Student Agency Research Articles

Collaborative co-design to reimagine teaching practices in hybrid spaces

Following the Future Made in Australia Act, which prioritises quality and equitable education (Albanese, 2024), there is a pressing need for regional universities to provide equal educational opportunities for students regardless of their geographical locations. Furthermore, as outlined in the Australian Universities Accord Final Report, advances in pedagogy are required to fulfil the potential of high-quality online and hybrid learning modes, as well as deliver teaching which supports more diverse student cohorts (Australian Government, 2024). Hybrid learning spaces have the potential to bridge educational disparities by offering accessibility and flexibility to both regional and metropolitan students, allowing them to pursue their education without compromising their other responsibilities (Lightner & Lightner-Laws, 2016). However, significant adjustments to traditional face to face student engagement activities are crucial to the success of hybrid teaching and learning (Gamage et al., 2022). University teachers often have preconceived ideas about these spaces and lack the time, skills, and knowledge to adapt their teaching practices effectively (Bøjer & Brøns, 2022; Raes et al., 2020). Additionally, students struggle to adapt their learning approaches in these spaces, leading to limited engagement and interaction with teachers and peers (Raes et al., 2020). Effective implementation requires support for both teachers and students to reimagine their routines, practices, and expectations in teaching and learning (Bøjer & Brøns, 2022; Fawns et al., 2022; Gamage et al., 2022). To address this challenge, a research project was conducted that involved four phases: (1) Co-design workshop, (2) Resource development, (3) Data collection, (4) Analysis and outcomes. The first and second phases will be discussed in this poster presentation. In the first phase, the research team participated in a collaborative co-design workshop to develop a professional development (PD) module and practical guidelines for teachers. Collaborative co-design is a participatory process where designers and users work together using co-design tools, techniques, and scaffolds to provide expert perspectives on a problem (Bøjer & Brøns, 2022; Sanders and Stappers, 2007). In this process, researchers, teachers, and students collaborated to generate ideas and knowledge for the content of a PD module and the practical guidelines. The workshop was theoretically grounded in Moore’s (1989) three types of interactions and Radcliffe’s (2009) Pedagogy-Space-Technology (PST) framework. The active involvement of teachers and students allowed the research team to explore challenges between learning spaces, technology and teaching practices, focusing on student agency and engagement. Crucial to co-design, the research participants interchanged roles during the workshop, shifting between users, designers, and facilitators depending on individual creativity and expertise in specific areas (Bøjer & Brøns, 2022; Sanders and Stappers, 2007). The design solution of a PD module and practical guidelines was developed and provided teachers with strategies for effective hybrid teaching, addressing both technological challenges and appropriate pedagogies. The future direction of this project is to examine the effectiveness of hybrid learning and teaching by exploring the engagement between teachers and students online and on campus. The findings advance pedagogy by promoting equitable engagement for online and on-campus students, ensuring consistent learning experiences and bridging geographical gaps.

