Interview with Dr. Katinka van der Kooij

Katinka van der Kooij is an assistant professor at the faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences. She works on human motor learning and motivation. In her research she tries to asnwer how we use feedback to improve our movements and what determines whether we are motivated to do so.

If you want to know more about Katinka’s work at the WKA and how to get involved – please continue reading.

Could you introduce yourself and say a couple words about your background and current position? 

My name is Katinka van der Kooij and I am a psychologist by training and currently an assistant professor Human Movement Sciences. My research focuses on motivation and motor learning: how does experiencing success or failure influence our next movement and our decision to continue a task?

On YouTube I created a list with videos about my research: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKrDJFn1YogrqEqkUjwIm2WvzOLzrLlkD&si=iXVBZvbpu9X22o0P

Since 2020 I am projectleader at WKA (‘wetenschapsknooppunten’) for the Vrije Universiteit, a role in which I collaborate with UvA projectleader Bart Groeneveld. I am not a LEARN member myself, but I am connected to the institute by Maartje Raijmakers who is a LEARN member and an advisor for the WKA and part of the advisory board of the national science hubs. 

What are the goals and the mission of WKA?

WKA is an UvA-VU collaboration embedded in the faculty of behavioural movement sciences (VU) and beta-faculty of the UvA. WKA aims to promote science saviness in school children, aiming to increase equality of opportunity in access to science. In addition, WKA aims to promote valorization of research by facilitating science communication with children from diverse backgrounds. To do this we facilitate primary schools in organizing lessons according to the principle of inquiry-based learning. We organize events such as  ‘Meet the Professor’, a festive event during which professors cycle to neighbourhood schools to give a guest lesson to children prepared with lesson material about the profession of scientist. In addition, the VU organizes webinars for teachers with insipiration on a topical theme and lesson material. The UvA lents lesson materials, organizes quest lessons, and lectures for children and their parents in science museum NEMO.

What is the ground of the WKA- LEARN collaboration and how did it come about?

The aims of WKA and LEARN overlap: WKA and LEARN both aim to create science valorization in primary education. WKA and LEARN benefit from each others’ network in primary education. Furthermore, LEARN provides expertise that improves the quality of WKA program by offering expertise on didactisch, for instance on the approach of inquiry learning, but also on more abstract topics such as on the importance of wonder in education on climate change. The collaboration naturally evolved from Maartje Raijmakers’ involvement in WKA but we would love to strengthen the collaboration. For instance, we both collaborate with ONA (Onderwijsnetwerk Amsterdam) and it would be valuable to develop a strategy on our respective contributions.

Could you describe any of the current projects?  

Currently we start with the organization of Meet the Professor Amsterdam 2025. On June 20, 30-40 professors of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Universiteit van Amsterdam will visit primary schools in Amsterdam to give a guest lesson in primary schools. The children are prepared with lesson material about the profession of a scientist and the professors start the day with a reflection on societal dialogue. In the 2024 edition, children reported to know more science after participating and gender  stereotypes changed: children no longer thought that primarily men are scientists.

Are there any opportunities for LEARN! members to get involved?  

Yes! We are developing our 2025 program and are looking for academics who are interested in giving a lecture in our webinars for primary school teachers. A lecture can be about a topical theme related to the curriculum in primary schools or about education research. In addition, we start recruitement for Meet the Professor 2025. Finally, we would love to improve our effect study during Meet the Professor Amsterdam 2025, students and colleagues who are interested in setting up an effect study can contact us. Anyone interested in collaborating with WKA can sent an e-mail to: info-wka@uva.nl or to Katinka van der Kooij: k.vander.kooij@vu.nl

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