Learner agency in innovative learning environments: Navigating new generation spaces

Abstract

Agency is currently a hot topic in schools, particularly as we see schools around Aotearoa modifying single cell spaces, funding rebuilds, and reaping the benefits of purpose built designs. Agency in innovative learning environments (ILE) is more than just 'having control', 'having ownership', 'having choice', or 'being self regulated or self managing'. Agency involves having the social cultural resources to know what to do when you don't know. It is built up relationally over a protracted period of time and involves a cocktail of relational trust, high expectations for teacher professional learning and student achievement, pedagogical scaffolds, and cultural relevance and integrity. It is well established that relational trust is important – we know that learning happens through partnerships between students, teachers and with communities.