How can teachers effectively promote student agency?

Promoting student agency involves encouraging learners to take ownership of their educational experiences and decisions. When teachers support student agency, they create an environment where learners feel empowered to make choices about their learning paths, engage in self-directed projects, and set personal goals. This approach not only fosters motivation but also helps develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

By encouraging students to take ownership, teachers are able to instill a sense of responsibility and investment in their education, allowing students to understand their strengths and weaknesses and adapt their learning strategies accordingly. This intrinsic motivation enhances their overall educational experience and helps cultivate lifelong learning habits.

The other options restrict this sense of ownership: making all decisions for students undermines their independence; providing limited choices can still restrict agency rather than foster it; and a focus solely on assessment results can create a narrow view of success that overlooks the importance of personal growth and engagement in the learning process.