Blended Learning Focus: Ownership and Agency

Having choice in the activities we choose to participate in is what makes a person thrive.  We always tend to choose the things we feel most comfortable with and enjoy the most. In the classroom, our students need to be able to take ownership of their learning adventure and master the content in the way that best fits their learning style and needs. 

In the article "How to Build Student Agency in Your Classroom" Jacob Bruno states "Too often, we create situations where they (students) don't have enough options or choice in how their own educational journeys go, leaving them in learning traffic that doesn't let them move as fast." This is critical when building agency in the classroom.  He goes on to state "Agency is partially about having choice, and partially about know what to with that choice."  It is critical for students to have the choice and to have the knowledge as to which choice best fits their needs and learning style(s). 

Here are a few things to consider as you look at building a classroom environment that promotes Ownership and Agency. 

• Student Agency: Teaching Students to Take Ownership of Their Learning

• 5 Activities to Promote Student Agency in the Classroom

• Classroom Structures that Promote Student Agency: The Power of Student Joy

• Student Engagement versus Student Ownership

Ownership and Agency-Specific Resources 

(*While these resources are free, they are not district-supported).

• Padlet:   An extremely easy-to-use tool that allows learners to collaborate online by posting text, images, links, documents, videos and voice recordings.  Teachers can use this as a "parking lot" for students to share their thoughts and ideas before, during, and after instruction. 

• FlipGrid now Flip: Teachers can create discussion topics and students can respond with video recordings. Their peers can respond to keep the discussion going.  This tool helps students formulate their ideas in a  pre-recorded setting, which means no one gets talked over or ignored by louder voices.  

• Khan Academy: Offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom. It provides self-paced practice for students to fill in gaps in their understanding and then accelerating their learning.