Enhancing feedback capabilities with the peer feedback module

Feedback has a powerful impact on student learning (Hattie & Timperley, 2007). Although it has now become an essential component of higher education courses, learning how to receive and provide feedback can be difficult, as evidenced by dissatisfaction in student surveys on a global scale (e.g., MacKay et al., 2019). Carless and Boud (2018) argue that for feedback to be effective, students need to develop their feedback-related capabilities. To enhance student feedback capabilities, feedback should be viewed as a complex process that has the potential to enhance learning and which emphasizes student agency (Niemienen et al., 2021). Peer feedback offers a range of opportunities for promoting student agency, where students practice constructing, delivering, and receiving feedback (Nicol et al., 2014). In the shift to hybrid and digital learning contexts, such opportunities are frequently mediated by technology, which may require different or additional capabilities to traditional teacher-led feedback practices. A small body of work from the peer feedback literature has focused on what specific capabilities students need during the feedback process. For example, Han and Xu (2020) argue that the literacy needed for peer feedback includes cognitive readiness (making judgements and taking action) and social-affective readiness (appreciating feedback and managing affect). To expand on this, peer feedback has been conceptualized as entailing a cognitive aspect (knowing what to critique in the work), a critical thinking aspect (such as judging work), and a socio-emotional aspect (considering emotions and the social climate) (Cheng et al., 2023). With the understanding that feedback literacy can be developed over time (Malecka et al., 2022) and a recent focus on developing interventions to improve feedback skills (see Little et al., 2024), this poster presentation details the creation and development of a feedback literacy intervention which contains an online module to develop peer feedback skills. To participate in the intervention, students are required to reflect on their feedback literacy levels using a recently developed feedback literacy behaviour scale (FLBS) (Dawson et al., 2023). Following this, participants engage in a student-led, self-paced online module nested within the University’s learning management system. Each sub-module targets different peer feedback capabilities which have been categorized into five dimensions, including domain knowledge, using evaluative judgement, crafting and delivering the feedback message, managing the socio-emotional environment, and using motivation. After participation in the online module, students complete an organic and pre-existing peer feedback activity before assessing their feedback literacy levels once more through the FLBS (Dawson et al., 2023). A smaller sample of students are involved in focus groups, where insights into how the module has the potential to influence feedback capabilities are discussed. Participants also bring along student work to highlight how their feedback capabilities have been used. Through this intervention, learners may develop better feedback practices (including general feedback literacy). Crucially, they may also learn how to provide effective and helpful feedback information to their peers, which is one of the key requirements for moving beyond university and into the workforce.

Optimising Student Preparedness through TEL Pedagogies

This paper explores the implementation of Technology-Enhanced Learning pedagogies across four schools through scalable and cross-disciplinary collaboration at a Western Australian university. Using innovative support initiatives, co-created with academic and professional staff and students, our resources focus on bridging gaps in essential academic and digital literacies and fostering student agency and self-regulation. Grounded in transition pedagogy and adaptive learning, these initiatives enhance preparedness and inclusivity for a diverse cohort of students. We seek to address the lack of student perspectives on generative AI (GenAI) tools available to date, sharing recent data that reveals students' lack of confidence in using GenAI for learning and assessments. This paper explores GenAI’s role in shaping educational practice and provides recommendations to improve its integration. These insights will potentially complement the whole-of-institution curriculum transformation initiative at our university, emphasising the importance of feedback literacy and self-regulated learning in an evolving educational landscape. Our initiatives promote self-regulated and co-regulated learning, to enable students and staff to collaboratively improve the learning process and outcomes. Finally, this paper discusses the challenges encountered, offering actionable insights for institutions aiming to enhance student preparedness through collaboration.

Case Study of Transforming and Scaling Entrepreneurial Internship Access in IHE

This case study explores innovative approaches to expand access to high-quality internships and improve equitable student outcomes. It focuses on Lehigh University’s virtual Innovation Internship program, partnered with the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center and Epixego Inc. The program aims to address challenges in traditional internships, such as hidden curriculum, false narratives, and unequal social environments. By incorporating self-assessment of learning competencies and enhancing student agency, the program doubled its capacity to 40 students. The study measured student self-efficacy, occupational identity choice, and outcome expectations based on various factors. Results showed that students changed internship preferences across occupation categories and experienced increases in entrepreneurial self-efficacy (3%), occupational identity (7%), and perception of entrepreneurship education (4%). This multifaceted approach demonstrates the potential for innovative internship designs to improve accessibility and student development outcomes.

The problem of educational choice in senior secondary education: the ACT as a case study

AbstractHow students select subjects and pathways in senior secondary education and beyond has long been regarded as a significant social justice issue as a result of contention regarding the value of more or less academic and vocational options. This paper examines these issues through a discussion of the notion of educational choice and the history of senior secondary reform in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), an educational system established in the 1970s with the express purpose of enhancing educational equity through supporting student choice and flexibility through school-based curriculum and assessment. The paper highlights the complexity of questions subsumed under the umbrella of educational choice, which encompass not only the reproduction of inequality but also student agency and self-making and intersect with debates about equity and curriculum form. It shows how the intent of the ACT system to ensure equally valued subject choices in schooling has since its inception existed in constant tension with a parallel emphasis on university pathways and that the system has over time evolved from one dedicated to the idea of curriculum diversity and responding to individual and community needs to one in which centralisation and standardisation are beginning to take precedence. This history raises important questions about the equity implications of centralising and decentralising curriculum forms and what they enable and constrain in shaping young people’s futures.

