Experience stories Giftedness in-company

In 2021, Radboud International Training on High Ability (RITHA) and PPO Rotterdam (NL) joined forces to train professionals from primary and secondary education in the field of giftedness.

In October 2021, a partnership combining primary and secondary institutions was initiated as part of the RITHA training, specifically with PPO Rotterdam and Koers VO. These two organisations work side by side in the pursuit of equal opportunities and optimal development opportunities for every child.

This group boasts a unique composition, broadly representing education in the Rotterdam region. In addition to primary and secondary education, it includes special primary education and special secondary education. Teachers and healthcare professionals collaborate to enhance expertise in giftedness and high intelligence. The focus is on aligning with the developmental needs of the target group from a scientific perspective and creating a suitable and continuous educational pathway. Central to this initiative are knowledge development, fostering connections, and exchanging best practices.

Reflection

According to Jeroen Naaktgeboren, driving force from PPO Rotterdam and ECHA Specialist, it is a nice, enthusiastic, active group that is ready to put the experiences from the training into practice. Jeroen indicates that the training is more than reading scientific literature and applying the acquired knowledge in practice. It is precisely the joint reflection and the strengthening of the connection between primary and secondary education - finding each other again - that for him is the added value of this in-company trajectory. According to Jeroen, this can be seen in various initiatives in the field of cooperation between secondary education and special secondary education, the development of peer groups and school-wide talent development.

Blended Education

The blended design of the programme allows participants to engage both in person during multi-day seminars and virtually through the digital learning environment. Online interactions, including asynchronous discussion forums and live webinars, offer participants the flexibility to exchange knowledge and experiences amidst their busy schedules. Participants, well-versed in a comprehensive range of scientific literature, use the discussion forums to explore various theories and, more importantly, their practical implications.

Implementation in Practice

The value of an in-company programme is clearly demonstrated through the substantive discussions that emerge from diverse perspectives, contexts, and practical experiences. This exchange broadens participants' horizons and fosters meaningful learning from one another. The integration of new practical insights with acquired knowledge results in well-developed solutions for practical assignments. By merging scientific knowledge with the passion and expertise of professionals, the programme creates a synergy that can be effectively applied to educational practice, extending its impact beyond the training period.

Tailor-made

The collaboration between RITHA and Edux has resulted in a tailor-made programme in the field of giftedness: depending on the state of affairs in the region, the set-up of the RITHA training can be adjusted. Customization options include the content of the modules, the option to complete the full training, and additional regional meetings. Before, during, and after the training, RITHA, Edux, and the driving forces from the partnership work together to facilitate and support the professionals from the schools participating in the programme. These driving forces are invited to participate in the seminars. The progress of the programme is periodically reviewed and coordinated with them. This allows for an optimal response to the needs of and the unique situation within the relevant partnership. By engaging the driving forces of the in-company programme, who maintain contact with the professionals after the training, the knowledge, skills, and milestones achieved are effectively secured in practice. In short, the development of both professionals and organizations does not stop after completing the training, but is actually strengthened and initiated.

About PPO

The mission of PPO Rotterdam (a collaboration to support appropriate primary education) is to offer all Rotterdam children a suitable place of education, as much as possible in their own neighbourhood. PPO Rotterdam strives to make all forms of education more inclusive and to prevent exclusion so that a suitable place of education is available for all Rotterdam children. PPO Rotterdam facilitates schools to realise this.

RITHA Practitioner

In cooperation with EDUX employees of PPO Rotterdam attended Block 1: Stimulating, Supporting, and Guiding Talent (12 weeks) of Radboud International Training on High Ability (RITHA). 

Since 2018 European Talent Center Croatia (ETC Hrvatska) and RITHA co-operate in offering trainings for professionals working in kindergardens, primary and secondary school to educate them how to discover, recognise and challenge hidden talent.

Director Robert Kelemen about the cooperation

“Our main motivation to start cooperation with the RITHA programme was to provide the best possible opportunity to gain experience about gifted education for teachers and trainers in our Centres of Excellence. Learn from the best, is our motto. I can recommend others to work with the Radboud University, and especially the RITHA programme, because they will get a partner who thinks creatively to suit their needs and provides a programme that changes perspectives on gifted education and offers freedom in setting the educational goals of participants.” According to Robert Kelemen, Director of the European Talent Centre Croatia.

RITHA Trainer Julija Kukec 

"I meet gifted children every day. As a preschool psychologist working in kindergarten, I see challenges these children, their teachers, and their parents face in the regular education system. And I also see the need to provide them a different approach. This is what motivated me to start the RITHA programme.

