Startkracht! Powerful web tool for every starting teacher

Starting teachers often turn their backs on the job after a few months. The right support at the right time can prevent dropouts in primary and secondary education. With 'Startkracht!: powerful web tool for every starting teacher', we are developing a mobile web tool that records the professional path of teachers and supports them in their growth.

Onderzoeksthema: Samen leren en school ontwikkelen

Interessegebied: Education; People and Society; Communication, Media and Design

Looptijd: 1/09/2020 - 31/07/2022

Financing: IOF

Based on research within the Education domain of expertise, in 2019 we developed a three-part tool that supports starting teachers in Flemish primary and secondary education in their growth:

the Startkracht! reflection circle
the Startkracht! toolbox with Startforce tools
the Startkracht! portfolio

Mentors, principals, pedagogical supervisors and teacher trainers can also use the support tool when mentoring new teachers.

The study showed that the tool would be more user-friendly as an online tool. In the project 'Startkracht!: powerful web tool for every starting teacher', we translate the three-part support tool into a web tool available in every pocket.

Design web tool according to human-centred design process

We design the web tool according to the human-centred design process and therefore go through three phases:

inspiration
ideation
implementation

Empathy with the user is central to this. That is why we cooperate with various parties in the field:

teacher training courses
educational guidance services
school communities
schools
teachers

We aim for an optimal user experience for beginning teachers as they are masters of their own professionalisation. Finally, the web tool offers the possibility to tailor help from various tutors to the teacher's personal needs.

Preventing drop-out of starting teachers

With this research, the expertise networks Education and Communication, Media and Design are fighting together against the dropout of starting teachers in primary and secondary education. We are continuing the spirit of the original research "Startkracht! A support tool for beginning teachers in your pocket" continues.