in education) and their beliefs about intention to use a PDP. Clusters of teachers with similar characteristics and beliefs were identified to permit the design of interventions specific to each cluster. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to reveal these beliefs and characteristics for a sample of 41 teachers working in schools where using a PDP was mandatory. The results showed that most teachers had a positive attitude towards using a PDP. However, because using a PDP was mandatory, they felt pressured to produce one. Moreover, it was not a priority. This was because of their high workload. The present study contributes to the literature by adding knowledge of teachers' beliefs about the use of PDPs. This knowledge may help the PDP to become a more effective device in promoting teachers' professional development.

More than 50% of Dutch 12-year olds already started drinking. Since it is known that delaying the onset of alcohol use results in a lower risk of alcohol-related problems, the recently developed "In control: No alcohol!" prevention program is targeted at elementary school children and their mothers. In this pilot study, the success of program implementation and impact of the program on quality of alcohol-specific communication, rules and monitoring were evaluated, using a randomized controlled design. A total of 108 children (11-12 years) and their mothers participated in the prevention program, while the control group consisted of 105 dyads. Families participating in the experimental condition showed an increase in frequency of alcohol-specific communication and 75% of the dyads reported that they took part in at least 3 of 5 magazines, suggesting implementation was successful. The program led to an increase in quality of communication but only for those dyads in which mothers' alcohol use was above average. The program led parents to set up a non-drinking contract with their children and to monitor their children more closely. Results are promising but need to be replicated in a larger longitudinal study.

Despite that benefits of feedback in student learning are reported in much research, little has been reported regarding the use of feedback from teachers to other teachers--a key tool in professional development. In this study, we triangulated data from videotaped peer coaching sessions, questionnaires, and interviews regarding 12 primary school teachers in four peer groups in the Netherlands. We focused our research on two issues: the interplay of observed feedback dimensions and elements and perceptions of that feedback. Feedback dimensions were generally effective and the influence of the elements on the dimensions mostly aligned with the expectations. Teachers generally perceived feedback as effective. Moreover, effective observed feedback was perceived as effective. Findings indicate that peer coaches should stimulate coached teachers to become goal directed, specific, detailed, and neutral (neither positive nor negative) by using feedback elements so as to optimize feedback processes. (Contains 5 tables, 1 figure and 1 footnote.)

In Self-Determination Theory, basic psychological needs for relatedness, autonomy and competence are distinguished. Basic psychological need-fulfilment is considered to be critical for human development and intrinsic motivation. In the Netherlands, the concept of basic psychological need-fulfilment is introduced in the curricula of many teacher education institutes. This study reports on five teacher education institutes for primary school teachers where study coaches made use of a Dutch version of the Basic Psychological Needs Scale (BPNS) to collect data to be used in a discussion with student teachers about their intrinsic motivation for a specific part of the teacher education course. On the basis of the outcomes of this discussion, study coaches and student teachers derived consequences for day-to-day practice in their classrooms. The data which resulted were also used to establish whether the theoretical distinction between three basic psychological needs was found in this sample of student teachers in the Netherlands. The results show that the constructs of relatedness, autonomy and competence were found and could be measured using a 14-item five-point scale, based partly on the original BPNS and partly on new items that focus on different sources of perceived need-fulfilment, namely teacher education in general, the study coach and fellow students. (Contains 6 tables.)

The aim of this study is to investigate the experiences of student teachers participating in an introductory course, designed to stimulate the development of a positive attitude towards research and to stimulate the development of research knowledge and skills by second-year student teachers of an institute of primary teacher education. A questionnaire (N = 81) was used to measure the students' attitude and perceptions of the development of their attitude towards research, their perceived development of research knowledge and skills and what parts of the introductory course they perceived to be responsible for these developments. According to the students' perceptions, the introductory course contributed to the development of both a positive attitude towards research and research knowledge and skills. The students indicated that examples from practice, authentic learning tasks and working in pairs or groups contributed most to the development of their attitude, knowledge and skills. (Contains 9 tables.)

