prof. dr. G.C.W. (Gert) Rijlaarsdam

Short Biography

Gert Rijlaarsdam holds a position

• as full professor at the University of Amsterdam,
• as principal investigator of the Research Lab of Innovative Language, Literature & Arts Education

In parallel he

• had a position (50%) at the University of Antwerp (Multilingual Professional Communication) as member of the Anhub Lab (since October 2013 until October 2018).
• he was appointed as visiting professor at Umeå University (Sweden), 10%, from February 2015-2018.
• had an additional position as professor in Language Education at Utrecht University, a position installed by the Dutch Association of Teachers of Living Languages (Dutch: Vereniging voor Leraren in Levende Talen ) (from 1999-2004).

He started as a non-certified teacher of 20 yrs old, teaching Dutch Language and Literature at a school for secondary education, where he taught for 17 years, mostly parttime, combining teaching, other jobs and studies.

He studied at Leiden University, while teaching at secondary education:

• Dutch Language and Literature (MA; 1978), specialization sociolinguistics
• Educational Studies (MA;1983), specialization curriculum studies

He did his PhD research at the University of Amsterdam, when still teaching Dutch in secondary education

• on the effects of peer feedback on writing processes, performance and attitudes (1983-1986).

Other jobs

• He combined his teaching appointment with a job (20%) at the National Test Service Institute (CITO, Arnhem),
  • designing and testing innovative listening tests, and
  • introduced functional writing exams in lower secondary education.
• He combined his jobs with a part-time appointment at the educational research institute at the University of Amsterdam (RITP, later SCO) since 1981. Here he got his on the job training as researcher from Hildo Wesdorp (1935-1987), in a lab group with then young researchers like Henk Blok, Kees de Glopper, Huub van den Bergh, Rob Schoonen and Amos van Gelderen.
• He was appointed (1988) as an associate professor (Dutch: UHD) at the then newly established Graduate School of Teaching and Learning (GSTL) at the University of Amsterdam, with the special task to create  -- with two colleagues Geert ten Dam and Fred Korthagen --  an integrative post-graduate university institute for teacher training, in-service training and research. This Institute lasted until 2012, when it was merged into the Faculty of Social Sciences. Until then it received very good evaluations of accreditation boards: the GSTL was about the top in the Netherlands. In the GSTL he was involved in teaching, research, and development. He managed for many years the portfolio Development & Services. From 2006-2008 he was responsible for the implementation of a new teacher education curriculum at the GSTL. In 2010-2011 he was responsible for reshaping that 'new' curriculum for efficiency (less costs, more results: students that get the grade within nominal study time.

Personal data

Until 2007 you could find Gert on Saturdays on soccer fields in the region: he was a certificated soccer referee (KNVB), and milder than you may expect. In his free time he trains a German shepherd dog, called Beer (Dutch for Bear). On the photo in the intro above, he is preparing the other dog, the Dutch shepherd dog Storm, for a round of ski wandering in Bodmen, Oberwallis (Switzerland). Storm died in July 2007. 

On the left handed photo; Beer is looking for something, while his friend Anak walks away, giving up. Beer never give up. Click for more Beer below; Beer in Switzerland, October 2007.

Gert and Hetty owned an old-timer Mercedes Camper bus and travels --slowly slowly -- through Western Europe.

He likes organizing events. He was co-ordinator of the SIG WRITING of EARLI (1995-1999), organzied with Huub van den Bergh the SIG WRITING 1994 in Utrecht. In August 2009 Gert was programme manager of the EARLI 2009 conference in Amsterdam. See photo's at EARLI conference website, link below. In August 2014, he organized with Amsterdam & Utrecht colleagues the EARLI SIG WRITING conference  and research school: Conference & Research School on Writing Research.  With Monica Koster, Renkse Bouwer, Huub van den Bergh, Saskia Rietdijk & Martine Braaksma.The 25th anniversary of the SIG WRITING. The credo was: Writing is fun! In 2018 he is involved in organizing the SIG WRITING Research School in Ghent as member of the organizing committee. With Luuk van Waes en Denis Alamargot he established the Journal of Writing Research. With Eric Esperet (France) he developped the book series Studies in Writing, now published by Brill (the Netherlands), with more then 30 volumes.

