Aalderen, Sandra van

Senior researcher Science Education and Neuro-education

University of Twente, Behavioral Sciences

Center for Science Education and Talent Development, ELAN

Postbus 217

7500 AE Enschede

T: +31 (0)53 489 4295/ +31 (0)6 537 101 24

Visiting address: Cubicus C213

Within the Center for Science Education and Talent Development I conduct research on teacher professional development in close cooperation with Prof. dr. Juliette Walma van der Molen. My research focuses on science education, the stimulation of inquiry based methods of learning, and the promises and pitfalls of neuro-education.

Attitudes towards Science: I am interested in the role of teachers’ attitudes toward science and teaching science and how these attitudes can be improved in order to stimulate inquiry based methods of learning. We have developed a new theoretical framework for primary teachers’ attitude towards science and towards teaching science. Based on this framework we developed and validated an attitude measurement instrument which we use to investigate effects of professional development interventions aimed at primary teachers in the field of science education.

Neuro-education: In addition to research in the field of science education, I am investigating the potential of neuro-education, which refers to educating teachers about the brain. Most teachers are very interested in the brain. However, there are hardly known effects of increased brain-knowledge on teaching behavior. I investigate which elements of neuroscience knowledge, skills, and attitudes are crucial in teacher professional development interventions and investigate the effects of this development on teacher behavior and beliefs.

Background:

Currently I am have a research position at the University of Twente, center for Science Education and Talent Development and at the LEARN! Center of the VU University of Amsterdam. I obtained my PhD on the neural correlates of visual selection and attention from the University of Maastricht and the Donders Institute for neuroimaging, Nijmegen. I obtained a Msc in developmental cognitive neuroscience from the Department of Psychology, University of Maastricht.

Scientific Publications:

Aalderen-Smeets van, S.I. & Walma van der Molen, J. (accepted). Measuring Primary Teachers’ Attitudes toward Teaching Science: Development of the Dimensions of Attitude towards Science (DAS) Instrument. International Journal of Science Education.

van Aalderen-Smeets, S. I., Walma van der Molen, J. H. and Asma, L. J. F. (2012). Primary teachers' attitudes toward science: A new theoretical framework. Science Education, 96: 158–182. doi: 10.1002/sce.20467

Asma, L.J.F, Aalderen-Smeets, S.I. & Walma van der Molen, J.H. (2011). Primary teachers’ attitudes towards science and technology: Results of a focus group study. In Vries, de, M.J., Keulen, van, H., Peters, S., and Walma van der Molen, J. (eds.). Professional development for primary teachers in science and technology. The Dutch VTB-Pro project in an international perspective. Sense Publishers.

Rijpkema, M., Aalderen-Smeets van, S.I., Schwarzbach, J., and Verstraten, F.A.J. (2008). Activation patterns in visual cortex reveal receptive field size-dependent attentional modulation. Brain Research, 16, 1189-1190.

Rijpkema, M., Aalderen-Smeets van, S.I., Schwarzbach, J., and Verstraten, F.A.J. (2007). Beyond the forest and the trees: local and global interference in hierarchical visual stimuli containing three levels. Perception, 36(8), 1115-1122.

Aalderen-Smeets van, S.I., Oostenveld, R., and Schwarzbach, J. (2006). Investigating neurophysiological correlates of metacontrast masking with magnetoencephalography. Advances in Cognitive Psychology, 2, 1, 21-35.

Conference participation:

Aalderen-Smeets van, S.I., Walma van der Molen, J.H. (2012). Professional development of primary teachers in science and technology. Paper presented during the national education conference (ORD), Wageningen, The Netherlands, June 21.

Walma van der Molen, J.H. , Volbers, J., & van Aalderen-Smeets, S.I. (2012). Forming an alliance between science centers, primary education, and universities: Tackling Issues of space, time and methods in science and technology learning. Paper presented at the annual conference of the European Network of Science Centers and Museums (Ecsite), Toulouse, France, May 31-June 2.

Aalderen-Smeets van, S.I. (2012). Kop & Leren. [Learning and the Brain ]. Workshop held in the context of the KOP festival 2012, Deventer, July 14^th.

