18-T5 Domain-specific instruction in schools and professional domains

course coordinators/tutors 
Dr. Arthur Bakker (A.Bakker4@uu.nl) 
Utrecht University
Freudenthal Institute
Princetonplein 5
3584 CC Utrecht

Prof. dr. Carla van Boxtel (c.a.m.vanboxtel@uva.nl) 
University of Amsterdam
Research Institute of Child Development and Education
Nieuwe Achtergracht 127
1018 WS Amsterdam

MSc. Rosa Alberto (R.A.Alberto@uu.nl) 
Utrecht University
Freudenthal Institute – Mathematics Education
Princetonplein 5
3584 CC Utrecht

Sharisse van Driel (sharisse.vandriel@ou.nl) 
Open University of the Netherlands
Welten Insitute
Valkenburgerweg 177
6419 AT Heerlen

Course description: 
Research within the area of learning and instruction often takes place within a specific domain. Important research questions focus on learning and instruction of domain-specific concepts and domain-specific ways of reasoning and problem solving. Within these domains many innovations have been implemented over the last few decades because of new insights into learning and instruction, but also because the subject matter that is taught within these different domains is up-dated or because the professional or social environment in which the knowledge and skills are meaningful has been changed.
In this master class we focus foremost on domain-specific instruction in schools, but also elaborate on what happens with domain-specific skills when a person has to translate them into a different context (i.e., transitions between domains and to the workplace, questions of transfer or boundary crossing). We discuss the theories that domain-specific researchers use and contribute to. Furthermore, we explore different methods being used in domain-specific instruction research, such as design research, process and intervention studies. Finally, we discuss how to close the gap between the research and educational practice under discussion and how to develop a fruitful exchange between them.

Course objectives: 
The participants will:
– Become aware that domain-specific research is conducted within diverse contexts;
– Acquire insight into the types of research questions and theories that play an important role in investigating the acquisition of domain-specific knowledge and skills;
– Gain deeper understanding of the problem of transfer of domain-specific knowledge and understanding and transitions between contexts;
– Acquire insight into research methodologies used within this type of research, particularly in the context of design research, intervention studies and process studies;
– Become acquainted with the work of researchers and staff members within this area;
– Engage in debate about strengths and weaknesses of domain-specific research and how it connects to educational practice;
– Convert research questions, methodologies and findings of domain-specific research to the context of their own research project.

Requirements/entry level: This course is recommended for second or third year PhD-students. First year PhD students may participate only if they have followed the ICO Introductory course.

Course Programme* 
*Note: not all speakers havee been invited / confirmed yet