In 1996, with Ken Watson (Australia) he set up the international Association for the Improvement of Mother tongue Education, now transformed into ARLE. Within that association he organized conferences and established a scientific journal, initially with Mary Kooy (Canada): L1 Educational Studies in Language and Literature.

Another Beer

Beer died in July 2011, bone cancer. In August, our dog trainer Monique found a new German Shepperd dog for us. We called him Beer too (sometimes 'Little Beer, compared with 'old' Beer).

On the photo: Beer II Winter 2012, age 2yrs.10 months.

Once a teacher, always a teacher

Contents

• 1.1 International courses
• 1.2 Research in Education Practice
• 1.3 Communication skills
• 1.4 Educational Course Design & Research
• 1.5 Research Methodology in Communication

1.1 International courses

Gert Rijlaarsdam taught International courses (English)

• 1995 and 1996 February, Laboratoire du Psychology. Université de Bourgogne, Dyon. (Prof. Dr Michel Fayol): February; Comparing Dutch & French morphology.
• 1995 November, Athens University, invited by Prof. Dr Elias Matsagouras. Inservice course: Efective teaching of Writing.
• 1999 September. Umeå University Sweden. Invited by Prof. Dr P.-O. Erixon. Course: Creating a Research Group and Program.
• 2002 April-May, Hong Kong University, Hong Kong. Invited by Prof. Shek Kam Tse. Course: Effective teaching of writing.
• 2003 November, Patras University, Greece. Invited by prof. Dr. Papoulia-Tzelepi. Master course in Teaching of Writing.
• 2006 December, Cantho University, Vietnam. Course provided with prof. Dr Huub van den Bergh & prof. Dr Wilfried Admiraal: Research Methodology in Education
• 2007 October, Can Tho University, Vietnam. Invited by Dr Nam, Dean of School of Education, Head of Vietnamese Department of Linguistics and Literature. Course: effective teaching of Writing
• 2007 October, Can Tho University, Vietnam, October Invited by Dr Do Van Xe, vice-rector and Dr H.T. Trang, director Learning Resources Center. Provided with Marcel van Riessen. Currriculum design: Effects of a credit based system.
• 2009 May.,Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia, invited by prof Judith Rivelland. Setting up a Writing Research Program.
• 2015-2018, Visiting Professor in Umeå University, Sweden, invited by dr Eva lindgren
• 2016 December: Visiting professor Santander University, Spain (invited by Dr Melero Zabal, Maria Angeles & Dr Villalon Molina, Ruth

Research schools

• ARLE Research school, Tallinn, 2017: Research Methodology in Language Education
• SIG WRITING Research schoo, Ghent, 2018: Issues in Research Methodology in Writing Research

1.2 Research in Educational Practice

• 2006 (1) Teachers in innovation team Montessori Lyceum Amsterdam (2) Teachers in research team Montessori college Oost; (3) Teacher trainees Ed. MA EHvA; (4) 2007 Teachers' research group Almere (Helen Parkhurst, De Meergronden, Echnaton)
• 2007 (1) Teachers in research team Montessori Lyceum Amsterdam; (2) Teachers in research team Montessori College Oost; (3) Teachers in research group Almere (Helen Parkhurst, De Meergronden, Echnaton)
• Since 2007, Gert Rijlaarsdam was involved in various projects to support teachers in doing research, via the Master Academic Mastership, projects with teacher in so called academic schools, training grant applicants for NWO etc.,
• 2016-2017, Professional Learner Community on learning and teaching synthesis writing, with Wilma Groeneweg

1.3 Communication Skills

• 1999, 2000 Students of Economics. MA-level.
• 2014-2018 Academic Writing (Antwerp)

