EMPOWER - Preparing learners for life not just for school

Since joining the Agency team I have been thinking of ways that I can build the learner's power over their own learning and I have started to read this book by John Spencer and A.J Juliani. It has great insights into how we can go from just engaging the learners to actually empowering them to be responsible of their own learning. 

If you are a person who would rather look at images instead of reading research this book is great as it clearly and quickly gives ideas to empower learners. In our hub we have been trying to empower our learners by 'tapping into their interests.' We are allowing them to choose which trips they want to go on and justify why their trip would be the best - linking to their progressions as well as their passions. Since developing this project we have seen learners who we sometimes struggle to get involved start to take the lead in their group and make their own path. 

Empowering opportunities have included:
- Planning their own trips
- Personalising the challenges I give each child
- Asking the learners what they want to learn eg reading books
- Once they learn something I get them to create their own lessons instead of just repeating questions to practise they are applying their understanding by teaching their peers.