Student Voice & Choice: Increase Student Agency and Ownership of Learning
Personalized learning is not what is done to the learner or about tailoring the learning. It is about helping each learner to identify and develop the skills they need to support and enhance their own learning so that agency and self-advocacy can be realized.
– Kathleen McClaskey
INTRO
This short video and brief reflection activity can assist you in leading conversations about ways to increase student agency and ownership of learning. This is not a “how-to” video, but more of a conversation-starter that you can use to start discussing what the process will look like in your school.
OBJECTIVES
- Discuss how student’s ownership of learning magnifies both the teaching and learning process
- Analyze the video [all components, including images and actions-not just the interviewees’ responses] to determine how their successes can be transferred to your school
After watching the very short 1.5-minute video in the resource box, take a few moments to reflect and then take some time to discuss.
Use the provided worksheet to engage in this reflection and discussion activity. There are activities for before, during, and after viewing the video.
Discuss how student’s ownership of learning magnifies both the teaching and learning process
Analyze the video [all components, including images and actions-not just the interviewees’ responses] to determine how their successes can be transferred to your school
TIPS
- We recommend you engage in this activity on your own first, and then with your leadership team.
- This activity can also be repeated with teachers, staff, and/or other school teams within small groups.
- Little Things are smaller efforts you can do tomorrow, or within the next week or so.
- While these quick and easy practices can produce big impacts, remember, this is not a quick fix: You’re establishing schoolwide changes that should better serve all students for years to come
Responses