1.4 Educational Course Design and Research

• 1999 Teacher trainees of Dutch Language & Literature, and ofLatin & Greek. / Postgraduate. 
• 2000 Teacher trainees of Modern Languages and Dutch as mother tongue. Postgraduate. 
• 2001 Part-time teacher trainees of all school subjects. Postgraduate.
• 2002 Teacher trainees of Modern Languages and Dutch as mother tongue. Postgraduate. 
• 2003 Teacher trainees of Modern Languages and Dutch as mother tongue. Postgraduate.
• 2006-2013: Programme coordinator of second semester programme of post initial teacher training: Design Research and Practice oriented Research
• 2013-current: Teacher trainees of Modern Languages and Dutch as L1. Post graduate: Design Research

1.5. Methodology of Communication Research

• 2013 - 2018 Research  methodology in communication research (Antwerp)
• 2013 -2018 Master Theses Research methodology in communication research (Antwerp)

The fun is in the process

Contents

Here you will find

1. Links to key publications, presentations, activities of the informal Smikkel/Yummy Yummy Club, and all publication

2. References to PhD dissertations I was involved in as (co-)supervisor

3. Scientific activities I am involved in: editorship, editorial board, coordinator, conference organizer.

4. Our Research Lab Staff and Research Programme.

1 Relevant links

2. PhD dissertations supervised

Here you will find the dissertations I was involoved in as (co-)supervisor, as associate professor or later as full professor)

Jannemieke van de Gein

Jannemieke van de Gein (1991). The sense of sentence. Effects of grammar skills on aspects of writing profiency. F unded by the National Foundation of Educational Research: SVO). Co-supervised by prof. Dr G.J. de Haan (then Utrecht University, moved to Groningen University, now emeritus).

Rob Schoonen

Rob Schoonen  (1991). Constructie en validering van gestructureerde stelopdrachten voor zesdeklassers [Construction and validation of structured writing tasks for eight graders.   Funded by the National foundation of Educational Research: SVO). Co-supervised by prof. Dr G.J. Mellenbergh (University of Amsterdam). Current position: Rob is a full professor at Radboud University (Nijmegen, Netherlands) for Applied Linguistics

Amos van Gelderen

Amos van Gelderen (1992). Fonetisch en linguïstische validatie van oordelenover spreekprestaties [Phonetic and linguistic validation of ratingof oral performances ]  Funded by the National Foundation of Scientific Research: NWO). Co-supervised by Prof. Dr L. Pols (University of Amsterdam ).

Michel Couzijn

Michel Couzijn (1995). Transfer in het moedertaalonderwijs (VF): directieve en betogende teksten [Transfer in L1-education: directive and argumentative texts] (1991-1995). Funded by the University of Amsterdam). Co-supervised by Prof. Dr B.H.A.M. van Hout-Wolters, University of Amsterdam.

Marianne Overmaat

Marianne Overmaat (1996). Empirische studies naar effectieve schrijfdidactiek.[Empirical Studies in Written Composition Methodology] . Funded by the National Foundation of Educational Research. Co-supervised by Prof. Dr K. de Glopper (University of Amsterdam , now Groningen University).

Current position: retired from UvA

Tanja Janssen

Tanja Janssen (1998). Literatuuronderwijs bij benadering [Approaches in Literature Education]. Funded by the University of Amsterdam. Co-supervised by Prof. Dr S. ten Brinke (Utrecht University).

Current position: Associate professor, UvA

Martine Braaksma

Martine A.H. Braaksma (2002). Learning to write by observation of models : 1996-2002. Graduated May 2002.  Funded by the University of Amsterdam and the International Association for the Improvement of Mother Tongue Education (IAIMTE). Co-supervised by Prof. Bernadette A.H.M. Van Hout-Wolters (Amsterdam), & Dr. Huub H.van denBergh (Utrecht).

Current position: staff member Dutch Advisory Council for Educ Sla op ation (the Hague, the Netherlands)

Hein Broekkamp

Hein Broekkamp (2003). Learning to represent task demands. Thesis work was funded by the University of Amsterdam. Co-supervisors: Bernadette van Hout-Wolters (Amsterdam), Huub van den Bergh (Utrecht).

