Researchers

• A.J.M. Schoots MEd - PhD candidate
• prof.dr. W.F. Admiraal - supervisor
• dr. E.H. Tigelaar - co-supervisor

Student agency is understood as an important guiding principle for curriculum design. It is considered essential for learning, personal development, and preparing students for their future role in society. Student agency is defined as the will and skill to influence one’s own learning process and learning environment.

Students develop agency in interaction with their learning environment. This requires both a carefully designed curriculum that provides space for such development and teachers who are able to recognize and respond to students’ support needs. However, the concept of student agency is often described in abstract terms and operationalized inconsistently. Therefore, it is important to establish a coherent framework for student agency and to operationalize it in relation to intended learning outcomes.

In this study, we operationalize student agency in terms of learning approaches and relate it to academic performance, well-being, and stress. Based on this, we distinguish student profiles and provide recommendations for tailored teacher support. We also describe how curriculum elements can be aligned with the development of student agency.

• agency
• secondary education

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