The Role of Critical Pedagogies in Early Childhood Education to Create Pathways into STEM for Racially Minoritized Communities

This longitudinal study examines the long-term impact of critical pedagogy on the academic and social development of students from a marginalized Mexican American borderland community, with a specific focus on their trajectories in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. Drawing on in-depth interviews with three students who participated in a critical pedagogical approach during their formative elementary years, this case study explores how power, agency, and curiosity were cultivated in the classroom and how these elements influenced the students’ pursuit of higher education and careers in STEM ten years later. The findings reveal that an equitable distribution of power and the fostering of student agency through critical-based pedagogies empowered students to engage critically with their learning and to challenge systemic barriers. Furthermore, this study highlights the role of early curiosity in sustaining students’ interest in STEM, despite encountering obstacles in higher education environments dominated by market-driven influences. By situating this research within the broader context of critical pedagogy and its emphasis on social justice, the study underscores the transformative potential of education in shaping the futures of minoritized students in STEM disciplines.

From cognitive coach to social architect: shifts in learning assistants’ valued practices

BackgroundLearning assistants (LAs) are undergraduate students who serve as instructional assistants in STEM classrooms. In addition to engaging in active practice, they take a pedagogy seminar and regularly meet with a content instructor. While aspects of LAs’ pedagogical beliefs and actions have been investigated, there remains a gap in understanding how LAs make sense of their new instructional roles and how they negotiate between their experiences as students and their responsibilities as instructors. This study uses a sequential, exploratory mixed-methods approach, which includes constant comparative open-coding, thematic analysis, and epistemic network analysis, to analyze 178 reflections written by 89 LAs across five terms at two institutions. Here, we identify each LA’s expressed goals and intended actions at the start and the end of their first term as an LA. Using a community of practice framework, we seek to explicate the shifts in these LAs’ values as they become more central members of the LA community.ResultsLAs’ expressed roles shift from being cognitive coaches, where they focus on student thinking, sense-making, and understanding of disciplinary concepts, to being social architects, where their focus shifts to attending to the aspects of the environment that can support productive interactions for learning. A social architect prioritizes goals related to mutual trust, respect, & approachability, understanding and learning about students, and creating a sense of belonging. Similarly, their intended actions emphasize compassion, understanding, and facilitating group discussion. While all LAs studied exhibited this shift, it manifested in different ways and to different extents, as illustrated in detail by four selected cases. These cases illustrate how the shifts coupled to a change in language around teaching, becoming more specific and contextual.ConclusionsLAs express a shift in their valued practices over their first term as LAs related to their instructional role. The goal of student-centered instructional practice is often framed as becoming a better cognitive coach; however, this orientation does not foreground ideas around teaching practice that aim to foster engagement, belonging, and student agency. Implications for both the LA model and, more generally, for postsecondary STEM instructors are discussed.

Digital technology and student engagement in online synchronous collaborative learning sessions / Tecnología digital y participación de los estudiantes en las sesiones de aprendizaje colaborativo en línea

This study examines students’ engagement in online synchronous collaborative learning (OSCL) sessions in a massive open online course (MOOC). The study focuses on the role of digital technologies in facilitating students’ agency in collaborative meaning-making activities. The primary data sources for the study were video recordings of OSCL sessions, which were analysed using the method of interaction analysis and interpreted through the lens of cultural-historical theory. The findings revealed four interconnected activities of collaborative meaning-making: establishing social connections and presence, reflecting on prior learning, sharing digital artefacts and reflecting on shared understanding. The progression from one activity to another unfolded as students contributed to collaborative learning activities using their own ideas and problem-solving approaches. The use of individually created digital artefacts, such as examination assignment drafts, deepened interactions and meaning-making processes, enhancing students’ agency in collaborative learning. The findings of this study provide insights into pedagogical strategies that can enhance student agency in MOOC environments, highlighting the crucial role of digital artefacts in developing students’ agency in collaborative learning.

