{"id":13965,"date":"2021-01-07T08:56:44","date_gmt":"2021-01-07T13:56:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aurora-institute.org\/?post_type=news_post&p=13965"},"modified":"2021-01-07T09:49:43","modified_gmt":"2021-01-07T14:49:43","slug":"how-can-schools-foster-student-agency-and-engagement-in-distance-learning","status":"publish","type":"news_post","link":"https:\/\/aurora-institute.org\/news\/how-can-schools-foster-student-agency-and-engagement-in-distance-learning\/","title":{"rendered":"How Can Schools Foster Student Agency and Engagement in Distance Learning?"},"content":{"rendered":"

New Aurora Institute Issue Brief Offers Seven Action Steps<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>WASHINGTON, D.C., January 7, 2021\u2014School leaders mustn\u2019t lose sight of the need for student agency and student engagement as they contend with the myriad challenges posed by COVID-19. In fact, they must re-imagine what agency and engagement can look like in cases when students are learning virtually and also when they are unable to connect.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mere Engagement: Reflections about the Connections Between Online Learning, Student Agency, and Student Engagement<\/span><\/i><\/a>, a new brief published today by the Aurora Institute (@Aurora_Inst<\/a>) offers school leaders seven action steps to support students\u2019 sense of mastery and ownership of their learning, along with promoting their sense of connection and belonging.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cStudent agency gives students voice and choice in what, how, when, and where they learn,\u201d said Susan Patrick, Aurora President and CEO. \u201cAgency puts students in the driver\u2019s seat to take charge of their learning and gives them the confidence and knowledge to become lifelong learners who drive our society forward.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In many communities contending with COVID-19, students aren\u2019t physically present. That means educators need new skills to determine learners\u2019 level of engagement and understanding. With the upheaval of the pandemic, students\u2019 need for checking in and feelings of belonging have not only not gone away, they\u2019ve been intensified.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although many high-priority considerations are vying for the attention of school leaders as they grapple with what school will look like in the coming and subsequent school terms, they can stem the tide against the vast amount of learning loss school communities have suffered by tending to issues of engagement. <\/span>Mere Engagement <\/span><\/i>offers seven strategies to translate in-person engagement activities to distance learning environment, including:<\/span><\/p>\n