Fostering Student Agency: Encouraging Participation in the Classroom

29th May 2025

As a new teacher, stepping into the classroom can feel overwhelming, especially when balancing lesson delivery with fostering student agency. With a diploma in education and training, new teachers are equipped to understand the importance of student agency, which plays a key role in boosting student motivation, engagement, and success. Student agency refers to giving students opportunities to take an active role in their learning, make decisions about their educational experience, and develop ownership over their progress. Read on to explore practical strategies for new teachers to encourage student agency, promoting independence, ownership, and accountability in the classroom.

5 Ways New Teachers Can Encourage Student Agency

If you are wondering how can teachers encourage students to participate, here are a few ways to build a student agency:

1. Create a Collaborative Learning Environment

The first step to promoting student agency is to create an environment where students feel they are collaborators in the learning process, rather than passive recipients. When students contribute to the learning atmosphere, they become more invested in their education.

How to Implement:
 

• Encourage group work and peer feedback: Give students opportunities to work together, solve problems collaboratively, and offer constructive criticism to each other.
• Facilitate class discussions: Allow students to express their thoughts, ask questions, and lead discussions. They may practice critical thinking and take charge of their education thanks to this.

By giving students the chance to be part of a learning community, you’re helping them feel empowered and engaged.

2. Give Students a Voice in the Learning Process

One of the most effective ways to encourage student agency is by giving students a voice in how their learning takes place. This includes allowing them to have input into topics, assignments, and how they demonstrate their learning.

How to Implement:
 

• Offer choices for assignments: Let students choose between different project topics, formats (e.g., videos, presentations, essays), or methods of assessment.
• Involve students in goal setting: Allow students to set their own academic goals and decide how they will achieve them. This creates a personalized learning experience.
• Seek feedback regularly: Ask students for feedback on lessons, teaching methods, or even classroom rules. This shows that you value their opinions and fosters a sense of ownership.

When students are involved in decision-making, it creates a partnership between the teacher and the learner, increasing their motivation and engagement.

3. Encourage Self-Reflection

Wondering, how can teachers encourage students to participate? One effective way is through self-reflection. When students regularly reflect on their learning experiences, they can identify which strategies work best for them, where they need improvement, and how to take responsibility for their progress. This process empowers students to become more engaged in their learning and develop a deeper sense of ownership.

How to Implement:
 

• Incorporate regular reflection activities: After each lesson or project, give students time to reflect on their learning experience. Ask them to think about what they learned, what challenges they faced, and what they would do differently next time.
• Use learning journals: Have students keep a journal where they document their thoughts, questions, and progress over time.
• Conduct one-on-one check-ins: Regularly meet with students to discuss their progress, challenges, and goals. Motivate them to assume accountability for their education.

Self-reflection not only helps students understand their own learning process but also teaches them to take proactive steps toward improvement.

4. Foster a Growth Mindset

The idea that skills and intelligence may be developed via hard work and perseverance is a fundamental component of student agency. The growth mentality is essential in this situation. By encouraging students to view challenges as opportunities for growth, new teachers can inspire resilience and a sense of control over their learning journey.

How to Implement:
 

• Praise effort, not just achievement: Focus on the process and progress, rather than just the final product or grade. Encourage students to persist even when things get difficult.
• Normalize failure: Teach students that setbacks are part of the learning process. When they encounter challenges, help them see it as an opportunity to learn and grow.
• Model a growth mindset: Demonstrate your willingness to learn from mistakes and continuously improve, showing students that learning is a lifelong journey.

Students that have a growth mindset are more likely to take ownership of their education and actively look for methods to get better.

5. Use Student-Led Activities

Allowing students to lead their learning activities not only encourages student agency but also enhances their leadership skills. When students take charge, they feel more responsible for the outcomes, and their sense of agency increases.

How to Implement:
 

• Allow students to lead discussions: Let them take turns moderating class discussions or presenting on topics they find interesting.
• Assign leadership roles: Whether it’s being a group leader for a project or leading a learning session, giving students the chance to lead helps them develop autonomy.
• Facilitate peer teaching: Pair students up so they can teach each other concepts. This reinforces their understanding and gives them a sense of ownership over their learning.

Student-led activities promote autonomy and help students develop valuable skills that extend beyond the classroom.

6. Encourage Collaborative Learning

Collaboration encourages students to work together, share ideas, and learn from one another. By incorporating collaborative learning strategies, new teachers can foster a sense of community and allow students to take ownership of their group learning process.

How to Implement:
 

• Organize group projects: Assign projects that require students to work together to solve problems or create presentations.
• Encourage group discussions: Create opportunities for students to engage in meaningful discussions, where they can express their ideas and listen to their peers.
• Peer feedback: Allow students to review and provide feedback on each other’s work, which encourages critical thinking and active engagement.

Collaborative learning helps students feel more accountable for their contributions and encourages shared responsibility for success.

Bottom Line

Encouraging student agency is one of the most rewarding aspects of teaching, and an International teaching diploma course can provide you with the skills to foster this in your classroom. As a new teacher, you have the opportunity to shape your students' learning experiences in a way that empowers them to take control of their education. The more you invest in developing student agency, the more engaged and motivated your students will be. By helping them realize they have control over their educational outcomes, you equip them with the skills they need for lifelong learning and personal growth.

Written By : Sanjana