Heavy episodic drinking is more common among adolescents with a lower educational level. Aim: This study probed into the mechanism through which a lower educational level is linked to heavier adolescent drinking. Methods: Structural equation modelling was conducted using data from the 2005 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Survey (n = 5169). Findings: Mediation analyses revealed that higher frequencies of heavy episodic drinking among adolescents with a lower educational level could be partially explained by spending more time with friends, a higher number of drinking peers, less monitoring by parents and less restrictive parental rules. Conclusions: Parenting as well as peer influence could explain part of the educational differences in heavy episodic drinking. More research is required to reveal additional factors that might explain heavier drinking patterns among adolescents with lower educational levels. (Contains 1 table and 1 figure.)

Professional development of teachers has become an essential condition in today's knowledge-based society to sustain the quality of teaching. Therefore, the Dutch government promotes this professional development. As a result, Professional Development Plans (PDPs) are now increasingly used to stimulate and support the professional development of teachers. A PDP is used to encourage teachers' professional development and structure their development path in terms of learning goals and plans of action. However, it cannot be taken for granted that teachers will formulate high-quality PDPs on their own. Previous research suggests that guidance is important in supporting teachers' development. This study examined the effects of guidance on the quality of PDPs. An experimental group of Dutch teachers from a school for secondary vocational education was offered a series of workshops whereas the control group did not have such guidance. Both groups had to fill out a simple structured PDP. To determine the quality of the PDPs, an assessment tool was developed. The results suggest that guided teachers are more capable of identifying their strengths and in formulating learning goals. The guided teachers' PDPs also showed more consistency. No differences were found regarding the action plans which teachers described. (Contains 4 tables and 1 figure.)

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the labor market position of environmental science graduates and the core competencies of these environmental professionals related to their working practice. Design/methodology/approach: The authors carried out two surveys amongst alumni of the integrated environmental science program of Utrecht University and their employers. The surveys addressed alumni's working experiences and employers' assessment of the core competencies of environmental science graduates. Findings: The surveys indicated that environmental science graduates have a fairly strong position on the labor market. They are employed in a diverse range of functions and working sectors, including consultancy agencies, research institutions, governmental organizations and NGOs. Graduates as well as employers consider a number of generic academic skills (e.g. intellectual qualities, communication skills) as well as discipline specific professional knowledge and practical skills as important competencies for the working practice of environmental scientists. Practical implications: These insights can be used for the improvement of environmental science curricula in order to increase the employability of their graduates. Originality/value: This paper presents data on the labor market position of graduates of "integrated" environmental science programs and provides insights into the core competencies of these graduates. (Contains 1 note, 3 tables, and 10 figures.)

This paper reports the results of two studies of reading comprehension of Flemish children in Belgium. In the northern part of Belgium (Flanders), Dutch is the official language. The Dutch-speaking inhabitants of Flanders are called Flemish. Dutch is also the national language of the Netherlands. Despite both groups using Dutch, cultural differences between the groups are reflected in healthcare and education. Study 1 investigated the effect of these differences on the reading comprehension of deaf children. Reading levels of Flemish deaf children with cochlear implants (CI) (n = 30) or hearing aids (HA) (n = 44) were compared with reference data of Dutch deaf children with CI (n = 50) and HA (n = 500), and with a hearing norm group. Study 2 investigated sources of variability by examining the underlying processes of reading comprehension of good and poor Flemish deaf readers from the CI group in Study 1. Results of Study 1 showed significantly better reading levels for the two Flemish groups. These differences may reflect Belgian policy aiming at early implantation and the use of spoken language communication. The second study contrasted good and poor readers' working memory capacity scores, including verbal and non-verbal working memory scores, morphosyntactic ability, and phonological encoding in order to explore which underlying processes contributed to reading performance in the Flemish CI users. Results showed a tendency toward better morphosyntactic abilities and better working memory skills in the good readers. Three factors appear to explain the better reading of Flemish children with CIs: amount of spoken language input in communication, access to spoken language through a cochlear implant, and age at implantation. (Contains 2 tables and 6 figures.)

This study expands on literature covering models on educational productivity, student integration and effectiveness of instruction. An expansion of the literature concerning the impact of higher education on workplace performance is also covered. Relationships were examined between the quality of the academic learning environment, the process of learning, learning outcomes, and career success of graduates. The responses to a questionnaire of 3324 graduates at a Dutch university, emphasising conventional large-scale classes, were analysed using structural equation modelling. The results suggest an indirect influence of university education on career success. A learning environment increases the motivation of students, which, in turn, increases their learning outcomes. Learning outcomes show a significant relationship with success in the initial phase of graduates' careers. Furthermore, success in subsequent phases of one's career is influenced by experience gained by students during their involvement in extra-curricular activities. Therefore, it is argued that the learning environment is important for students' learning as well as their involvement in extra-curricular activities, and that these two elements of university education are determinants of career success. (Contains 2 figures and 8 tables.)

