Why is student agency, teacher agency and school agency and the customization of learning crucial to motivation and equalization? We need to talk about agency on many levels.
Tom Vander Ark in his video talks about key attributes required to develop school agency and student agency.
Agency and Technology – Tom Vander Ark
Article: Elements of High School Agency Environments by Marie Bjerede Dec 17th, 2015
According to Tom Vander Ark Student agency has three key features:
Customization-individualized learning path
Motivation-student motivation is key
Equalization-all students-all ability levels
In a school with high agency Tom Vander Ark states that students with agency will be able to answer the following questions.
- What are you learning?
- Why are you learning this?
- What do you need to do to move to the next level?
- How they will learn.
- How they will demonstrate.
Tom Vander Ark calls this: VOICE & CHOICE
High agency students:
- Customize their learning
- Have intrinsic motivation
- Co-curator of their pathway
- Have efficacy
The relationship between agency and learning:
Students with high agency are able to transfer knowledge. These students have deeper skills.
- Think critically
- Collaborate
- Think Creatively
What does a school look like that supports agency?
Culture:
- Relationship between students and teachers.
- Respected as learners
- Responsibility as learners
Advisory:
- Pairing of a group of students with a teacher possibly for their whole education at a particular school (critical in secondary schools)
- Meet 2/3 times a week
- Build relationship with students
- Advocate for that group of students
Learning:
- Voice & Choice
- Some path flexibility
- Publishing to a broader audience
- A portfolio
Next post: So how does a teacher develop agency?
Cheers Nina
Nina Davis: Teaching & Learning in Australia 
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