2025 GOCSD Innovation Summit

Learning Begins at the Edge of Challenge: Join James Nottingham, renowned author, consultant, and founder of the Learning Pit®, as he explores how embracing uncertainty and intellectual discomfort can accelerate student growth. In this keynote, James will share his four-stage framework for deep learning, illustrating how educators can create classroom cultures where curiosity, critical thinking, and perseverance thrive. Participants will leave with actionable insights to help students turn confusion into clarity and challenge into triumph.

To truly prepare learners for a rapidly changing world, education must evolve beyond traditional models and embrace learner-centered mindsets. This shift isn’t just about adopting new tools or digitizing outdated practices—it’s about reimagining the role of educators, empowering students, and aligning learning experiences with real-world needs. In this keynote, we’ll explore the key shifts needed to move away from one-size-fits-all approaches and toward a model rooted in connection, agency, flexibility, and authentic learning. Discover how we can redesign education to serve all learners—and educators— to know who they are, thrive in community and actively engage in the world as their best selves.