review: International Symposium

Speakers 2017

International Symposium 2017: Handwriting in the context of digitalization

Scientists and practitioners from the International Symposium on Handwriting Skills provide food for thought for the following discussions as part of the workshops. Combining the results of current research and model projects from practitioners can contribute greatly to closing the gap between theory and practice.

Symposium co-chair: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ralph Bruder

Official welcome

Since 2006 he is Professor at the TU Darmstadt in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Director of the Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors at the TU Darmstadt. Professor Bruder was head of the Gesellschaft für Arbeitswissenschaft from 2011until 2015. Since 2014 he is Vice-President of TU Darmstadt. He is responsible for academic affairs and young researchers (doctoral candidates and post-docs) at TU Darmstadt.

Symposiums chair: Dr.-Ing. Marianela Diaz Meyer

Handwriting in the context of digitalization

Since May 2014, Dr.-Ing. Marianela Diaz Meyer has headed the Schreibmotorik Institut in Heroldsberg. In this function, she actively participates in academic exchanges in the form of publications and lectures. One of most important focuses of Dr. Diaz Meyer’s activities is the continued networking of the areas of writing motor skills and writing ergonomic, as well as the development of dialogue with international scientists.

Key note speech: Prof. Dr. Gerald Lembke

Digital Learning – Risks and Opportunities

Professor Doctor Gerald Lembke is a digital pioneer and “important point of contact for all questions relating to digitalisation” (according to the programme Wirtschaftswoche) and “the expert when it comes to using digital media” (ZDF, SAT1, WDR, SWR television channels, among others). Drawing on his own experience and perspective, Lembke went from a digital apologist to a critical but constructive digital professor.

Prof. Dr. Ruud van der Weel

Only three fingers write, but the whole brain works

Ruud van der Weel is a professor of Cognitive Psychology at the Norwegian University of Science & Technology (NTNU), investigating brain development of perception and action in young infants, children, adolescents and the elderly. Previously, Ruud worked in Edinburgh, Scotland at the Perception in Action laboratories as a research fellow together with Professor David N. Lee.

Dr. Christian Marquardt

Evaluation of the SMI CompetenceWeb – A screening instrument to assess handwriting skills

As a motor skills expert, Dr. Marquardt has been researching the basic motor skills of writing for more than 25 years. He did his doctorate at the Faculty for Medical Psychology at the LMU Munich, focussing on kinematic movement analysis. He has been the scientific adviser for motor skills at the Schreibmotorik Institut since 2012.

Carmen Mayer

Pen or keyboard? Impact of the writing tool on reading and writing performance in preschool children

Carmen Mayer is educator and psychologist. As educator, she worked for more than 10 years in the elementary field. Thereafter, she studied psychology at Ulm University and focused on executive functions in preschool children. Since October 2016, she is working as a research associate and doctorate student at the ZNL (TransferZentrum für Neurowissenschaften und Lernen).

Dr. Mellissa Prunty

Evaluation and remediation of handwriting difficulties in children

Mellissa Prunty is a paediatric occupational therapist and lecturer in occupational therapy at Brunel University London. Her background prior to occupational therapy was in human movement science. She completed her PhD on handwriting difficulties in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) at Oxford Brookes University under the guidance and supervision of Prof. Anna Barnett, Dr. Mandy Plumb and Dr. Kate Wilmut.

Djoke Mulder

How to provide the best of both worlds (handwriting and working on devices) in school - Good practices from schools in Holland

Djoke Mulder has been a teacher, project employee and school director in a number of primary schools in the north of Holland. In two schools she introduced Snappet© Tablets and iPads in classes, working along with the school policy of handwriting. She is currently the team leader of a primary school for children with physical and/or learning disabilities.

Ina Herklotz

With paper and pencil: motives und chances of a primary education without predefined worksheets

Ina Herklotz studied primary school education and biology as part of her teacher training at the University of Bayreuth. She works as teacher in a combined class of Year 1 and 2 pupils. Her principal interests are early mathematical education processes and preliminary teaching.