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Stage 2: The Learning Process122 The Learning Pit & Mindset
The Learning Pit
Recalling a presentation I had heard Dr John Edwards make about organizational growth going through a storm or ‘pit’, I used the same analogy during my reply. I later developed this analogy further, turning the organizational pit into the Learning Pit, and adding four stages to the model: Concept,Conflict,Construct,Consider.123 JamesNottingham
Each time we have a problem to solve or an opportunity to investigate, it is as though we have thoughtfully jumped into a ‘Learning Pit’ to find the solution(s) we need. A pit is the metaphor that James Nottingham uses to demonstrate that when we must learn something, anything, we can consciously or unconsciously enter a metaphorical ‘learning pit’.
Once in the learning pit, learner-educators can apply the Learning Process to get out of the learning pit. Once out of the ‘Learning Pit’, we will often have to jump back into another ‘Learning Pit’ to build deeper understanding, by applying the new learning to another context, to continue that learning. First, we need to have some ideas about how to learn, before we go diving into the learning ‘Pit’.
The competencies provide learners with the capability to carry out the Learning Process more efficiently and effectively. To learn, we must ask questions of ourselves and clarify what the intent of the learning may be, and we can do this by collaborating with other learners. The ‘Learning Pit’ relies on the competencies to enable learners to take increasing agency over their learning.
Without the competencies, the ‘teacher’ must continually climb down into the pit to rescue the learner and assemble ‘bespoke ladders’ to rescue each ‘student’ from the pit individually. Without the competencies, the student is dependent on the ‘teacher’. Once a student has some competency capability, they begin the transition from being a student into becoming a learner-educator.
The competencies are foundational in enabling learners to get themselves out of the Learning Pit. The competencies build increasing agency of the learner over their learning, as they gain experience with applying the competencies to learn.
The state of mind of the learner-educator when they enter the Pit can be one of confusion and frustration, and even anger, but it can also be one of wonder, awe, curiosity and inquisitiveness. Most of all, the learner must feel emotion(s) and have a growth mind-set to want to get into the Pit and believe and know how they can get out of that Pit. Emotion has a significant effect on how well we learn and develop conceptual understanding. In this model, when the learner feels increasing emotion, the resulting increase in hormones instructs our astrocytes to map ideas and concepts more quickly.
122 The chapter 9 summary video can be found here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsBmBM25zSk if you are reading the book, otherwise click on the video icon at the top of the page
123 Nottingham, J. (2016). The Learning Pit. Retrieved from http://www.jamesnottingham.co.uk/learning-pit/
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