Ownership implies that learners have a sense of control over their learning and often leads them to view learning as something that cannot be taken from them. Ownership of learning transfers responsibility for success from educators and other adults to the learner. As a result, learners tend to place greater value on and take greater pride in their learning.
A growing sense of ownership often leads learners to shift from a compliance orientation to commitment. The question in their minds moves from “How much must I do?” to “What do I need to do in order to learn this content?” While the traditional model of schooling depends heavily on compliance, unleashing a sense of ownership for learning can dramatically improve learner performance, even within the legacy education system.
Unsurprisingly, one of the key methods to building ownership for learning is a strategy also employed to build motivation, engagement, and efficacy. This approach offers learners choice and control related to their learning in areas valued by the learner. Additionally, when educators work with learners when developing learning goals and approaches they effectively build ownership.
Ownership for learning positions the learner to make decisions, allocate energy and develop meaning and insight unique to the learner. By devolving key portions of the responsibility for learning to learners and allowing them to participate as co-workers in the learning process, educators position learners to become more independent.