At The Knox School, we cultivate a dynamic, inquiry-based learning environment where students actively explore, question and connect ideas across a variety of subject areas. This approach sparks curiosity, nurtures problem-solving skills and promotes deeper thinking, all of which are crucial for academic success and lifelong learning. In our Junior School, we especially encourage students to embrace the mindset of a lifelong learner, empowering them to grow both intellectually and personally, a foundaitonal concept that underpins our industry-leading Learner Profile Days.
Inquiry Learning Design Leader, Lisa Sheppard, shared some insights into how she introduced this concept to Year 5 students at the beginning of this year:
As a fun back to school activity, my Year 5 students took on a challenge: learning the cup game. Some picked up the rhythm quickly, we had some experts in the class, and others who struggled. As we reflected on our progress, students began to recognise an important truth: learning is a journey filled with moments of challenge and growth.
Recognising that every challenge places them in The Learning Pit helps students develop a growth mindset – seeing struggle as a stepping stone to success, rather than a sign of failure.
The Learning Pit: Embracing Challenge
James Nottingham’s Learning Pit helps students understand and navigate learning challenges through four stages:
- Concept: Starting with some knowledge.
- Conflict: Facing challenges and uncertainty.
- Construct: Making sense of new ideas through effort.
- Consider: Reflecting on progress and applying learning.
Our Associate Principal: Head of Learning, Teaching and Innovation, Liana Gooch, encourages this mindset with students and teachers across the entire student learning journey:
The power of inquiry learning lies in encouraging students to take ownership of their education – asking questions, investigating ideas and constructing their understanding. When paired with metacognitive strategies, students not only learn to self-regulate their learning through planning, monitoring and evaluation but also develop resilience by recognising that mistakes are part of the learning process. Ultimately, this approach empowers students to transfer their knowledge across subjects and real-world situations, preparing them for lifelong learning.
How Parents Can Support Learning at Home?
Parents play a vital role in helping children navigate The Learning Pit and develop metacognitive habits. Here’s how you can support your child:
- Encourage curiosity: ask open-ended questions and explore answers together.
- Normalise struggle: reinforce that challenges help us grow.
- Model metacognitive thinking: share your own experiences with challenges and problem-solving.
- Ask reflective questions: instead of giving answers, guide your child’s thinking:
- Where do you think you are in The Learning Pit?
- What strategy could help you move forward?
- What did you learn from this challenge?
The Importance of a Growth Mindset
When students embrace challenges, persist through setbacks, and reflect on their learning, they develop grit, adaptability and confidence. Learning isn’t about getting everything right the first time – it’s about embracing the struggle, learning from mistakes and pushing forward. If you are interested in learning more about the Learning Pit, you may like to view this online resource by James Nottingham (click to open) where he explains how to use the model in everyday conversations.
The next time you or your child faces a challenge, remember: it’s okay to be in The Learning Pit! Embrace the challenge, keep reflecting and you’ll discover new strengths within yourself!