What makes this programme specific is solid, scientifically based theoretical foundation and learning how to implement these findings in practice. Also, the opportunity to learn from top experts in the field of gifted education. I also want to highlight the continuous support of teachers through positive supervision and the connection to a network of international experts in the field of giftedness, which provides great opportunities for cooperation.

By participating in RITHA programme, I acquired variety of important skills: how to identify gifted children, how to design, implement and evaluate different programs and forms of working with these children. I also gained a greater understanding of creativity and how to encourage it in different environments and systems, and increased my skills in the field of working with parents of gifted children." 

Julija is one of our five RITHA trainers in Croatia. She successfully completed the RITHA Specialist programme and the RITHA train-the-trainer trajectory. 

About ETC Hrvatska - CIVZ

 The European Talent Center Croatia - Centers of Excellence of Varaždin County offers:

• formal and informal programs of adult education training (training and retraining programs)
• informal forms of adult education (courses, seminars, etc.),
• highly specialized training in other areas of great importance for the education system of Varaždin County (new technologies, teaching aids, drones, humanoid robots, development of digital content, development of classrooms of the future, etc.).

RITHA 

If you are interested to join forces with us and offer your teachers, counsellors or policy makers a high quality, science-based training on high ability, then contact us to learn more about the possibilities. 

Bij Radboud Centrum Sociale Wetenschappen zetten we ons in voor de professionalisering van onderwijsprofessionals en samenwerkingsverbanden. Een belangrijk onderdeel hiervan is het versterken van kennis over hoogbegaafdheid, zodat scholen en ondersteuners beter kunnen inspelen op de behoeften van (hoog)begaafde leerlingen. Samenwerkingsverband Nieuwe Waterweg Noord nam deel aan Blok 1 van de Radboud International Training on High Ability (RITHA) om de kennis en ondersteuning in de regio te versterken. We spraken met gedragswetenschappers Noortje Diks en Baukje Maas over hun ervaringen met deze scholing.

Waarom deze scholing?

Noortje Diks vertelt: “Een belangrijk doel binnen ons activiteitenplan was het vergroten van expertise over hoogbegaafdheid op alle Havo/Vwo-scholen in de regio. De Radboud Universiteit werd gekozen vanwege de wetenschappelijke basis en de positieve ervaringen van eerdere deelnemers aan de ECHA-opleiding.”

Wat hebben jullie geleerd?

Tijdens de scholing kwamen diverse theorieën en modellen aan bod, zoals de zelfdeterminatietheorie en het model van Gagné. Baukje Maas vult aan: “We hebben veel geleerd over de essentiële eigenschappen van een begeleider van (hoog)begaafde leerlingen. Deze inzichten passen we inmiddels toe in de praktijk, bijvoorbeeld bij het begeleiden van leerlingen, het beargumenteren van versnelling en het signaleren van onderpresteren, zelfs bij leerlingen met hoge cijfers.”

Incompany-training als meerwaarde

Een groot voordeel voor het samenwerkingsverband was dat de scholing incompany werd aangeboden. Noortje benadrukt: “Dit zorgde ervoor dat we binnen onze regio direct samen konden werken met collega’s uit verschillende scholen.” Baukje voegt toe: “Daardoor zijn waardevolle contacten gelegd en structurele overleggen opgezet die bijdragen aan een duurzamere samenwerking. Dit versterkt niet alleen onze kennis, maar ook de continuïteit van ondersteuning voor (hoog)begaafde leerlingen.”

Aanrader voor andere organisaties

Beiden raden de scholing zeker aan. Noortje: “Voor organisaties die hun kennis over hoogbegaafdheid willen versterken, is deze training een waardevolle investering.” Baukje: “De driedaagse start bood een breed perspectief op verschillende aspecten van hoogbegaafdheid en gaf ons de kans om een eigen visie te vormen.”

Benieuwd naar ons volledige hoogbegaafdheidsaanbod? 

Bekijk het hier

In 2021, Radboud International Training on High Ability (RITHA) and Edux joined forces to train professionals from primary and secondary education in the field of giftedness. This in-company collaboration brings together professionals from different organisations to work on the development of educational and guidance services for gifted and highly gifted students. What are the outcomes of this collaborative approach, as reported by the participants of the in-company training and partners involved?

Why a Collaboration Between Radboud International Training on High Ability (RITHA) and Edux?

The collaboration between RITHA and Edux leverages the unique strengths and methodologies of both organizations. Radboud University, through RITHA, has developed an innovative blended education model that fosters practical developments grounded in scientific research. This approach combines a digital learning environment with ample opportunities for mutual interaction and exchange, supplemented by in-person seminars. The result is a dynamic learning community where knowledge and experiences are shared, and a robust network is established that extends beyond the duration of the programme.

