Adaptive Expertise Model
The adaptive expertise model is useful in scaffolding strategy development. It has three steps: guided learning (educators decide on the learning goals, strategies, and assessments), active learning (learners decide on the learning goals and self-plan and organize around these but with support from the educator), and experiential learning (students guide all aspects of the learning through interaction with others and reflection on their experience). In this model, learning becomes increasingly self-directed (Dumont et al., 2012).
Think of a key concept you teach or key message you deliver in your role. How might you facilitate action and expression activities with your learners that move through these scaffolded stages – guided learning, active learning, and experiential learning? If you wish, you can complete the activity below first and come back to this reflection question after.
Let’s have a look at how some key strategies for supporting executive functioning might evolve as we move through the stages of adaptive expertise (adapted from CAST, n.d.; Tu & Soman, 2014; Novak & Thibodeau, 2016). These are just examples. Feel free to think of your own strategies to use in your learning environment.
In the activities below, match the correct learning category from the adaptive expertise model with its corresponding example. Each example corresponds to the title strategy (e.g., Planning & Organization).
Matching activityPlanning & Organization
Complete this activity on the Universal Design for Learning website
Open activityInstructions
Match the correct category of learning with its corresponding example.
If using a mouse, trackpad, or touch device, drag a category from the category of learning group and drop it on to an example.
If using a keyboard or screen reader, press the tab key to highlight the category dropdown list within an example. Press space to open the category list, and the Up arrow / Down arrow keys to navigate the list.
If the category you select is incorrect keep trying!
Applying Learning Strategies
Complete this activity on the Universal Design for Learning website
Open activityInstructions
Match the correct category of learning with its corresponding example.
If using a mouse, trackpad, or touch device, drag a category from the category of learning group and drop it on to an example.
If using a keyboard or screen reader, press the tab key to highlight the category dropdown list within an example. Press space to open the category list, and the Up arrow / Down arrow keys to navigate the list.
If the category you select is incorrect keep trying!
Goal Setting, Prioritizing, & Monitoring Progress
Complete this activity on the Universal Design for Learning website
Open activityInstructions
Match the correct category of learning with its corresponding example.
If using a mouse, trackpad, or touch device, drag a category from the category of learning group and drop it on to an example.
If using a keyboard or screen reader, press the tab key to highlight the category dropdown list within an example. Press space to open the category list, and the Up arrow / Down arrow keys to navigate the list.
If the category you select is incorrect keep trying!