Empower: What Happens When Student Own Their Learning

by John Spencer

but to make it happen, there is a lot of work to be done. Becoming a content creator allows you to follow your own path, yet to be successful, hard work is needed.

As teachers, we have to embrace the notion that technology can open up a world of learning opportunities and then give our students the chance to own those opportunities.

They may not invent a company, but they will have to invent and reinvent their jobs in order to stay relevant. In other words, they’ll need to be nimble.

Students will take initiative when something matters to them.

Carve out time in your schedule where students can self-start on their own learning.

Show your students how you are self-starting in your own life.

Self-management begins with a sense of awareness regarding what you are doing, where you are going, and what you plan to do next.

Innovation isn’t change for the sake of change. It’s driven by a sense of purpose and meaning.

it’s not about the physical space.

Moreover, sometimes creative work requires structure. Students often struggle with a completely open process.

It involves tapping into their interests rather than trying to make things interesting for them.

But it feels invisible because it’s less like a noun and more like a verb. In other words, assessment is something we do—not something we give and take.

Empowered students are able to set goals, monitor their own progress, and determine which types of assessments they will use for specific outcomes.

What if our lessons, projects, units, and assignments were adjustable? What if our rules, procedures, and structures were flexible? What if students felt the permission to modify things on their own? What if we adapted the system for the students rather than forcing the students to fit into the system?