معرفی
Reyer Ploeg is a lecturer and researcher in the Music in Education department at Leiden University of Applied Sciences, where he teaches in the Music Teacher Training program. With over forty years of experience in education, including eight years as a classroom teacher at Vrijeschool Hilversum and fifteen years as a music teacher at Rudolf Steiner College in Haarlem, he brings extensive practical knowledge to his academic work. He is affiliated with the Professionalization through Educational Pedagogy Practice Research (POP) knowledge center within the Faculty of Education.
His primary research focuses on the role of art in education, particularly through his project 'Connecting with the World Through Art,' which examines how schools that prioritize art create meaningful connections for students. His research methodology incorporates Arts-based Research, informed by Bronfenbrenner's bio-ecological systems theory, Theo Poiesz's triad model, and Gert Biesta's educational philosophy.
Ploeg's work demonstrates that art education creates significant student motivation when connected to real-world contexts and community engagement. His findings were presented at the 'Art in Education' symposium on October 1, 2024, and documented in a film showcasing three schools: Vathorst College (Amersfoort), Floracollege (Naaldwijk), and Vinse School (Amsterdam).
His recent publication 'Art in education surprises' (Kunstzone, 2024) highlights how art should be valued for its intrinsic worth in helping students connect with the world, rather than merely for its potential benefits to other academic subjects.
Beyond his academic work, Ploeg serves as chairman of the Stichting Mens en Muziek (Mens and Music Foundation), conductor of the Haarlem Student Choir, and co-owner of the Jansstraat 33 cultural center in Haarlem.
