Research Centre for Christian Teaching

Practice-oriented Research
 Our research is practice-oriented. The research questions we want to answer come from the professional field. Teachers apply our research findings directly in their work, ensuring that our outcomes are relevant and beneficial. We aim to provide useful recommendations for teachers in the classroom and advice to colleagues on how to improve the quality of our own programs.

Research Themes
 The research carried out by the Christian Teaching Research Centre covers the following focus areas:

1. Identity and Personhood Formation – Prof. Dr. A. (Bram) de Muynck

The research group led by Bram de Muynck focuses on the theme Identity and personhood formation. Our goal is to equip Christian teachers to be effective guides for their students. They must be able to find and use the right resources to navigate their way through the landscape. Their calling is to do this in the context of diversity. This means that teachers must continuously develop themselves to seek what is best for their students in the complex professional environment.

2. School Subjects and Didactics - Prof. Dr. Ir. P.M. (Piet) Murre
The research group led by Piet Murre focuses on the theme of School Subjects and Didactics. Parker Palmer writes, "You teach who you are" (The Courage to Teach, 1998). Therefore, the teacher’s personality is significant in everything they do. However, how that personality manifests also influences the content and approach of the subjects they teach, as well as the didactical choices they make. Didactics concerns the intersection of learning and teaching, including goals, ideals, choices in subject matter, working methods, and sequencing.                                                                                        
3. Formation of Christian Professionals - Prof. Dr. A.J. (Bram) Kunz
The research group led by Bram Kunz is dedicated to the theme of “Formation of Christian Professionals in the Context of the 21st Century”. Through practice-oriented research, the group aims to contribute to the professional development of Christian teachers. The group's ambition is to gain insights into teachers' actions and contribute to the improvement of their practices. This is done from a virtue-ethical perspective, where “doing good” by acting with wisdom is central. The research focuses on the pedagogical actions of teachers, especially in contexts where their personal values and virtues are involved. Relevant societal issues such as diversity and polarization come to mind in this regard.

4. Formational reading - Prof. Dr. J. (Janneke) de Jong-Slagman
The research group led by Janneke de Jong was established due to the urgent issue of declining literacy rates among Dutch youth. Being able to read and write well is essential for active participation in society. While literacy involves two components—reading and writing—the focus is on reading. Other language skills (listening, speaking, writing) may also be addressed, but are considered secondary in this research. The theme can be referred to as “Better Reading”, with a particular focus on research related to what and how reading should be taught.

5. Hospitable Education – Knowledge circle
The research within the theme of Hospitable Education aims to make schools more inclusive in their practices. Teachers are faced daily with the challenge of dealing with the diversity among the students in their classrooms. To see each student within this diversity requires an open attitude from teachers, where students are not judged. The core of this is that schools, based on their own vision, should further develop into hospitable schools in the context of inclusive education.

Contact Information For more information about our research projects and initiatives, please contact us at onderzoekscentrum@driestar-educatief.nl.