The shortage of school leaders, mainly caused by the growing complexity of the job is steadily growing in recent years. This study reports on the results of a comparative empirical study into the causes of premature departure for male and female principals in primary and secondary education. Principals who have experienced premature departure themselves served as respondents. The risk factors for premature departure were researched in four areas: the school organization, the working environment including the school culture, the selection procedure and the principal him or herself. The results showed that the causes of premature departure are a combination of factors that are embedded in the context in which the leadership is performed and personal characteristics of the principal.

Examines job mobility involving involuntary and premature departure of elementary and secondary school principals in the Netherlands. Provides theoretical foundation for study and Dutch context for the principalship. Finds that premature departure accounts for more than one-quarter of principals' job mobility and is higher for females than for males. (Contains 18 references.) (PKP)

Research aimed at constructing an instrument for measuring instructional climate was conducted in 121 Dutch senior secondary schools. The instrument used scales for students, teachers, department heads, and principals that proved reliable and valid. Variables related to students' mathematics results included students' enjoyment of math, attitude toward high grades, appreciation of teachers' efforts, and an orderly instructional climate. (15 references) (MLH)

The situational approach to ethnic identity with regard to migrants in the Netherlands is examined. This approach says that ethnicity is continuously created and can only be understood in relation to both past experience and specific political, economic, and social processes. (RM)

Uses a five-factor model to determine the relationship between certain Rotterdam primary school characteristics (specifically the school climate) and the effectiveness of education. Concludes that, since only one of the criteria of effectiveness was met, this instrument is not suited for determining differences in those characteristics of school climate which were conducive of achievement. (GEA)

BACKGROUND: Studies suggest an effect of nebulized hypertonic saline solution on air-flow limitation in subjects with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis, but results are based on subjective scores of clinical severity and are not clear. In this observational study, we used a noninvasive computerized tool to quantify wheezing before and after nebulization with hypertonic saline in children admitted for RSV infection. METHODS: Twenty-seven children (≤ 24 months old) admitted to the pediatric ward of the Medical Center Leeuwarden with polymerase chain reaction-confirmed RSV bronchiolitis were included. Subjects were simultaneously assessed both clinically and by computerized acoustic monitoring before and 15 min after treatment with nebulized hypertonic saline solution. RESULTS: Clinical assessment, defined by the Respiratory Distress Assessment Instrument score, did not change after nebulization (n = 27, 5.0 vs 4.7, P = .17). Computerized acoustic monitoring showed no improvement in wheezing (n = 27, 3.4% vs 2.0%, P = .05) or inspiration/expiration ratio (0.85 vs 0.85, P = .93) after nebulization. CONCLUSIONS: Hypertonic saline nebulization does not improve air flow, as assessed by both clinical and computerized acoustic scores, in children admitted for RSV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the sports of Korfball, which is Dutch in origin, and Basketball, which is American in origin. Although the two are very similar games, basketball has become an extremely popular global sport while Korfball has remained mostly local and derided. The reasons for this are found in their sociocultural history, which produced different processes for rule making and therefore very different games.

The article discusses various issues related to social scientist John Mollenkopf's failure to acknowledge migrant selection and migration tradition. In his Wibaut lecture, Mollenkopf compares immigrant integration in Amsterdam, the Netherlands and New York. Here authors demonstrate how interesting and how tricky this kind of comparison can be. Mollenkopf starts by relating an experience that reminds him of his native Brooklyn, New York. But the experience was also not like home. In explaining what was different, Mollenkopf makes a number of very general statements that are hopefully based on some-what broader experience. It is striking how Mollenkopf presents the data on the USA and the Netherlands. Authors are critical of Mollenkopf's view on social mobility in Amsterdam in spite of more government attention and a lack of an racist tradition, because they are not at all convinced that New York is doing better than Amsterdam in terms of migrant mobility. New York did not experience the same large-scale immigration of unskilled labour and the educational background of the Amsterdam immigrants appears to be much lower than that of the New York immigrants.