Anna Bosman, Professor of Orthopedagogics
Anna Bosman researches learning processes for children and adolescents with learning and developmental disabilities. She is a staunch advocate of classroom-based, clearly structured instruction. Bosman researches evidence-based teaching and tutoring. In doing so, she bridges the gap between psychological theory and pedagogical practice for children with learning and developmental disabilities. She has made an important contribution to the knowledge of how children can best learn to read and calculate, showing that good teaching and good didactics can make a difference. This is especially true for the achievement of students who are at risk of learning disabilities due to personal or environmental characteristics.
Bosman has developed several new programmes (such as Curriculum Development for Primary Education and Pedagogical Sciences of Primary Education), unique in the Netherlands, and she has thereby raised the profile of pedagogy and educational sciences from Radboud University. Her contribution has put this programme, with strong scientific expertise as its foundation, clearly on the map regionally and nationally.
In addition to being a professor, Bosman was director of the educational institute PWO (Pedagogical Sciences and Educational Sciences) for 10 years. In both roles, she championed the quality of education in elementary schools. Also during lectures, symposia, national programmes and media, Bosman always emphasized the importance of good quality primary education. In doing so, she was not guided by popular views, but only by reliable and valid data, the results of good scientific research.
During her directorship, the PWO educational institute grew significantly in terms of quality and also in terms of the number of students and staff. In addition, as a director, she always promoted a good atmosphere and was personally very involved with her staff, always with a keen eye for talent.