The Learning Challenge

James Nottingham, ICOT, Bilbao 2015

The Learning Challenge

www.jamesnottingham.co.uk
@JamesNottinghm
Facebook.com/ChallengingLearning

When?
Why?
What?
How?

Everything
Else

Creativity
Thinking dispositions
Citizenship
Mindset
Imagination
Empathy
Ethics
Confidence

Whats
tested by
National
Tests

www.challenginglearning.com

The Learning Challenge

James Nottingham, ICOT, Bilbao 2015

Ins'nct
Impulse
Intui'on

HOW to think (as well as what to think)

When I went to
school, they asked
me what I wanted to
be when I grew up.

Happy

I wrote happy.
They told me I didnt
understand the
assignment.

Flourish
Prosperar
I told them they didnt

understand life.

Professor Angie Hobbs (UK)

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The Learning Challenge

James Nottingham, ICOT, Bilbao 2015

Ditch the auto-pilot

1. Knowledge
Conocimiento

2. Facts
Hechos

3. Happy
Feliz

4. Make it easier
Hazlo ms fcil

5. Prepare for exams
Prepararse para los exmene

6. What to think
Qu pensar

7. Fixed Mindset
Mentalidad fija

www.challenginglearning.com

1. Understanding
Comprensin

2. Concepts
Conceptos

3. Flourish
Prosperar

4. Increase challenge
Aumentar el reto

5. Prepare for life
Prepararse para la vida

6. How to think
Como pensar

7. Growth Mindset
Mentalidad de crecimiento

The Learning Challenge

James Nottingham, ICOT, Bilbao 2015

The original Pit

Dr John Edwards

The Learning Challenge

www.challenginglearning.com

The Learning Challenge

James Nottingham, ICOT, Bilbao 2015

1. Preparing for the Pit

Example topics include:
Tourism

Turismo

Odd numbers

Nmeros impares

Bullying

Bullying

Industrial revolution

Revolucin industrial

Water cycle

El ciclo del agua

Cubism

Cubismo

Pets

Mascotas

Free press

Prensa libre

Tourism in Bilbao
FACTS might include:

What is a
tourist?

1. Visitor numbers
2. Main tourist sites
3. Facilities for tourists
4. Advertising
5. How Bilbao compares
with other cities

www.challenginglearning.com

The Learning Challenge

James Nottingham, ICOT, Bilbao 2015

Is David a
tourist this
week?

Es David
una turista
esta semana?

How many of these thinking skills did you use?

How many of these thinking skills did you use?

ANALYSE
ANTICIPATE
APPLY
CAUSAL-LINK
CHOOSE
CLASSIFY
COMPARE
CONNECT
CONTRAST
DECIDE
DEFINE

DESCRIBE
DETERMINE
DISCUSS
ELABORATE
ESTIMATE
EVALUATE
EXEMPLIFY
EXPLORE
GENERALISE
GIVE EXAMPLES
GIVE REASONS

GROUP
HYPOTHESISE
IDENTIFY
INFER
INTERPRET
ORGANISE
PARAPHRASE
PREDICT
QUESTION
RANK
REPRESENT

RESPOND
SEQUENCE
SIMPLIFY
SHOW HOW
SOLVE
SORT
SUMMARISE
SUPPORT
TEST
VERIFY
VISUALISE

From Challenging Learning (2010), page 136

www.challenginglearning.com

The Learning Challenge

James Nottingham, ICOT, Bilbao 2015

The Learning
Challenge

1. Concept

Clarity

Stage 1 & 2

Confusion

2. Conflict

Challenging Learning,

10

2010, p107

What is an odd number?

Que es un nmero impar?

4
88

www.challenginglearning.com

5
2

6
16
7

The Learning Challenge

James Nottingham, ICOT, Bilbao 2015

Groundrules for dialogue?

Reglas bsicas para el dilogo?
Respect
Listen to each other
Encourage others
Take in turns

What if Lynx & Lamb were in your group?

Lynx and Lamb are twins.

They were brought up as right
wing, white supremacists.
In 2003, they were featured in
a Louis Theroux BBC
documentary, entitled Louis
and the Nazis.

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The Learning Challenge

James Nottingham, ICOT, Bilbao 2015

The Learning Challenge is all about Cognitive Conflict

Not all of our

questions answered
but all of our answers
questioned

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The Learning Challenge

James Nottingham, ICOT, Bilbao 2015

Fixed Mindset

Growth Mindset

Im keen to PROVE

I want to STAY in my
comfort zone

I CANT do this

I HIDE my mistakes

Struggling means I CANT
do it

Im keen to IMPROVE

I want to GET OUT of my
comfort zone

I cant do this YET

I EXAMINE my mistakes

Struggling means Im
LEARNING

Constructing answers
together

www.challenginglearning.com

10

The Learning Challenge

James Nottingham, ICOT, Bilbao 2015

Constructing an understanding through

Venn Diagrams

Constructing an understanding through

Ranking (putting in order of importance)

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11

The Learning Challenge

James Nottingham, ICOT, Bilbao 2015

Constructing an understanding through

Categorizing

Constructing an understanding through

Comparing & contrasting

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12

The Learning Challenge

James Nottingham, ICOT, Bilbao 2015

Constructing an understanding through

Opinion Lines

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The Learning Challenge

James Nottingham, ICOT, Bilbao 2015

The Learning
Challenge

Eure

Stage 3

ka!

Clarity

1. Concept
2. Conflict

Confusion

3. Construct

Challenging Learning,
2010, p 113

2
11
3

Teachers set the

culture of their
classroom!

Los profesores
establecen la
cultura en sus
aulas!

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