Current position: staff member Dutch Council for Education, The Hague.

Isabelle de Ridder (Antwerp, Belgium)

Isabelle de Ridder (2003). Hyperlinks & Vocabulary Learning from texts in L2 . Funded by the University of Antwerp. Co-supervised by Prof Dr Luuk van Waes (Antwerp).

Rita Rymenans & Svende Maeyer (Antwerp, Belgium)

De Maeyer, S.A.J.H. & Rymenans, R.M.C. (2004). Onderzoek naar kenmerken van effectieve scholen. Kritische factoren in een onderzoek naar schooleffectiviteit in het technisch en beroepssecundair onderwijs in Vlaanderen. Diss UU. Co-supervised by Prof dr Frans Daems (Antwerp), Prof. dr Peter van Petegem (Antwerp), Dr. Huub van den Bergh (Utrecht).

LapQuoc Trinh (Can Tho, Vietnam)

Trinh, L.Q. (2005). Stimulating learner's autonomy in language education . A curriculum innovation study. Funded by NUFFIC/MHO-projects. Co-supervisedby PeterBimmel (Amsterdam , Netherlands).

Marleen Kieft (Amsterdam)

Marleen Kieft (2006). Adapting instruction to students' writing strategies: Effects on writing and learning.  Funded by the University of Amsterdam and the International Association for the Improvement of Mother Tong ue Education (IAIMTE). Co-supervised by Prof. dr Huub van den Bergh (Utrecht).

Rita Rigo Toth (Singapore)

Rita Rigo-Toth(2007). Co-supervised by Dr Christine Ure, Uiversity of Merlbourne, Australia.

Ton Koet (Amsterdam)

Ton Koet (2007). Polder English in Dutch ears . Co-supervised by Prof Dr Huub van den Bergh, Utrecht/Amsterdam

Theo Witte (Groningen, Th Netherlands)

Theo Witte (2008). Het oog van de meester. Funded by the University of Groningen.Co-supervised by prof. dr D. Schram (Amsterdam)& prof. dr A. van Essen (Groningen)

Mariet Raedts (Antwerp, Belgium)

Mariet Raedts (2008). De invloed van zelfeffectiviteitsverwachtingen, taakkennis en observerend leren bij een nieuw en complexe schrijftaak. [The effect of self-efficacy expectations, task knowledge and observational learning in a new and complex writing task]. Co-supervised by Frans Daems (Antwerp) and Luuk van Waes (Antwerp).

Elke van Steendam (Leuven, Belgium)

Elke van Steendam(2008). Effective instructional strategies in collaborative revision in ESL. The effects of Two empirical studies. Co-supervised Lies Sercu (Leuven), with Huub van den Bergh (Utrecht/Amsterdam) as advisor.

Daphne van Weijen (Utrecht,the Netherlands)

Daphne van Weijen (2009). Writing processes, text quality, and tasks effects Empirical studies in first and second language writing. Co-supervised with Huub van den Bergh (Utrecht/Amsterdam) and Ted Sanders(Utrecht)

Lieve Verheyden

Achter de lijn.Vier empirische studies over ontluikende stelvaardigheid. [The story behind the line. Four empirical studies on writing by third and fourth graders of primary school.( 24 April 2010). Co-supervisors: Prof Kris van den Branden (Leuven, Belgium), Prof Huub vanden Bergh (Utrecht, the Netherlands), and Dr. Sven de Maeyer (Antwerp, Belgium)

Tatiana Berden-Antonenko

Stinulating intercultural intellectual capabilities in intercultural communication.Testing an innovative course design.Dissertation. Appendices. 23 November 2010. Co-supervisor; Prof. Dr Lies Sercu, Leuven , Belgium.

Talita Groenendijk (The Netherlands)

Observe and Explore. Empirical studies on Learning in creative writing and visual arts. May 15th, 2012. Funded by University of Amsterdam. Co-supervised by Dr Tanja Janssen, GSTL, Prof Dr Huub van den Bergh (advisor).