Exploring educational ecosystems: insights from the implementation of SchoolWeavers tool in Catalonia

ABSTRACT Education has undergone significant changes, leading to more complex and collaborative approaches that recognize schools as ecosystems where diverse stakeholders interact. Consequently, new processes and tools are needed to promote leadership within these ecosystems. To guide school leadership teams, we developed and piloted the online tool ‘SchoolWeavers’, which fosters relationships and collaboration across the ecosystem to improve learning and well-being. This study examines the initial outcomes of using SchoolWeavers as a school leadership strategy in five schools in Catalonia, Spain, by surveying 1,615 members of the ecosystem, including teachers, leaders, staff, families, students, and community professionals. The aim is to investigate school ecosystem dynamics through the domains addressed by the tool, such as empathy, trust, shared purpose, innovation, collaboration, equity, and personalized learning, identifying opportunities for improvement and ways to foster stronger educational ecosystems. Leadership teams showed the highest scores and positive perceptions, while students rated the domains lower. Community professionals had low participation, indicating weaker collaboration with the community. Trust and equity received the highest scores, whereas innovation and personalized learning were less valued. This study highlights the need for tools to strengthen educational ecosystems and identifies areas for improvement, particularly in innovation and student agency.

Academic publishing as an exercise of leadership: evidence from doctoral students in the United Kingdom and Hong Kong

ABSTRACT This study inquires into the experiences of 15 doctoral students from universities in the United Kingdom and Hong Kong to examine the factors that contribute to publishing first-authored academic papers and explores their self-perceptions of their scholarly identities. Using Leadership for Learning as a theoretical framework, the research findings show that successful academic publishing is underpinned by powerful learning experiences, the sharing of leadership and a shared sense of accountability. The study demonstrates that student agency, which links leadership and learning, is manifested through purposeful action, relational engagement and self-transformation. The research results acknowledge the unequal power dynamics in different research collaborations and reveal that doctoral students’ identity development is interlinked with a passion for research, strong learning experiences, the way that others position themselves and autonomy. The study highlights the need for robust learning experiences, tailored support for academic publishing and leadership development opportunities that facilitate academic collaborations.

Reflective portfolios: a learning and self-assessment tool

Recent studies have emphasized the growing relevance of portfolios in higher education, particularly as a tool that fosters reflective and formative assessment practices. This article presents a qualitative study conducted with a group of Education students, exploring the portfolio as the primary assessment method. The research investigates the conditions under which portfolios can serve as effective tools for both self and peer assessment, using reflective cognition (metacognition) to enhance learning. Classroom observations were combined with open-ended questionnaires, and data analysis was conducted using webQDA software to ensure rigor and objectivity in interpreting the findings. The study reveals that the use of portfolios not only fostered student agency and autonomy but also strengthened self-responsibility and promoted deeper engagement with the learning process. Furthermore, portfolios facilitated a more dynamic, transparent, and collaborative relationship between students and instructors, offering a structured yet flexible approach to assessment. By aligning with competency-based curricula, the portfolio enables a more personalized and meaningful evaluation of students' development, shifting away from traditional, static assessment models. This study contributes to the advancement of assessment practices in higher education, advocating for portfolios as a critical tool in promoting cognitive development, reflexive thinking, and an integrated approach to learning and assessment.

A new approach to pupil agency: A collaborative evaluation study

AbstractThis article explores the concept of student agency within the Thrive Co‐operative Learning Trust. It details the Trust's journey in developing student voice and influence, using the Lundy Model of Child Participation as a framework. This article highlights the importance of authentic pupil agency and showcases successful initiatives undertaken by the Trust.

