The Learning Pit is a term that describes what I experience every semester as a student. Learning is like falling into a pit. Inside the pit I feel uncomfortable and confused. The quantity of work required overwhelms me. This is what I feel every time I write a paper, prepare a presentation or work on a major project. I feel like I’ve jumped into a bowl of spaghetti noodles, immersed with strange concepts and unfamiliar skills which I must master. I feel slow, clumsy and very unsure of myself. Every one else in class acts and looks smarter than me. Hopelessness sits on my lap. When I am in the Learning Pit, I use certain strategies to survive and find my way out.

(I got the term “the Learning Pit” from James Nottingham’s blog.)

First of all I remind myself that I know this place. The Learning Pit. It happens every semester. The reason for these feelings is unfamiliarity. The unknown.

Second, I take a big breath and just jump in. I give myself permission to feel uncomfortable. It’s OK to feel confused. Things will begin to make sense the more I immerse myself in the information.

Next, I read and take notes and go to class. I think and talk aloud to myself about the ideas in the article, chapter, or lecture notes. This part takes a lot of time.

I remind myself that learning will feel uncomfortable for a while. My mind needs time to digest all the information I have consumed. My mind needs time to make meaningful, logical connections.

Soon I begin to see patterns and salient ideas. I begin to feel better about what I am learning. The proverbial light bulb comes on. However, sometimes that light bulb comes on after the semester is over. If I know I will not master the concepts before the end of the semester, I do what I must to pass the course. I trust things will make more sense next semester.

When I work with my students, together we wrestle with the discomfort of feeling confused or overwhelmed. We develop learning strategies to tackle the assignment. The secret to reaching academic goals is frequency of study, consistency and believing you can learn. If you need academic support to reach your goals, contact me. I am an Academic Coach.