Promoting learner agency while aligning with curriculum standards is a balancing act that challenges many educators. Teachers and school leaders must create a dynamic learning environment where students take ownership of their learning, yet still meet the structured objectives outlined in the curriculum.
To help you along, here are actionable insights for educators on how to empower students as agents of their own learning. The approaches shared here will help educators create meaningful, flexible learning experiences that adhere to curriculum standards without compromising student autonomy.
Understanding Learner Agency in Education
Learner agency refers to students having the power and autonomy to take control of their learning experiences. It is about empowering students to make decisions about what, how, and why they learn. In Agents to Agency, I stress that nurturing agency involves transforming students from passive recipients of information to active participants and co-creators of their learning pathways. In a classroom where agency is prioritised, students are encouraged to set personal learning goals, make decisions about their learning methods, and reflect on their progress.
Learner agency aligns with many principles such as fostering critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and lifelong learning habits. However, the structured nature of any curriculum presents unique challenges to this vision. Curriculum standards ensure students receive a consistent and comprehensive education, but the prescriptive elements can feel restrictive when educators are trying to promote student autonomy.
Integrating Agency Within Curriculum Standards
One of the keys to successfully integrating learner agency into a curriculum-aligned classroom is to view the standards not as a constraint but as a framework that provides guidance while allowing for creative interpretation. The Australian Curriculum, for example, outlines the content students need to learn, but the methods and context in which this content is delivered can be flexible.
1. Unpacking Curriculum Standards with Flexibility
Teachers can begin by unpacking standards into broad, overarching learning intentions rather than prescriptive lessons. For instance, a curriculum standard in science might focus on understanding ecosystems. Instead of designing a uniform, teacher-directed lesson, educators can provide students with opportunities to explore ecosystems that interest them. Students might choose to investigate marine ecosystems, rainforests, or even local environments in their community. This allows students to meet the same learning outcomes while having a say in what specific aspects of ecosystems they explore.
2. Designing Learning Experiences with Student Choice
Incorporating student choice is one of the most effective ways to help promote agency. Teachers can present multiple pathways for students to demonstrate their understanding of a curriculum standard. For example, students could choose to create a video, write an essay, develop a presentation, or build a model to showcase their understanding of a topic. By giving students these options, teachers not only promote agency but also respect diverse learning styles and interests.
For example, you can create "choice boards" or "learning menus" where students select activities that align with their interests while covering the required curriculum content. This approach ensures that all students are working towards the same outcomes but in ways that are meaningful and engaging to them.
Establishing a Culture of Trust and Ownership
For students to feel genuinely empowered in their learning, it is crucial to establish a classroom culture where trust and ownership are at the forefront. Agency cannot flourish in an environment where students feel micromanaged or are afraid to make mistakes.
1. Building Trust Through Gradual Release of Responsibility
This is a helpful strategy in promoting agency while ensuring curriculum alignment. Initially, the teacher models a concept, then gradually shifts the responsibility to students as they build confidence and competence. This gentle approach helps students understand expectations while developing the skills needed to take ownership of their learning.
In a mathematics lesson, for instance, a teacher might first model how to solve a problem involving fractions. In the next step, the students might work in pairs to solve similar problems, and eventually, they would be given an opportunity to create their own problems based on real-life scenarios, demonstrating both their understanding and their ability to apply knowledge autonomously.
2. Encouraging Student Reflection and Goal Setting
Reflection and goal setting are essential for fostering agency. Teachers can encourage students to set personal learning goals that align with the curriculum. This practice helps students understand their learning journey and see how it connects to the broader curriculum requirements. Reflection activities, such as learning journals or regular self-assessment check-ins, provide students with opportunities to consider their progress, identify challenges, and adjust their learning strategies.
Research indicates that when students set their own goals, they are more motivated and invested in their learning. This process also helps students develop metacognitive skills, which are crucial for lifelong learning. By aligning these personal goals with curriculum objectives, teachers can ensure that students are making progress in the required areas while developing a sense of ownership over their learning.
Leveraging Collaborative Planning and Personalisation
Promoting agency in the classroom often requires innovative planning and personalisation of learning to ensure that all students can engage with the curriculum in meaningful ways.
1. Collaborative Planning Teams for Shared Vision
Teachers do not need to navigate the balance between agency and curriculum alignment alone. Collaborative Planning Teams can be instrumental in developing strategies that work for different learners. By working together, teachers can brainstorm creative ways to incorporate agency into units of work while ensuring consistency across the year level or subject area.
In Australian schools, collaborative planning aligns well with the Professional Standards for Teachers, which emphasises the importance of professional collaboration for improving teaching practices and student outcomes. Educators can share best practices, discuss challenges, and support one another in the development of learning experiences that promote student agency.
2. Personalisation to Cater to Diverse Needs
Personalisation is an essential component of promoting agency, particularly in a diverse classroom where students have varying needs and abilities. Personalised instruction involves tailoring learning activities to meet the needs of individual students, providing them with multiple options for exploring content and demonstrating their understanding.
For instance, in an English lesson aligned with a curriculum standard on persuasive writing, some students might prefer to write traditional essays, while others could create persuasive speeches or even digital content such as a podcast. By providing these options, teachers can support different learners' needs and interests, thereby fostering a greater sense of ownership and engagement in their work.
Addressing Challenges and Misconceptions
While promoting agency in a curriculum-aligned classroom has many benefits, it also comes with challenges. Educators may encounter resistance from students who are not used to taking ownership of their learning or from stakeholders who are concerned about meeting curriculum requirements.
1. Supporting Students in Developing Agency
Not all students are immediately comfortable with the idea of agency. Some may prefer more structure and direction from the teacher. To address this, educators can provide scaffolding to help students gradually build the skills they need for autonomous learning. This could involve breaking down larger tasks into smaller, manageable steps or providing templates and examples to guide students.
It is also important to foster a growth mindset, as highlighted in Agents to Agency. Encouraging students to see challenges as opportunities for growth helps them become more comfortable with taking risks and making decisions about their learning.
2. Communicating with Stakeholders
Promoting learner agency requires clear communication with stakeholders, including parents, administrators, and other educators. School leaders and teachers should articulate how promoting agency not only meets curriculum standards but also prepares students for future success by developing critical skills like problem-solving, creativity, and self-direction.
Using evidence from educational research can help make the case for agency-based practices. Studies have shown that students who have a greater sense of agency are more motivated and engaged, leading to better academic outcomes and well-being. Sharing success stories and examples from the classroom can also help build support for these approaches.
It's All About Balance
Balancing learner agency with the requirements of the curriculum is a complex but achievable goal. By approaching the curriculum as a flexible framework, building a culture of trust and ownership, leveraging collaborative planning, incorporating real-world learning, and addressing challenges proactively, teachers and school leaders can create environments where students thrive as active participants in their learning.
Fostering agency is not about abandoning structure but about giving students the power to navigate their learning within a well-defined framework. By integrating these practices into the classroom, educators can ensure that students not only meet curriculum standards but also develop the skills they need to become lifelong learners and proactive members of their community.
The Empowering Agency Growth Report is based on the critically acclaimed book "Agents to Agency" and will show you how to maximise the strengths and opportunities in your practice for empowering your learners with agency. Get your own report now—it takes just 2 minutes and is completely FREE!
