Ep 263: Amy Berry PhD: The Engagement Hub, learner agency and formative evaluation.

In this episode of The Art of Teaching podcast, host Matthew engages in a rich conversation with Amy Berry PhD, a leading educator and creator of the Engagement Hub, renowned for her work in learner agency, formative assessment, and student engagement. Amy shares her journey from California to Melbourne, her renunciation of American citizenship, and her deep commitment to reimagining education through a lens of curiosity, collaboration, and evolving understanding. She challenges the common misconception that engagement is simply about behavior or attendance, instead emphasizing engagement in the process of learning—where students invest effort, attention, and agency. Amy stresses the importance of clarity in language, advocating for tools like her Engagement Continuum to foster shared understanding. She highlights the critical role of teacher-student partnership, arguing that true engagement cannot be 'done to' students but must be co-constructed. Drawing from her extensive global experience, she identifies key patterns in high-performing schools: a culture of collective learning, leadership that models curiosity, and a mission focused on building lifelong learners rather than just covering content. The episode concludes with a forward-looking vision: schools must rethink their purpose, embracing a shared responsibility for nurturing confidence, motivation, and love of learning across all educators and students. Key takeaways include: 1) Engagement is not about compliance but about students investing in their own learning; 2) Teachers must shift from being 'controllers' to 'co-creators' of engagement; 3) Formative assessment is most powerful when students are active partners in reflecting on their own learning; 4) Schools should focus on building learners' confidence and capacity, not just test scores; 5) The best learning environments are those where educators model lifelong learning and collaboration. Amy’s message is clear: when engagement is intentional, relational, and student-centered, teaching becomes more meaningful and sustainable for everyone involved.