From Socrates to Steam: Student Agency Fuels Potential

We know that video games keep people engaged for hours on end, and research indicates that this is due, in good part, to player agency. That is, the ability for the person playing the game to make significant choices that have consequences to the outcome of the game. How can this idea be replicated in the classroom?

While Agency feels like a new buzzword in education, it has been around since the 5th Century, BCE. What does it really mean? Why does it matter? How has it changed (and stayed the same) throughout all these centuries? Why is it important to nurture it, and how can we do that while still developing the skills necessary to achieve on high stakes tests? And to what extent is this idea more important for gifted students?

This book is for any educator or parent who is hoping to understand the concept of agency as well as explore strategies to inspire and invigorate their most complex learners to become the best version of themselves.