Peer-to-Peer: Amplifying Student Agency

May 18 (Saturday), 2024 | 12:00 - 4:30 PM
Nanjing International School
Hosted by Anna Yuen & Andrew Friedle

This participant-driven gathering is an opportunity to connect in-person, share practices, and explore common professional inquiries on the topic of student agency. Through the power of collaboration, we can unlock a world of possibilities in amplifying student choice, motivation, creativity, and achievement.

Peer Sharing and Learning Topics:

Universal Design and Student Agency
Technology for Choice
Agency and Motivation
Standards vs. Agency

Hosts

Anna Yuen

Anna serves the NIS community as the Activities Director with previous experience as a Primary ELL and Secondary French teacher, among (many) other things. A better question to ask Anna might be “what does Anna NOT do!”

Andrew Friedle

Andrew serves the NIS community with a focus on IBDP Economics/Business Management and MYP Humanities. Andrew is an aspiring education leader who is keen to take on any task that helps him contribute to the community and learn more about leadership in international schools.

Agenda

12:00 - 12:15 – Registration and connection

12:30 - 12:45 - Welcome address

13:00 - 14:15 – Break-out sessions (Participants will choose one of the topics below)

Room #1: Universal Design and Student Agency

How might we leverage the notion of “firm goals, flexible means” to unlock meaningful student choice?

Room #2: Technology for Choice

How might we utilize technology to promote student agency?
How can technology promote and enhance student agency?

Room #3: Agency and Motivation

How might we support students who struggle with authentic learning?
How do we support and foster authentic intrinsic agency?

Room #4: Standards vs. Agency

How might we overcome the challenge of ensuring students achieve pre-identified outcomes such as grade level standards, while providing high levels of authentic learning?
How do we balance top-down standards with bottom-up agency?

14:15 - 14:45 - Break

14:45 - 15:30 – Demo Slam/Market Place: Brief presentations of tools, tips, and tricks gleaned from the breakout sessions, shared with the larger group.

15:30 - 16:15 – Panel – “Student Voices around Agency”

16:15 - 16:30 - Closing Address

Breakout Rooms

Universal Design & Student Agency

This session invites educators to discuss the transformative approach of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to create more inclusive and effective classrooms. This session may explore how setting clear, firm goals while offering flexible means of achieving them can significantly enhance student choice and agency, leading to deeper engagement and personalized learning experiences. Through the sharing of resources and ideas, participants will grow their student agency tool kit in meaningful ways.

Facilitator: Tanya Farrol

Tanya serves the NIS community as a Secondary Learning Support Teacher. Tanya serves the international schools community as a founding member and Board President of SENIA. She is a China veteran with 20 years in the PRC.

Agency and Motivation

This session will focus on empowering one another with strategies to uplift students facing challenges in taking ownership of their learning journey. Recognizing that fostering agency is crucial for intrinsic motivation and sustained engagement, this session offers a platform for educators to share insights, strategies, and real-life experiences in nurturing student independence and self-directed learning. We'll discuss the barriers to agency some students encounter, and how to effectively address these challenges to inspire confidence and resilience in learners.

Facilitator: Quiying (Hannah) Xie

Hannah serves the NIS community as an Early Years Teacher. When not teaching, learning, or presenting Hannah loves gardening, which she says is “food for the soul.” Hannah lives the notion that "teachers have three loves: love of learning, love of learners, and the love of bringing the first two loves together."

Technology for Choice

This session is designed as an exchange of ideas, experiences, and practical applications that highlight how digital tools and platforms can transform the learning landscape to foster independence, creativity, and engagement among students. Participants will have the opportunity to showcase their successes, discuss their challenges, and explore new technologies through demonstrations and group discussions. By pooling our collective knowledge, we aim to uncover effective strategies for integrating technology in ways that personalize learning, enable student-driven pathways, and prepare students for a future where they are the architects of their own learning journeys.

Facilitator: Alexia Lastschenko

Alexia serves the NIS community as a Language Acquisition Specialist. She is a tech-savvy, globe-trotting, polyglot who has a background in taking her show on the road (ask her about it!).

Standards and Choice

This session will aim to tackle the complex intersection of adhering to curricular standards and fostering student agency. This session will serve as a collaborative forum for us to confront the perceived dichotomy between meeting grade-level standards and nurturing an environment where students exercise choice and take charge of their learning. Through our discussion, we will hope to uncover practical strategies for designing assessments and learning experiences that both align with required outcomes and empower students to pursue their interests and passions.

Facilitator: Julie Bartholomew

Julie serves the NIS community as a Grade 5 teacher and expert Badminton coach. When not in the classroom Julie enjoys spending time with her family, enjoying the great outdoors, and the smell of marshmallows roasting on a campfire.

Panel Facilitator: Danny Griffith

Danny serves the NIS community as an MYP Design and DP Film teacher and beloved softball coach, amongst other talents. Danny is a professional musician and producer, dedicated cyclist, and the epitome of a life-long learner.

Venue

Nanjing International School

Xue Heng Lu 8, Xian Lin University City, Qi Xia District, Nanjing PRC 210023
中国南京市栖霞区仙林大学城学衡路8号邮编:210023

+86 25 8589 9111 | info@nanjing-school.com

Free for PeerSphere Members / Venture Education Subscribers

RMB300.00 for non-Members

Per Registration - Inclusive of Refeshments
Please note that Fapiao is only available for RMB bank wire transfers.

Refund Policy

If notice of cancellation re the registered participant is received:

30+ days pre-event: 80% of fee is refundable
15-29 days pre-event: 40% of fee is refundable
Less than 15 days pre-event: no refund

Refund due to PD Event Cancellation

In the event of cancellation of a conference, workshop or online PD program, we will fully refund the registration or sponsorship fee(s) paid. However, we will be unable to refund any travel, visa or accommodation expenses incurred or course material fees where access has been granted.