Agency: Opportunities for voice and choice in learning experiences
“Some of the smartest students in school do terribly academically.
Yet, they have incredible gifts to share with the world.
Do we help them find their own pathway to success or determine that for them?”
- George Couros
Agency is an overall theme for Learning Forward BC. Encouraging engagement in professional learning opportunities for educators in cross role and cross district sessions is a goal. We are focused on how innovative systems support students to explore ways in which their curiosity and interests are enriched.
Student voice has been nurtured for decades in BC. How well have we listened? In what ways have educators shifted their mindset to provide opportunities that are meaningful and relevant to learners, driven by their interests, often self-initiated with guidance from teachers, giving students voice and choice in their learning?
The BC curriculum has immense promise to enhance student agency. When Pasi Sahlberg addressed educators at a Learning Forward Conference in 2016, BC had scored well in the OECD metrics. In a conversation with him, he warned that we needed to continue on the path we were on with innovative practices in BC. Where are we today?
Jean Stiles, in her work on student voice and agency, is co-authoring a book with Pasi, who currently works in S Australia, where redesigning the public education system was led by a statewide conversation starting with their learners.
On November 6, at 4:00 -6:00, a panel of BC educators will respond to an interview between Rod Allen and Jean Stiles that will provide insights into how BC is faring with student agency.
For more information and registration,
https://learningforwardbc.ca/events/
Sue Elliott, President of Learning Forward BC
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