C13: Start Agency with 5 Easy Steps

by Lu Gerlach

You can make these simple changes to bring about agency within your classroom:  structure, relationships, collaboration, resources, and environment.  

Let’s zoom into each of these components to help our practice.

Structure...

​is how time is being used during the day.  Who decides how much time is spent on different activities and parts of the unit of inquiry?  Time is the greatest factor in developing new ideas.  When we rush the time to get through the content, we miss key opportunities to have “Aha” moments.  

Relationships...

​create new opportunities for growth.  Who decides which relationships will develop?  The right pairing can build up strengths and support areas of growth.  More importantly, building relationships allows students to demonstrate leadership qualities and agency. 

Collaboration...

​brings about new ideas. When working together, who is doing the talking?  Is it the strongest voices or is there a balance?  Collaboration has the potential to generate novel ideas through the power of the group, but this can only happen if everyone is valued equally. 

Resources...

​cement understanding of ideas. What resources are being used and who decides how to use them?  When students self-select resources to guide their learning, there is a greater chance of transfer to new learning situations.  Allowing students to use a wider range of resources provides a greater chance of success. 

Environment...

reflect the values of the group.  Who decides how the class will be designed and what types of seating is used?  When learners co-design the learning space, they feel more a part of the learning experience.  It reflects their unique learning style and how they learn best.  

When we release some of the control of the learning environment, magical things begin to happen.  Our students know how they learn best.  When we listen to their suggestions, they become more connected to the learning experience and are driven to create.  Isn’t this what we all want as teachers?  The greater question, are you willing to give up some of the control to achieve it? 

When I was a teacher, I went through a metamorphosis with student agency.  In truth, I controlled most of the inquiry and structure of the classroom experiences while I was developing my understanding of the PYP.  After 5-6 years of experience, I was able to release some of the control of classroom design and materials used in experiments.  As time went by, I was finding myself conferring with my students regularly on projects and how to show their understanding of the big ideas in the unit of inquiry.  Most of the time, my students came up with better ideas than I could have ever imagined by myself.  

Did agency come naturally?  Absolutely not.  Like everything else, it took a lot of practice, trust in the process, and faith in my students. 

In the end, you will see a transformative change not only in your students, but the entire school community.  You just need to trust the process that it will work out. Take it a little at a time and be kind to yourself.  This is not a race, but one step at a time.