Strategic Networks

The Strategic Networks relate to how learners demonstrate mastery of what they've learned. Many learners are able to express themselves more skillfully in one medium than they can in another. We can attend to our learners' Strategic Networks by providing them with multiple means of action and expression. In other words, allowing them to express what they know in variety of ways. 

To address your learners' Strategic Networks, ask yourself these questions.

  • How will my learners show me what they have learned?
  • How will they demonsrate mastery of learning?

Strategic Network: Potential Barriers

Many factors may prevent learners from fully expressing what they have learned. 

Examples:

  • Traditional Tests
    • Text anxiety may cause learners to perform poorly.
    • Skipped questions may cause answers to be tracked incorrectly.
    • Learners may misunderstand the directions.
    • Learners may have poor recall of isolated facts, details, or concepts.
    • Time constraints may cause learners to perform poorly.
  • Papers or Projects
    • Learners don't know how/where to begin.
    • Learners don't know how to organize information. 
    • Learners may not have a clear understanding of the task/grading criteria. 

Often learners who struggle with tests or writing, excel at other types of assessments. In order to provide opportunities for all learners, it's important to consider and include a variety of assessments types.

Consider your learning environment, could any of these barriers be impacting your learners' ability to demonstrate their understanding? As you watch the Strategic Networks video (6:15), keep your Action Plan Peer Review Assignment in mind. What UDL strategies might you use to address your learners' Strategic Networks so that ALL of your learners are able to demonstrate mastery of your learning goals? 

Download Transcript: Strategic Networks

Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid. Albert Einstein

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