ALARA Monograph No 11 Empowering Co-Agency for Establishing Visionary Strategists

Co-agency is a transformative approach in education, emphasising shared power, collaboration, and student autonomy to prepare learners as visionary strategists in a rapidly evolving world. Despite its potential, limited research has been undertaken on the implementation of long-term co-agency practices within secondary school settings to foster equitable and inclusive learning environments. This study explores how co-agency can enhance student progress in secondary schools, addressing the gap in actionable strategies for transforming educational practices. The research incorporates teaching experiences from integrating Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) with Bybee's 5E model to create inclusive, student-centred learning environments. Using the Piggot-Irvine Action Research (AR) model, the study examines the effectiveness of co-agency practices through data collected from surveys, interviews, observations, and student-centred teaching. The study also highlights challenges such as resource constraints, teacher workload, varied learning needs and offers practical strategies to address these barriers.

The findings from the student survey, conducted after implementing the blended approach of IBL with the 5E model, show significant improvement in student engagement, problem-solving abilities, leadership skills, and adaptability. Culturally responsive pedagogy is a cornerstone of this research, ensuring equitable learning opportunities for diverse groups, including Māori and Pasifika students. The recommendations focus on developing responsive learning environments, promoting growth mindsets, and integrating co-agency practices into professional development to ensure sustained impact. This research demonstrates co-agency's transformative potential to bridge educational inequities, cultivate resilience, and empower students and educators alike in navigating future challenges.