Edux places a strong emphasis on the professional development of individuals. Edux innovates by focusing on talent, change, and growth. Drawing on extensive expertise at the individual, team, and organizational levels, Edux empowers professionals through customized solutions. The facilitation of an in-company programme aligns seamlessly with this approach.

What are the outcomes according to the participants?

• The in-company method ensures that theoretical discussions can be promptly translated into practical applications. What is discussed today can be tested tomorrow within the schools.
• In addition to training professionals, this method also fosters the development of a regional educational network and educational programmes. 
• By addressing regional issues related to giftedness, participants establish a robust network of trained professionals who can continually engage in substantive discussions.
• The collective acquisition of knowledge and skills enhances support within an organization, extending beyond the training participants to other professionals. This broader base of support facilitates the implementation of new initiatives and strengthens the connection between theory and practice.

RITHA Practitioner

The professionals from the EDUX collaboration attended the in-company programme International Training on High Ability (RITHA) of Radboud University. 

Training hoogbegaafdheid (RITHA) 

In februari 2021 is een groep professionals uit drie regionale samenwerkingsverbanden met de RITHA Practitioner opleiding gestart. Na het volgen van twee theoretische blokken over verschillende thema’s binnen het vakgebied hoogbegaafdheid, hebben de deelnemers de opgedane kennis en vaardigheden vertaald naar hun eigen onderwijspraktijk tijdens de stagemodule in blok 3 van de opleiding.

Anna Lont-Zuidema, coördinator hoogbegaafdheid bij o.a. samenwerkingsverband VO Noord-Kennemerland en Passend Onderwijs West-Friesland:

Bij samenwerkingsverband VO Noord-Kennemerland vormde het organiseren van een verdiepende opleiding één van de doelstellingen binnen het project hoogbegaafdheid dat naar aanleiding van de subsidieregeling ‘passend onderwijs voor begaafde leerlingen in het po en vo’ eind 2019 is gestart. Ik dacht gelijk aan RITHA als interessante scholingsaanbieder. Zowel de stevige wetenschappelijke basis als de visie op hoogbegaafdheid sluiten goed aan bij de werk- en denkwijze binnen het samenwerkingsverband. 

Of er ook in-company mogelijkheden waren wist ik toen nog niet, maar na overleg bleek onze vraag op een goed moment te komen. Als wij voor de mensen zorgden, kon RITHA in samenwerking met Edux vrij snel voor ons van start. We zagen meteen meerwaarde in aansluiting van deelnemers uit andere samenwerkingsverbanden en benaderden samenwerkingsverband VO Kop van Noord-Holland en samenwerkingsverband VO West-Friesland. 

We werken in grotendeels landelijk gebied waar de afstanden tussen middelbare scholen groot (kunnen) zijn. Op deze manier konden we een regionale samenwerking op het thema hoogbegaafdheid creëren. Iets waar grote behoefte aan was. Onze regio is inmiddels zeventien hoogbegaafdheidsdeskundigen rijker en daar prijzen we ons zeer gelukkig mee. Deze mensen leveren een belangrijke bijdrage aan de (door)ontwikkeling van hun scholen met expertise, aanbod en ondersteuning voor hoogbegaafde leerlingen. Daarbij vormen zij – na een jaar lang intensief samen optrekken - onderling een stevig netwerk. Ze doen het niet alleen, maar samen!

Sophie Versfeld en Michiel Ubas, leerkrachten Trinitas College Han Fortmann én RITHA-Practitioners:

De in-company RITHA opleiding kwam als een schot in de roos. Inhoudelijk heeft de opleiding voor een goede basis aan (wetenschappelijke) kennis opgeleverd en daarnaast zijn onze plannen vanwege de ook praktische insteek van de opleiding werkelijkheid geworden. Het opzetten van een HB-café, het aanbieden van een HB verrijkingsgroep, versterkte samenwerking met omliggende (po en vo) scholen en de ontwikkeling van beleid zijn gedurende de in-company opleiding ontwikkelt. Doordat we met een samengestelde groep uit de regio de opleiding volgen leidt dit tot een regionale verbreding van kennis en passend onderwijs aan meer- en hoogbegaafde leerlingen. Iets waar we ontzettend trots op zijn!

RITHA Practitioner

In samenwerking met EDUX volgden medewerkers van PPO Rotterdam de gehele opleiding Radboud International Training on High Ability (RITHA). Na afronding mogen zij zichzelf RITHA Practitioner noemen. 

Training hoogbegaafdheid (RITHA)