Learning will always be a constant and high-priority activity throughout our lives and having the skills and tools to manage this process is beneficial for a fruitful life.  

As educators, it is our responsibility to nurture, coach and develop lifelong learners. 
Throughout the years in traditional schooling, students have been taught to follow a specific set of instructions laid out by their teachers or elders. Times have changed, with the changing demands of employers there is now a need for students to be self-reliant lifelong learners. Students need to be able to do more than just follow a learning path designed by educators. Many of the best schools in Goa are already using the concept of Student Agency. 

The easiest way to describe what is Student Agency, is to use the analogy of learning to drive a car. The instructor gives you the rules and a direction and the end destination. After some training you are given the freedom to navigate and choose the best path based on your judgement. The instructor will always have master controls and can be ready to take over if you are going off course. The instructor also has a standard grading system to measure performance. The freedom and ownership given in choosing the path and method, is the agency being formed.

Adults often treat children as though they are incapable of making decisions on their own. Students need to develop the capacity to shape and manage their learning without over-reliance on the direction and control of others. The main idea of student agency is for children to take ownership of their learning and future.

Student Agency is a relatively unheard of concept in the traditional education system.
At the core of it, student agency gives students a voice and often, choice, in how they learn. This gives students a stake in choosing from opportunities provided for them.
e.g. choice between projects, writing assignments, or other activities. 

When executed well, enabling student agency in the classroom can have long-term positive impacts on student learning, engagement, and development.

Some benefits of increased student agency are:

Student Ownership and empowerment:

With students having a say in their learning path and their voices being heard, they will feel more empowered and will likely have a high degree of ownership in their tasks. They will also feel empowered to take on more challenges and responsibilities. 

Independence:

Students feel more independent when their inputs are heard and acknowledged. This will likely make them more confident in their judgments and empower them to become independent thinkers and grow their skills further. 

Problem-solving skills:

With students at an individual level, given choices on how to tackle the same problems helps them think outside the box and think of different approaches to the same problem.

Real-World Skills:

The skill requirement for jobs is ever changing and the main differentiating factor is the ability to pick up and implement new age skills. This methodology of learning prepares students for the real world. 

Active participation:

With students having a say in how they learn and complete their tasks makes them actively participate in the learning process. Active participation makes students more engaged in the topics.

The main goal of student agency is to develop the capacity for students to engage strategically in their learning without waiting to be directed. Taking ownership and responsibility for learning to develop skills and independence in learning without heavy reliance on external help is what the student agency aims to achieve.

For a successful Student Agency to be established, guidance from an instructor is essential as students choose their direction. The teacher serves as the facilitator and guide for the students to help them make self-directed decisions. The Sunshine Worldwide School Goa faculty at the primary years programme In Goa have been trained to bring out the best in students and make them more inquisitive and critical thinkers.

To get more information on our IB PYP Programme in Goa feel free to contact our admissions department.