Aalderen-Smeets van, S.I. Walma van der Molen, J., & Asma, L. (2010). IOSTEXIV, Bled Slovenië. Development of a questionnaire measuring primary school teachers’ attitudes towards science and technology.

Aalderen-Smeets van, S.I. (2009). Dimensies van attitude ten opzichte van Natuurwetenschap en Techniek. Miniconferentie VTBpro.

Aalderen-Smeets van, S.I., Oostenveld, R., and Schwarzbach, J. (2004). The neural correlates of metacontrast masking. BIOMAG conference 2004, Boston, USA.

Non-scientific publications:

Walma van der Molen, J.H., & Aalderen-Smeets, van, S.I.(2012). Coursebook: Meerbegaafdheid, Wetenschap en Techniek: Professionalisering voor basisschoolleerkrachten. Kenniscentrum Wetenschap en Techniek Oost.

Aalderen-Smeets van, S.I. & Walma van der Molen, J.H. (2012). Vindplaatsenonderzoek levert succesfactoren op bij de implementatie van wetenschap & techniek. Nieuwsbrief Kenniscentrum Wetenschap en Techniek Oost, 1(3), p3.

Aalderen-Smeets van, S.I., (2012). Het vernieuwde nascholingsaanbod Wetenschap en techniek is succesvol gebleken. Nieuwsbrief Kenniscentrum Wetenschap en Techniek Oost, 1(2), p3.

Van Atteveldt, N. & Aalderen-Smeets van, S.I., (2012). Veel leraren verblind door neuromythen. Guestauthorship at SciencePalooza, http://www.sciencepalooza.nl/, November 6th.

Walma van der Molen, J.H., & Aalderen-Smeets, van, S.I.(2011). Coursebook: Wetenschap en Techniek: Professionalisering voor basisschoolleerkrachten. Kenniscentrum Wetenschap en Techniek Oost.

Aalderen-Smeets van, S.I. (2008). De neurale dynamiek van visuele selectie, Neuropraxis,11, 6, 193-199.