Dissertation

Tillema, Marion (The Netherlands).

Writing in first and second language. Empirical studies on text quality and writing processes

June 19th, 2012, Utrecht. Funded by Utrecht University. Co-supervised by Prof. Dr Huub van den Bergh (Utrecht) and Prof. Dr Ted Sanders (Utrecht).

Phuong Nam Thi Nguyen (Vietnam, the Netherlands)

Second language writing and literary reading in university: Three empirical studies.

November 28th, 2012, Amsterdam. Funded by Mekong Delta Grant and University of Amsterdam. Co-supervised by Prof.Dr Wilfried Admiraal (Amsterdam, now Leiden) and Dr Tanja Janssen (Amsterdam)(

Dick van Dijk

De Taal van oplossingen. Een empirisch begrippenkader voor oplossingsgerichte interactie. Available in Dare

November 27th, 2013, Amsterdam. No grant, candidate's personal investment. Co-supervised by Dr Resi Damhuis, Marnix Academy (Utrecht)

Milan Kriz

Teaching Dutch as a foreign language in Eastern Europe

February, 2014, Utrecht. No Grant, candidata's own investment. Co-supervisor Prof. Dr Huub van den Bergh (Utrecht)

Marco Kragten

Comprehensing process diagrams in biology education

November 27th, 2016, Amsterdam. Grant by NWO Lerarenbeurs. Co-supervised by Prof. Dr Wilfried Admiraal (Amsterdam, now Leiden).

Marrit van de Guchte

Focus on Form in Task-based Language Teaching

December 17th 2015, Amsterdam. Grant by Gooise Scholen Federatie & University of Amsterdam. Co-supervised by Dr Martine Braaksma & Dr P. Bimmel

3.Scientific Services

3.1 Editor

• Journal Editor L1-Educational Studies inLanguage and Literature (peer refereed journal since 2000). Co-editor, with Mary Kooy (OISE, Toronto, Canada).
• Journal Editor and founder with Luuk van Waes, of Journal of Writing Research, since 2007
• Series Editor Studies in Writing, book series. S ince 1996, a refereed book series published by Amsterdam University Press (volumes 1-6) and Kluwer Academic Press (volumes 7-17), Elsevier (volumes 18-22), Emerald (volumes 23-26) and Brill (volumes 27- xx).
• Series Editor Studies in Language & Literature. International Perspectives on Mother Tongue Education . Published by AmsterdamUniversity Press (volumes 1, 2).
• Levende Talen Magazine, 1999-2001: design and implementation of new formula.
• Learning and Instruction, associate editor, 2014-2018

3.2 Conferences

Organizer

• SIG Writing conference 1994,Utrecht, with Huub vanden Bergh & DanielJansen
• IAIMTE conferences 1997 (Amsterdam), 1999 (Amsterdam), 2001 (Amterdam), co-organizer 2003 (Lisbon, Portugal), 2005 (Albi, France), 2007 Exeter (UK)
• EARLI conference 2009 (programme manager), with Jos Beishuizen, Gerrie Buijze, Ron Oostdam & Thea Peetsma
• Conference on Writing Research (for SIG WRITING), August 2014, Amsterdam
• Research School on Writing Research (for SIG WRITING), August 2014, Utrecht

Scientifice committees

• Sig Writing conferences:1996 (Bellaterra), 1998 (Poitiers), 2000(Verona), 2002 (Stoke-on-Trent), 2004 (Geneva), 2006 (Antwerp), 2008 (Lund), 2010 (Heidelberg), 2012 (Porto)
• Member Biannual Earli Committee Oeuvre Award EARLI 1997.
• Member Biannual Earli Committee 'Outstanding Publication in the field of Learning and Instruction' 1999.

