Business Insider Highlights Agency Rather than Coding
Preparing children for a future no one can predict
means strengthening their chances for well-being. Agency is a crucial attribute. Our agency and our ability to wisely use our agency are closely tied to success in many dimensions of our lives: our health, relationships, service, and professional relevance.
Professionally, agency may reign in the future
In a recent interview, Jayesh Govindarajan, Salesforce’s Executive Vice President of AI Engineering, emphasized that possessing agency is now more crucial than coding skills for those pursuing tech careers. He explained that while AI systems can generate solutions, they require human insight to determine which problems to address. Govindarajan illustrated this with a scenario where an individual collaborates with a nonprofit counselor, using AI to draft a solution based on the counselor’s needs, refining it through feedback—all without writing code.
Key human contributions are found in proactively seeking problems to solve and leveraging no-code or low-code tools to implement solutions. As AI automates more coding tasks, these soft skills and critical thinking abilities become increasingly vital in the tech industry.
Agency means choice with initiative, drive, and creativity
Govindarajan, the AI Executive, illustrated agency with the example of a person trying to solve a problem — they use AI to reiteratively come up with increasingly desirable possible solutions. The person identifies the problem and makes choices about what to address and how to refine the possible solutions. Writing code would not be important. Hunting for the solution would be the important part.
Agency is the ability to make your own choices and decisions, and to influence your life. Acting with agency includes initiative, drive, solving problems, identifying choices, evaluating choices, thinking critically, and applying morals and values in decisions.
The article quoted Mark Zuckerberg as saying he believed the most important skill to be “learning how to think critically and learning values when you are young.” I think in this context we could understand “morals” to be a stronger expression of “values.”
All of these attributes — thinking critically, acting with values or morals, using initiative and drive, creativity, and curiosity are all related to agency. Agency, as expressed by a human, is more than simply choosing between two options. And agency is not the same as total freedom.
Agency is a Keystone Element at Volo
Volo recognizes, respects, and protects a young person’s agency. We believe agency is an inherent human attribute. Like seals learning to swim, or birds learning to fly, using agency is part of learning to be an adult human. Volo’s mission fundamentally includes helping young people learn to use their agency. We help young people learn the skills and attitudes that support agency and that foster the effective use of agency as adults; that includes practicing creativity, drive, and initiative. At Volo we also emphasize learning to think critically and to act with integrity, compassion, loving kindness, and courage.
Learner-Directed Education
Volo empowers students to take control of their own learning paths, allowing them to choose subjects and projects that align with their interests and passions. This fosters decision-making skills and intrinsic motivation, which are key aspects of agency. This is done with consideration for development. For example, a 7-year-old is given less autonomy for risky decisions than is an older teenager.
Real-World Problem Solving
Through project-based learning, students engage in solving real-world challenges in their community, encouraging initiative, critical thinking, and responsibility.
Mentorship and Guidance, Not Dictation
Volo recognizes that purposeful learning is a choice from the learner. Teachers inspire and persuade, with the goal of teaching in ways that are so interesting that young people love to join in. At Volo, we balance adult-led learning with participant choices in a developmentally sensitive practice of self-directed learning with full support of mentors. This approach helps young people develop confidence in their ability to make choices and learn from experience.
Emphasis on Ethical Decision-Making
Agency is not just about making choices but making responsible and ethical choices. Volo integrates discussions on values, ethics, and community impact, helping students evaluate choices and consider the broader consequences of their actions.
Opportunities for Leadership and Contribution
Young people at Volo take on leadership roles within their learning environment, whether by organizing events, facilitating group discussions, or mentoring younger students. These experiences help them develop the ability to influence their surroundings and take responsibility for outcomes.
