Idea: every development starts with a question
MBO teacher Loes van Gemert designed cheerful vintage cards to initiate conversation with and between teachers. "Together we can achieve much more than alone."
Image: Angeliek de Jong
In the middle of a world map, a woman is staggering in high heels, barely visible behind the many suitcases and bags she carries. Behind her are imposing mountains and to the left is an owl on a traffic sign. In a cloud is the text: 'Choosing a different approach: do you dare?'
It is one of fifty illustrated conversation cards designed by MBO teacher Loes van Gemert to help teachers get to know themselves and others better. “There are so many teachers struggling with the same challenges. With these cards I hope to start the conversation, so that they will share experiences, ideas and insights. Together we can achieve much more than alone ”, she explains.
There are so many teachers struggling with the same challenges. With these cards I hope to start the conversation
Her career started in the business world, at D-Reizen and Rabobank, among others. When she noticed that her strength lies mainly in explaining, enthusing and inspiring, she decided to make the switch to education. She completed the teacher training college, taught as a substitute for a while and had no doubts when she was able to start as an economics teacher at roc De Rooi Pannen in Tilburg in 2008. And that works very well, she says. "I think it is super cool to work with students and teachers to see how things can be improved a little bit every day, each at their own pace and at their own level."
The management soon asked her as an internal trainer to set up and supervise a professionalization process for her hundred colleagues. Believe in yourself as a teacher is her priority. “So much is expected of teachers. If we do not help them, do not listen to them carefully and do not encourage them, then that will not work. ”
She started with observation and intervision to create a professional culture in which teachers learn from and with each other. Over the years she developed different materials and tools, including the conversation cards. “I heard myself keep repeating the same questions and decided to write them down,” she says. “It was only in 2015 that I ordered the questions by subject and made illustrations to accompany them. The cards serve as a spark to start the process further. Every development starts with a question. ”
Stimulate
The cheerful vintage collages in A5 format contain a total of XNUMX questions, such as: 'What makes you unique?', 'What would you like to know before?', 'How do students experience you as a teacher?', Or 'How do you give your abut? '
“I consciously opted for an attractive design and not just cards with text. The different images stimulate the brain, allowing the teacher to come up with more answers. I notice that it works well ”, she says. According to her, there are many options for using the cards, from one-off to structural, from individual to groups. The cards come with a manual with suggestions. Van Gemert: “I sometimes put a card in a mailbox as a surprise. That is great fun and I see that teachers keep busy with the question. For example, they put the map on their desk as a reminder during class. ”
The professionalization process at De Rooi Pannen is underway and Van Gemert is now only working on it for two hours a week, in addition to her task as team coordinator and economics teacher.
Colleagues now consider it normal to look at each other and exchange ideas. They are much more concerned with shaping education together.
“The colleagues now find it normal to look together and exchange ideas. They are much more involved in shaping education together. That is great, because you remove the duplicates in teaching material and the education is better. Of course, students also notice immediately that teaching is done with more confidence, attention and pleasure. ”
She also grants others the impact that the cards made on her colleagues. The set is for sale via her website, which is also full of tips and ideas for an attractive lesson. “I want to help beginners as well as teachers who have been teaching for years to stand more firmly in their shoes and let them experience that they matter,” she says about her motivation. “I hope that the dialogue will start and the connection in education will be strengthened. Because we need each other to develop. ”
