Various educational institutions in Zeeland recognize the importance of aligning education with the needs of gifted students, allowing them to develop their full potential. However, the label of "giftedness" is not always sufficient to understand the issues and needs of individual students. The specific learning needs of gifted students are often difficult to integrate into the regular curriculum, making it challenging for colleagues to address these needs. Therefore, conducting collaborative research on this topic is crucial.
In this context, teacher-researcher Rianne van der Feen-Kooiman from the Excellence and Innovation in Education research group has taken the initiative to establish the Education Research Lab for Giftedness in Zeeland. This lab is a learning and research network where education professionals from primary, secondary, vocational, and higher education in Zeeland work together with the following goal: to contribute to a transition in education that provides equal opportunities to all students by combining practical experience and knowledge with research-based insights, and learning with and from each other to better align education with the needs of gifted students. Two key focuses are: 1) a continuous support line for gifted students (helping them overcome barriers and fostering talent development), and 2) effectively engaging colleagues.
Participatory action research
To achieve this, sub-research questions have been formulated to guide the process of learning together, researching together, evaluating, and implementing (in the form of participatory action research). Currently, the lab has 43 members and a core team of six members.
In January 2024, a kickoff symposium was held with a keynote by Marjolijn van Weerdenburg (project leader of IMAGE, an impact study that assesses the effectiveness of activities aimed at improving education for gifted students) and two inspiration sessions. A second meeting followed in May, where a SWOT analysis of participants' own institutions was initiated.
The dates for the meetings in the 2024-2025 academic year are now available. Would you like to know more or participate? Contact Rianne: rianne.van.der.feen@hz.nl.
