Improving Educational Outcomes through developing Personal Agency
This book points the way to a more optimistic educational experience which empowers personal development, and resilience. It supports family and community life and is a synthesis of research, social psychology and pedagogical practice.
Educational Outcomes
We articulate our outcomes as focusing on
- Well Being: of young people and their families
- Relationships: Models and experience of ‘good enough’ relationships
- Skills in Communication, Critical analysis, Collaboration and Creativity
- Motivation: A stronger sense of ownership and responsibility
These outcomes are ways to enhance the formation of the qualities of successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens, and effective contributors and can be viewed as strategies to nurture a building out of the personality.
The ten approaches for building Personal Agency:
1. Promoting the accomplishment and mastery of key Skills appropriate for each individual at their pace.
2. Giving a strong sense of Inclusion through positive social experiences with others, and with the help of mentors, and coaches.
3. Encouraging Family Efficacy and social networking for parents.
4. Providing Pedagogical experiences within institutions to offer diverse and rich social and learning opportunities.
5. Valuing the Quality of the Institutional Environment to respect the participants and embrace the natural environment.
6. Cherishing Diversity in age, gender, ethnicity, race, culture, and additional needs.
7. Developing Teachers as Facilitators, less ego-driven and more reflective educators building out personality, rather than just moulding young people in their subject.
8. Promoting Dialogue and the use of mediation techniques, modelled and used experientially, to increase collaboration to resolve issues at all levels, promoting adult-to-adult type conversations.
9. Expanding the contribution of the community to expand the richness and range of networks of volunteering service and potential.
10. Valuing all members of the community by quality oversight and appreciative inquiry.