The Sparkle Project

A research study into what motivates teachers, conducted by the Educational Insights Group

Join us!

What makes teachers thrive in their jobs?

What makes the lights in their eyes sparkle when teaching their students?

Introduction to our study

Being a teacher is a challenging profession. Some teachers may qualify their experiences as an educator more positively than others. As teachers are actors in an interactive system, the interplay between one or more actors (students, co-workers, parents, school support staff, administrators et cetera) affects all actors involved in that so-called ecological system. The way teachers perceive their experiences as a teacher is influenced by this interplay. Korthagen describes how teachers’ behaviour is unconsciously guided by a mixture of cognitive, affective, and motivational dimensions; however, in daily practice, teachers have little time to reflect in action.

The Sparkle Project focuses on these aspects. We want to understand what inspires educators and what makes their eyes sparkle in their jobs. We want to know what similarities and differences there are regarding the motivational factors for their profession between teachers involved with gifted learners and teachers who are not involved with gifted learners or those who may not know that they are involved with gifted learners. As this research is undertaken in an international context (in different countries), we would like to determine similarities and differences between teachers worldwide. Understanding what makes teachers thrive on their jobs helps us shape the best professional context possible for teachers.

Why should you participate?

Your participation helps us to get a better understanding of what motivates teachers for their job and how they keep themselves motivated for their job. That understanding is necessary if we want to tune into our teachers' educational needs in pre-and post-service teacher education. Increasing the quality of teacher education enhances the quality of education in general. More specifically, this study may contribute to a higher quality of gifted education.

How can you participate?

  • Please read the privacy statement and letter of consent at the start of the questionnaire as the first two questions on the questionnaire ask you to agree to both before you submit your answers.

  • You click on the link at the bottom of this webpage, and you will find the questionnaire on the other end.

  • Please answer all the questions before you submit your questionnaire.

  • You can always stop participating in the research. There are no penalties in case you want to stop. Just leave the webpage with the questionnaire. In that case, your answers will not be submitted.

Additional information

  • After you have completed the questionnaire, please forward the address of this website to your colleagues that might be interested in participating in this study and invite them to join us.

  • In case you want to be informed of the results of this study, please leave your email address at the bottom of the questionnaire.

Privacy statement

For this research project, we use the data you submit. These data will only be used to get a detailed perspective on the professional background of the respondents. We need this information to place the responses of what motivates teachers for their profession in a proper context.

Your data will not be used in any other context than this research. That means that we will not use your data for marketing et cetera.

What data do we use and why do we use this data?

  • If you participate, we will ask you some questions about your (professional) background. We would like to know how you are involved in education, if you have had specific training to educate gifted or more able students and if the school you are involved with has a clear school policy on educating their gifted and more able students.

  • Secondly, we ask your seven questions regarding your motivation to be involved in education.

  • Thirdly, we ask you how the recent pandemic has affected your role as a teacher and your motivation for education.


Data protection

  • As members of The Educational Insights Group we will make sure that your data is protected. For this project that means that only the Educational Insights Group has access to your data.

  • We do not sell or share your data to any other party. We do not provide personal data to third parties, including employers, family members et cetera.

If you want to contact us on any issue you have with our privacy policy, please email us via educationalinsightsgroup@gmail.com

Letter of consent

The Educational Insights Group is an international collaboration between seven researchers: Dr E. van Gerven (Slim Educatief), Dr R. Schader (Bridges Academy), Dr A. Bakx Fontys HKE), Dr C. Deitz (UA Little Rock), A. Weterings Mep (Fontys OSO), Dr A. Miro Meijas (Universidad de Puerto Rico), and W. Behrens, MA Ed (Minnesota Department of Education).

We are conducting a study to develop a better understanding of what makes teachers thrive in their jobs. We want to know if there are differences between teachers who work with gifted learners and teachers who are not (knowingly) involved in gifted education. We are also curious to learn if there are observable differences between teachers from different countries. To what extent do teachers share drives and motives for their profession worldwide?

We are requesting your participation, which will involve completing a 21-question survey. We estimate that you will spend between 15 -20 minutes of your time. Your participation in this study is completely voluntary. If you choose not to participate or to withdraw from the study at any time, there will be no penalty. The results of the research study may be published, but your name will not be used. The expected risks to participants in this study are no greater than you would experience in your regular daily life. Although there may be no direct benefit to you, the possible benefit of your participation are that the results from the study may be used to inform educator practices within gifted and talented education, as well as practices for teacher preparation programs.

If you have any questions concerning the research study, please contact us via email: educationalinsightsgroup@gmail.com.

Sincerely,

On behalf of the Educational Insights Group,

Dr Eleonoor van Gerven