This article was first published in Getting Smart on May 22, 2018 In some sense, all action demonstrates agency. After all, a student who makes the decision to drop out of school is by some definitions exercising agency to take that action. However, when we talk about student agency, we … Continue reading →

This article was first published in Getting Smart on April 1, 2018 It is not enough to implement Project Based Learning (PBL) and automatically expect to see dramatic outcomes. First, the quality with which PBL is implemented can vary widely, from authentic, challenging, student-centered implementations to those where students simply … Continue reading →

This article was first published in Getting Smart on February 19, 2018 There is something about how people learn that involves a balance of activeness vs passiveness, self-direction vs micro-management, ownership vs compliance, intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation. Something based in interest and engagement and basic psychological needs such as autonomy, … Continue reading →

This article was first published on Getting Smart on February 1st 2018. Who wouldn’t want responsible students? They listen in class, take notes, and complete their homework on time without nagging. They are easy to teach. Especially as compared to disengaged students who daydream in class, may have disciplinary issues … Continue reading →

We are looking across the country for a couple of special districts who are fascinated by student agency work and that are willing to share with us their wisdom.  We know that our unique program for building student agency is different from the usual way initiatives are implemented – we … Continue reading →