3.3 Reviewer (Journals only)

• British Journal of Educational Psychology, 
• European Journal of Psychologyof Education, 
• Language Learning, 
• Instructional Sciences, 
• Research in the Teaching of English, 
• Spanish Journal of Psychology, 
• Pedagogische Studien.
• Journal of Second Language Writing
• Research in the Teaching of English

3.4 Coordinator

• International Association for the Improvement of Mother Tongue Education (IAIMTE). Chair (1995-2013) 
• Special Interest Group Writing (European Association on Research of Learning and Instruction (EARLI ):1993-1997.

3.5 Editorial board

• Spanish Journal of Psychology (1999-...); 
• Learning and Instruction (2002-2007) 
• Educational Research Review (2005- ...)
• Journal of Educational Psychology (2014- ...)
• Tijdschrift voor Taalbeheersing (2010-....)

4. Lab staff

The Research in Language, Literature & Arts Education Lab Staff (with links to personal websites)

National

Vereniging voor Leraren in Levende Talen

Member of the Didactiek Commissie Nederlands, ca 1974-1980. From 2000-2004 he was appointed as research professor for the Vereninging van Leraren in LevendeTalen, following prof. dr Gerard Westhof, and follwed by prof. dr. Huub van den Bergh.

In 2017 he set up a continuation of the Didactiek Commissie Nederlands, called Werkgroep Onderzoek en didactiek Nederlands (Working Group Research and Instruction Dutch Language and Literature Education. In May 2018 he was elected as chair of the Association for Teacher of Living Languages, section Dutch, with 1400 members. 

Editor in chief

Restyling Levende Talen (journal for language teachers) (1999-2001) into two publications, a Magazine and a Scientific Journal, introducing new formats and journal formula's, together with Monique van Hootegem, setting up a new team of editors etc.

Editor

DCN-cahiers, publication series of the Didactiek Commissie Nederlands

International

Founder

• with Eric Esperet: Studies in Writing bookseries, publishing since 1996, with 32 volumes in 2018. Published now by Brill, formerly by Emerald, Springer/Kluwer, Elsevier and Amsterdam University Press
• with Luuk van Waes: Journal of Writing Research, since 2008.
• with Ken Watson, Australia, International Association for the Improvement of Mother Tongue Education (IAIMTE), now ARLE. International Association for Research in L1 Education. Chair person from 1995-2015.
• with Mary Kooy, Canada, research journal L1-Educational Studies in Language and Literature. Editor from 1999-2015. 
• IAIMTE conferences. Organizer, convenor, conference manager. Since 1997
• SIG WRITING research school, first editon 2014, with Huub van den Bergh, Monica Koster, Renske Bouwer.
• ARLE Research school, first edition 2017, with Paulo Feytor Pinto & Luisa Alvarez.

Editor

• Journal of Writing Research: 2008-current.
• L1-Educational Studies in language and Literature: 1999-2015.
• Learning and Instruction, 2014, current
• Studies in Writing bookseries: 1995-2015.

Conferences

• IAIMTE/ARLE conferences since 1997, various editons; roles: convenor, organizer, conference manager, scientific committee.
• SIG WRITING conference 1994, with Huub van den Bergh, Utrecht. Role: organizer.
• SIG WRITING conference 2014, with Huub van den Bergh, Monica Koster, Renske Bouwer, Martine Braaksma, Saskia Rietdijk, Amsterdam. Role: organizer.
• EARLI Conference 2009, with Jos Beishuizen, Amsterdam. Role: conference manager.

Consulting editor

• Journal of Educational Psychology, 2014, current

Editorial board member

• Culture & Education, 2012-....
• Educational Research Review 2005- ...
• Learning and Instruction 2002-2007
• Spanish Journal of Psychology 1999-...
• Tijdschrift voor Taalbeheersing 2006-...
• Written Communication 2011- ...
• Nordic Journal of Literacy Research, 2015-...

 Reviewer

• British Journal of Educational Psychology
• Educational Psychology Review
• European Journal of Psychology of Education
• Instructional Sciences
• International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education
• Journal of Argumentation in Context
• Language and Education
• Language Learning
• Learning & Instruction
• Pedagogische Studiën
• Research in the Teaching of English
• Second Language Writing