Learner Agency

Learner agency in a traditional school setting - Tim Gander

http://edtalks.org/#/video/learner-agency-traditional-school-setting

Key ideas discussed:
What does student agency look like for students ?
How can we have student agency in the classroom?
Focusing on student agency and boys within the classroom.
A strong ed talk about boys and student agency.

Boys are keen to learn but often sit at the back. How can we communicate with this students?  Sharing their learning with the communities.

Empowering the learner and letting them have their say and engaging that learner voice. Discussion about 'hacking' the curriculum and breaking it down for students to understand. I have done this with the class on many times through writing. Students looking at examples/ brainstorming ideas and discussing ideas with a buddy, group (think, pair, square - see Sheena Cameron Oral Language book) and also with the teacher.  Sharing these documents empowers student's voice and ignites their learning and purpose.

Can you op in or op out of student agency? Is this a benefit to the students? Student agency allows students to follow their passions and allows freedom about what learning is. 

I can see that through my workshops, this supports their thoughts but some still don't get it and make it even more confusing for themselves. We need to look at what we as teachers are trying to achieve and empowering students to have control through their learning.

I'm going to try and target boys and playing with things that interest them. What do they want to write about? How can I get the best writing through students agency? Boys need to talk about what they are doing through play - could this be Incorporated in my inquiry? Read Jill Eggleton - Lighting The Literacy Fire