Student Agency in Personalized and Adaptive Learning Technologies: From Conceptualization to Application

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Student Agency in Personalized and Adaptive Learning Technologies: From Conceptualization to Application
Language: English
Authors: Ghaida S. Alrawashdeh (ORCID 0000-0003-4017-1085), Nathan M. Castillo (ORCID 0000-0002-8301-7793)
Source: Education and Information Technologies. 2025 30(18):26125-26149.
Availability: Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 25
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Individualized Instruction, Foreign Countries, Personal Autonomy, Computer Assisted Instruction, Influence of Technology, Technology Uses in Education, Educational Technology, Competence, Student Motivation, Student Centered Learning
DOI: 10.1007/s10639-025-13772-6
ISSN: 1360-2357
1573-7608
Abstract: Student agency is increasingly recognized as a critical component of effective, equitable learning, yet it remains underemphasized in the design of personalized and adaptive learning (PAL) technologies. While PAL systems aim to tailor learning experiences, they often do so through automated mechanisms that exclude learners from meaningful participation in their own educational trajectories. This disconnect is especially pronounced in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where PAL tools are expanding rapidly but frequently lack student-centered features. To address this gap, we introduce the Learner Adaptive Domain Agency (LADA) model, a conceptual framework that integrates student agency into PAL system design by focusing on autonomy, competence, motivation, and connectedness. Drawing on Social Cognitive Theory and Self-Determination Theory, we develop a 29-item rubric (AiPAL) that translates these theoretical principles into observable design criteria. We apply this rubric to 40 PAL systems deployed across 70 countries to evaluate how agency-supportive features are operationalized in practice. Results reveal persistent limitations in how systems support student goal-setting, inclusive access, co-regulated learning, and reflective feedback. Fewer than half of the platforms enabled shared control over learning pathways, and most relied on extrinsic motivation strategies rather than intrinsic supports. The findings highlight both the urgency and feasibility of reorienting PAL design toward agency-centered models. We conclude with actionable recommendations for designers, educators, and policymakers to advance equitable, empowering digital learning systems.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1504446
Database: ERIC
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