The student as user: mapping student experiences of platformisation in higher education

ABSTRACT This article builds on emerging accounts of the ‘student as user’ to explore platformisation in higher education from the perspectives of students. While existing scholarship on platformisation and assetisation has highlighted important concerns about the distribution of power and value in contemporary higher education, much of this literature privileges a top-down focus on the edtech industry or the workings of particular platforms at the expense of lived experience. Departing from this critique, I explore what platformisation looks and feels like in the lives of students by presenting ‘platform maps’ created and narrated by university students in Scotland. The accounts show how student agency is enabled, constrained and shaped by platformisation and how students come to depend on platforms in their everyday lives. In the process, students' lives and higher education more broadly become entangled with dynamics of platformisation in complicated and problematic ways.

CONSENSUS CLASSROOM CLIMATE INVENTORY: SCALE DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION

Science education is a key area of research, largely due to its inherent complexity and challenges. Various teaching methods have been developed to address these difficulties, which include the consensus classroom climate. However, no standardized tool has been created to evaluate the consensus within a classroom. This study aimed to develop and validate the Consensus Classroom Climate Inventory (CCCI), an instrument designed to measure the consensus climate of a classroom. The research was conducted in two phases: (1) initial item pool development based on an extensive literature review and (2) expert panel review for content validation. The resulting 29-item scale was pilot-tested with 120 freshmen students from a state university. Exploratory factor analysis using SMART-PLS yielded four distinct factors: Student Agency, Collaborative Learning Environment, Inclusive and Flexible Learning, and Student Autonomy. The final scale consisted of 23 items. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated strong factor loadings (>0.8) for all items, indicating good construct validity. Model fit indices suggested a generally good fit, though some indices indicated room for improvement. Reliability analysis revealed high internal consistency across all factors. The CCCI shows promise as a reliable and valid tool for assessing consensus classroom climate, though further refinement is recommended to enhance model fit. This instrument can assist educators in evaluating the consensus climate of Science classrooms and help educators enhance teaching to improve students’ Science learning. Keywords: consensus classroom climate, factor analysis, scale development, reliability test, validity test

The coloniality of internationalization: towards a power-conscious framework for studying the experiences of international students in Western contexts

ABSTRACT While existing scholarship has demonstrated that the experiences of international students in Western contexts are shaped by colonial power relations undergirding higher education internationalization, there remains a dearth of a comprehensive and nuanced perspective on international students’ relationships to colonial forms of power. To address the research gap in question, this paper proposes the development of a power-conscious framework to elucidate the international student–colonial power entanglement. Developed through a systematic literature review, the framework foregrounds three interrelated themes – subjugation, submission, and subversion – capturing the multifaceted interplay between international students and colonial forms of power. By emphasizing the complexities of the interplay, the framework challenges static portrayals of international students vis-à-vis colonial forms of power, highlighting the dynamics among the students’ vulnerability to, complicity in, and potential to resist the paradigm of otherness rooted in colonial forms of power. The framework also underscores the importance of situating inquiries on international students within the broader context of the lived realities of marginalized communities in settler colonial states, emphasizing the need to critically examine the responsibilities and agency of international students in unsettling ongoing colonial legacies of domination and oppression. Based on the development of the power-conscious framework, this paper contributes to advancing a transformative understanding of international student experiences and the (im)possibilities of engaging with internationalization in a more equitable and inclusive manner.

Just One More Thing?

Abstract This study addresses the paucity of literature on the impact of ungrading — contract grading, specifically — on international students at American colleges. Over the course of four semesters, 307 international and domestic students were surveyed (anonymously) about their perceptions of grading contracts in their writing (and writing-heavy) classes. Specifically, the survey was designed to find out if grading contracts serve as “just another thing” to navigate as international students transition into the Western educational setting and, furthermore, to find out if grading contracts inadvertently do more harm than good. Ultimately, international students perceive more overall benefits than drawbacks of ungrading. However, the data show that international students do find contract grading confusing — especially at first. This article analyzes the sources of confusion along with mitigating topics named by the survey participants, such as fairness, student agency, and stress reduction. The data also show that ungrading practices can serve as a transitional tool to ease international students into American education; a portion of students identify the grading contract as a means of facilitating the transition into American education, rather than as a barrier to it.

