The Learning Pit is an educational model created by James Nottingham (2017) to help students visualize the learning process as a journey through a “pit” of struggle, confusion, and deep thinking. It reframes difficulty as a natural and necessary step toward mastery.
The Stages of the Learning Pit
The journey through the learning pit typically involves four phases:
- Concept Introduction: The learner encounters a new, exciting topic or task, though their understanding is surface-level.
- Entering the Pit: As the concept becomes more complex, the learner faces challenges, exceptions, and unresolved questions. This stage often brings temporary frustration, confusion, and feelings of being “stuck.”
- Deep Learning/Productive Struggle: The learner engages in critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and resilience. Rather than quitting, they test different strategies and connect new ideas.
- Climbing Out: Through perseverance and effort, the learner experiences an “aha!” moment, achieving a deeper understanding and mastery of the skill.
Coaches Also Spend Time in the Learning Pit
The learning doesn’t only apply to our students. As adult learners, we often find ourselves in the learning pit. For us, I might not feel all that exciting. In fact, the cognitive dissonance of learning can create anxiety and frustration among adult learners. Here are some ways we can successfully move through any new learning that we encounter.
- Recognize the stages in the learning pit. Expect surface-level understandings to deepen as the learning continues.
- As the learning becomes more complex, find a thinking partner to collaborate with. Ask: what’s working for you? How can I adjust and problem solve what I’m doing?
- Remember that the ‘aha’ moment when you come out of the pit is something worth celebrating. Build time for this into your collaborative or team level work.
It can also be helpful to remember that the learning pit is universal. Here EDM artist and DJ Alison Wonderland speaks to what it means to be in the learning pit as she creates new music. Let’s not try to avoid the pit, let’s jump in as it’s essential for all learning.