Cognitive knots

A cognitive knot is a problem that impedes progress, just like a knot in a piece of thread halts sewing or a knot in a piece of wood slows the saw.  Cognitive knots can cause frustration and confusion BUT they are also causes for celebration.  They represent what Piaget identified as cognitive disequilibrium, aka learning opportunities.  The Reggio-Emilia philosophies embrace these knots, whether in the form of a conflict of wills, insufficient skills/understanding or just limited theoretical/practical knowledge.  In this tradition of learning, the teachers' responsibility is to recognize these knots as they arise and bring them to the surface, not solve them.  The knots represent wonderful opportunities for social learning, group thinking, skill development and more.
As an example of this, here are some recent observations in the studio.

Block building with ramps has become a very provocative work in the studio. We quickly noticed that the wooden balls speeding down the ramps can create a safety hazard in the studio (knot).  This problem/knot has led to a number of very creative collaborations and solutions:

Some children created vast networks of ramps directed toward the wall instead of the open areas of the classroom to ensure safety.

 Others built elaborate mazes of blocks for the balls to travel through on their descent.

A few children created a counter ramp to slow the progress of the balls and added a long wall to stop the balls altogether.

Others discovered that the momentum of the balls could move the block walls and reinforcement was necessary.

Throughout this process the buildings themselves began to take on greater significance, as ramps (roads) led to castles, sky scrapers, super highways, cities and more.

All of this creativity was in response to a problem/knot...How do we explore ramps while ensuring community safety amidst rolling balls and walking feet?