Experiences of a Chinese English Learner in the Framework of Sociocultural Theory: An Autoethnography

This study explores the process of second language acquisition (SLA) among Chinese learners within the framework of sociocultural theory, particularly focusing on Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD). Through an autoethnographic methodology, the author reflects on personal experiences of learning English in both China and abroad, aiming to fill a gap in SLA research by emphasizing localized Chinese contexts. The findings suggest that access to guidance from more capable individuals, whether teachers, peers, or others—plays a critical role in helping learners navigate their ZPD, thus enhancing their language acquisition. However, the study identifies that many Chinese learners underutilize their surrounding sociocultural environment, limiting their learning potential. This research not only underscores the role of ZPD in language learning but also offers practical insights for both students and educators, advocating for greater student agency in seeking help and for teachers to actively engage in fostering students' ZPD development. Despite its contributions, the study’s autoethnographic approach introduces limitations in terms of subjectivity and sample size, highlighting the need for future research to incorporate diverse perspectives and larger datasets. This research offers a valuable perspective on how sociocultural theory can inform SLA practices in Chinese educational settings, contributing to improved pedagogical strategies.

Проявление агентности студенчества в проектном обучении: кейс федерального университета

According to experts, there will be a growing demand for hybrid and multidisciplinary specialists with advanced cognitive skills, emotional intelligence, and technological and social competence by 2030. These professionals will be able to make independent and innovative decisions in a rapidly changing labor market. The system of higher professional education faces the challenge of addressing the quantitative and qualitative shortage of young professionals. In this context, the topic of modernizing personnel training includes the introduction and active promotion of project-based learning. Project-based training should promote the agency of students as young professionals by transferring them within the framework of training from passive behavior to active independent actions, effective interaction with the professional community, disclosure of leadership potential, development of initiative and readiness to design new interdisciplinary solutions. The manifestations of student agency in project-based learning is an urgent issue on the research agenda and management practice of universities. The aim of the study was to investigate the key features of UrFU students' agency, as manifested in their project-based learning experiences. The article presents the findings from a survey conducted among students (N=1,070) using a quota sampling method in 2024 (including sex, training level and major subject). The survey error does not exceed 3 percent. According to the survey results, the relevance of key features of agency and project-based learning was established. It was empirically proved that project-based learning encourages independent, proactive behavior, promotes the development of leadership qualities, and enhances students' innovative potential.

Empowering Students through a Digital Badge in UDL

Student empowerment is increasingly recognized as essential for fostering meaningful learning experiences and cultivating engaged citizens. This paper delves into the concepts of empowerment within the educational context, emphasizing the pivotal role of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in promoting student agency and inclusivity. By illuminating the challenges and opportunities associated with student empowerment, the paper highlights the imperative of fostering a culture of partnership and active engagement among students and educators alike. Building upon the success of UDL initiatives in Ireland, such as the UDL Digital Badge, the paper introduces a novel initiative— the UDL Digital Badge for Students. Through a collaborative design process involving students and educators, the course aims to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and resources to advocate for inclusive learning environments and navigate the complexities of modern education. By embracing principles of equity, flexibility, and community, the course seeks to empower students to become active participants in shaping their educational journey and effecting positive change within their institutions.​

Developing Student Agency Towards Academic Integrity Through an Educative Approach: Exploring Students’ Experiences and Perspectives

AbstractThis research investigates whether academic integrity can be strengthened through a holistic educative approach that combines compulsory modules on academic integrity, pedagogy that challenges punitive approaches, and an embedded curriculum. We present quantitative and qualitative data from surveys and interview responses from students to investigate their experiences and perceptions of our approach. Qualitative data suggest students appreciate the educative approach and that it fosters agency in students. Most participants – even those who indicated they had been part of an academic integrity breach process and students who knew someone who had been involved in the process – expressed that the process itself led to a greater understanding of academic integrity generally and students felt they could address the issue for themselves and benefit into the future. Responses indicated students wanted to have a voice in the academic integrity process. This research indicates that a holistic educative approach promotes students’ agency in relation to their academic work and frames academic integrity as a positive and desirable aspect of students’ developing academic identities.