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<< GW Home Nieuws Opleidingen Professionalisering Onderwijs Onderzoek Medewerkers ELAN Alumni Archief Intranet Sitemap Zoeken	Aalderen, Sandra van Senior researcher Science Education and Neuro-education University of Twente, Behavioral Sciences Center for Science Education and Talent Development, ELAN Postbus 217 7500 AE Enschede T: +31 (0)53 489 4295/ +31 (0)6 537 101 24 E: Sandra.vanaalderen@utwente.nl Visiting address: Cubicus C213 Within the Center for Science Education and Talent Development I conduct research on teacher professional development in close cooperation with Prof. dr. Juliette Walma van der Molen. My research focuses on science education, the stimulation of inquiry based methods of learning, and the promises and pitfalls of neuro-education. Attitudes towards Science: I am interested in the role of teachers’ attitudes toward science and teaching science and how these attitudes can be improved in order to stimulate inquiry based methods of learning. We have developed a new theoretical framework for primary teachers’ attitude towards science and towards teaching science. Based on this framework we developed and validated an attitude measurement instrument which we use to investigate effects of professional development interventions aimed at primary teachers in the field of science education. Neuro-education: In addition to research in the field of science education, I am investigating the potential of neuro-education, which refers to educating teachers about the brain. Most teachers are very interested in the brain. However, there are hardly known effects of increased brain-knowledge on teaching behavior. I investigate which elements of neuroscience knowledge, skills, and attitudes are crucial in teacher professional development interventions and investigate the effects of this development on teacher behavior and beliefs. Background: Currently I am have a research position at the University of Twente, center for Science Education and Talent Development and at the LEARN! Center of the VU University of Amsterdam. I obtained my PhD on the neural correlates of visual selection and attention from the University of Maastricht and the Donders Institute for neuroimaging, Nijmegen. I obtained a Msc in developmental cognitive neuroscience from the Department of Psychology, University of Maastricht. *Scientific Publications:* Aalderen-Smeets van, S.I. & Walma van der Molen, J. (accepted). Measuring Primary Teachers’ Attitudes toward Teaching Science: Development of the Dimensions of Attitude towards Science (DAS) Instrument. International Journal of Science Education. van Aalderen-Smeets, S. I., Walma van der Molen, J. H. and Asma, L. J. F. (2012). Primary teachers' attitudes toward science: A new theoretical framework. Science Education, 96: 158–182. doi: 10.1002/sce.20467 Asma, L.J.F, Aalderen-Smeets, S.I. & Walma van der Molen, J.H. (2011). Primary teachers’ attitudes towards science and technology: Results of a focus group study. In Vries, de, M.J., Keulen, van, H., Peters, S., and Walma van der Molen, J. (eds.). Professional development for primary teachers in science and technology. The Dutch VTB-Pro project in an international perspective. Sense Publishers. Rijpkema, M., Aalderen-Smeets van, S.I., Schwarzbach, J., and Verstraten, F.A.J. (2008). Activation patterns in visual cortex reveal receptive field size-dependent attentional modulation. Brain Research, 16, 1189-1190. Rijpkema, M., Aalderen-Smeets van, S.I., Schwarzbach, J., and Verstraten, F.A.J. (2007). Beyond the forest and the trees: local and global interference in hierarchical visual stimuli containing three levels. Perception, 36(8), 1115-1122. Aalderen-Smeets van, S.I., Oostenveld, R., and Schwarzbach, J. (2006). Investigating neurophysiological correlates of metacontrast masking with magnetoencephalography. Advances in Cognitive Psychology, 2, 1, 21-35. *Conference participation:* Aalderen-Smeets van, S.I., Walma van der Molen, J.H. (2012). Professional development of primary teachers in science and technology. Paper presented during the national education conference (ORD), Wageningen, The Netherlands, June 21. Walma van der Molen, J.H. , Volbers, J., & van Aalderen-Smeets, S.I. (2012). Forming an alliance between science centers, primary education, and universities: Tackling Issues of space, time and methods in science and technology learning. Paper presented at the annual conference of the European Network of Science Centers and Museums (Ecsite), Toulouse, France, May 31-June 2. Aalderen-Smeets van, S.I. (2012). Kop & Leren. [Learning and the Brain ]. Workshop held in the context of the KOP festival 2012, Deventer, July 14^th. Aalderen-Smeets van, S.I. Walma van der Molen, J., & Asma, L. (2010). IOSTEXIV, Bled Slovenië. Development of a questionnaire measuring primary school teachers’ attitudes towards science and technology. Aalderen-Smeets van, S.I. (2009). Dimensies van attitude ten opzichte van Natuurwetenschap en Techniek. Miniconferentie VTBpro. Aalderen-Smeets van, S.I., Oostenveld, R., and Schwarzbach, J. (2004). The neural correlates of metacontrast masking. BIOMAG conference 2004, Boston, USA. *Non-scientific publications:* Walma van der Molen, J.H., & Aalderen-Smeets, van, S.I.(2012). Coursebook: Meerbegaafdheid, Wetenschap en Techniek: Professionalisering voor basisschoolleerkrachten. Kenniscentrum Wetenschap en Techniek Oost. Aalderen-Smeets van, S.I. & Walma van der Molen, J.H. (2012). Vindplaatsenonderzoek levert succesfactoren op bij de implementatie van wetenschap & techniek. Nieuwsbrief Kenniscentrum Wetenschap en Techniek Oost, 1(3), p3. Aalderen-Smeets van, S.I., (2012). Het vernieuwde nascholingsaanbod Wetenschap en techniek is succesvol gebleken. Nieuwsbrief Kenniscentrum Wetenschap en Techniek Oost, 1(2), p3. Van Atteveldt, N. & Aalderen-Smeets van, S.I., (2012). Veel leraren verblind door neuromythen. Guestauthorship at SciencePalooza, http://www.sciencepalooza.nl/, November 6th. Walma van der Molen, J.H., & Aalderen-Smeets, van, S.I.(2011). Coursebook: Wetenschap en Techniek: Professionalisering voor basisschoolleerkrachten. Kenniscentrum Wetenschap en Techniek Oost. Aalderen-Smeets van, S.I. (2008). De neurale dynamiek van visuele selectie, Neuropraxis,11, 6, 193-199.