About the Learner Agency workshops

Learner agency is the art of purposefully navigating through your own learning journey.

By integrating principles of learner agency into our practice we can support learners to take greater control of their educational journey, making their learning more enjoyable, engaging, and effective.

Workshop 1 | Learner agency | Developing a positive learner identity

A key focus of learner agency is to develop a positive learner identity. A learner’s ‘learner identity’ is who they believe they are as a learner, what beliefs they hold about themselves, and the kind of stories they tell about themselves. A positive learner identity is at the heart of learner success.

Workshop 2 | Learner agency | Developing personal learning strategies

A key goal of developing learner agency is to become good at learning! This requires supporting learners to develop their own personal learning strategies.

What are learning strategies? They are research-based learning strategies that learners can use to dramatically improve their own learning. Not only this, but they can also continue to find strategies that work well for them and hone these strategies over a lifetime.

Workshop 3 | Learner agency | Supporting learners to organise their learning

Organising your learning is perhaps the most underrated aspect of learner agency and learner success. This workshop contains the secrets to supporting learners to rebuild their confidence, create ‘success momentum’, and become successful in any learning environment.

Workshop 4 | Learner agency | Supporting learners to solve problems, innovate, and learn effectively

This workshop explores why learners become overwhelmed and why many hesitate or struggle to take action to solve problems or begin tasks. The workshop presents strategies learners can implement in difficult learning situations.

Who are these workshops for?

These workshops are for anyone working in education with an interest in supporting learners to succeed.

About the facilitator

Dr Damon Whitten

Workshop facilitator Dr Damon Whitten

Damon is a specialist provider of professional development to the tertiary sector, with a background in adult literacy and numeracy.

He focuses on generating and connecting research to real-world contexts and using the results to develop effective teaching and learning approaches.

Damon is at the forefront of adult education and works toward empowering and reengaging adult learners with their dreams, passions and potential.

Free self-directed content

In addition to the live workshops, participants will have access to self-directed content available through the Ako Aotearoa Developing Learner Agency Educator Pathway on Pathways Awarua. This complementary content will allow you to explore the topic in greater depth at your own pace and in your own time, reinforcing the practical skills and knowledge gained during the workshop.

Special rate available

You can register for each of the workshops individually. 

A special rate is available for those who register for all four workshops. Select the 'Four-workshop series' option when registering online!

Register online now

Please read these Terms and Conditions before registering for events.

Taking that next step in your professional learning and development is easy with Ako Aotearoa. Everything is evidence-based, practical, high-quality, effective and sustainable.

Our range of PLD workshops and courses can be delivered online or face-to-face, many with digital badges awarded on completion:

  1. In-house Learning and Development
    We can deliver in-house professional development targeted to your needs. For face-to-face options, we can come to you. Contact us to discuss your needs and budget.
  2. Public Online Workshops
    Register for one of our public workshops scheduled throughout the year. So many topics to choose from!