The 3 Learning Barriers Explained (And How You Can Help a Student Overcome Them)

As a parent or teacher, few things are more frustrating than seeing a student try—only to stay stuck.

They sit through lessons.
They do their homework.
They might even study extra.

But still, something’s not clicking.

What most people don’t realize is that learning struggles aren’t usually about intelligence, laziness, or attention span. They’re often caused by specific barriers built into how we teach and how students process new information.

At Applied Scholastics, we call these the 3 learning barriers—and once you understand them, you’ll start spotting them everywhere.

Barrier 1: The Absence of Mass

What it is:
This happens when a student is trying to learn something without being able to see, feel, or visualize it.

The problem:
Without a real-world connection, abstract ideas feel meaningless.
You’ll often hear: “I’m bored,” or “I don’t get it.”
In reality, their brain just doesn’t have anything solid to anchor the information to.

What to watch for:

• Fidgeting, doodling, or zoning out

• Loss of interest in the topic

• Complaints of being tired or distracted

What helps:

• Use real objects or images whenever possible

• Let the student draw, model, or build what they’re learning

• If you’re talking about a volcano, show a video—or make one with baking soda!

Barrier 2: Too-Steep a Gradient

What it is:
This happens when a student is asked to learn something too advanced without mastering the earlier steps.

The problem:
It’s like asking someone to write a novel when they haven’t learned the alphabet.
They may try, but eventually get frustrated, confused, or shut down.

What to watch for:

• Repeating the same mistake over and over

• Looking overwhelmed or anxious

• Sudden drop in confidence or refusal to participate

What helps:

• Go back to the last point they did understand

• Rebuild from there, one step at a time

• Don’t rush to “finish the curriculum”—make sure the foundation is solid

Barrier 3: Misunderstood Words

What it is:
This is the most common—and most overlooked—learning barrier.
It happens when a student encounters a word they don’t fully understand.

The problem:
Even one misunderstood word can stop comprehension cold.
After that, everything they read or hear becomes a blur—even if they keep nodding and pretending to follow along.

What to watch for:

• Daydreaming, yawning, or sudden tiredness

• Reading the same sentence multiple times without “getting it”

• Memorizing facts but not understanding concepts

What helps:

• Encourage students to slow down and clarify any word they don’t feel 100% sure about

• Keep a dictionary nearby (or a parent/teacher ready to explain with simple examples)

• Revisit the last part they understood and walk through it again, word by word

Removing the Barriers, Unlocking the Learning

Most students don’t need more pressure—they need more clarity.

When we teach students how to recognize and remove these barriers for themselves, everything changes:

• Confidence returns

• Curiosity grows

• Real learning begins

This is the foundation of Study Technology.

It’s not about shortcuts—it’s about giving students control over how they learn, so they don’t need a tutor, a parent, or a teacher standing over their shoulder all the time.

They become independent learners—and that’s a skill that lasts for life.

Want to Learn How to Apply These Tools?

We’d love to show you how Study Technology can help your child or school.
Book a free discovery call today—and get personalized guidance from our team.

Click here to schedule your free call

Let’s remove the barriers—and unlock what your student is truly capable of.