As a postdoctoral researcher you will work in a consortium of two universities (Radboud University, Leiden University), six schools, and the Netherlands Institute for Curriculum Development SLO on the project ‘Computational Thinking in context: a teaching and learning trajectory for primary and secondary education’ funded by NRO, part of the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO).

One of the biggest challenges current educational systems face worldwide is the call for the integration of digital literacy into the curricula. When decomposing digital literacy into more specific skills, computational thinking (CT) is possibly the most complicated one. At the same time, it is key when aiming to apply the power of computing to solving problems in other scientific domains and thus may be regarded to be an essential skill.

Many schools in the Netherlands and abroad have started incorporating CT in their teaching, while struggling with the question how to do so in a structured and effective way, and how to facilitate their teachers.
This project will support these schools through practice-oriented research, by developing suitable CT learning objectives for primary and secondary education, as well as teaching and learning strategies fostering the acquisition of these objectives. In primary education, we aim to connect CT to the general cognitive learning objectives, while in secondary school CT will be integrated into three learning domains: STEM, languages and humanities.

The consortium provides an environment for investigating learning trajectories in primary and secondary education, as well as for the transition from one to the other.
You will work mainly on secondary education, collaborating closely with another postdoctoral researcher specialising in primary education, especially on the trajectories within and between primary and secondary schools.

The project is part of the programme for practice-oriented education research, and thus will result in scientific output as well as practical guidelines and materials for teaching and learning activities.

• a PhD degree;
• a background in computing science or computing education;
• familiarity with secondary education (preferably in the Dutch context);
• familiarity with teaching methodologies for computing;
• familiarity with educational research;
• willingness to work in an interdisciplinary team of researchers and teachers;
• good communication skills in English and in Dutch (or willingness to acquire these skills).

• employment: 1.0 FTE
• a maximum gross monthly salary of € 4,166 based on a 38-hour working week (salary scale 10)
• in addition to the salary: an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• duration of the contract: 3 years
• classification in the Dutch university job-ranking system (UFO): Postdoctoral Researcher, Level 4;
• you will be able to make use of our Dual Career Service where our Dual Career Officer will assist with family related support, such as child care, and help your partner prepare for the local labour market and with finding an occupation

 
The Faculty of Science at Radboud University is an equal opportunity employer, committed to building a culturally diverse intellectual community, and as such encourages applications from women and minorities.

Are you interested in our excellent employment conditions?

Faculty of Science
The department of Science Education at Radboud University is part of the Faculty of Science.
You will work in a stimulating interdisciplinary environment of researchers and teachers. You will collaborate closely with your counterpart at Leiden University and with teachers in the participating schools. Participating in the project, you will actively contribute to the ongoing innovation of digital literacy education in the Netherlands.
 
Further information on Faculty of Science
Further information on NWO: Computational Thinking in context: a teaching and learning trajectory for primary and secondary education