---
title: "The Four Gaps"
source: "https://docs.nexcess.com/software/learndash/academy/the-four-gaps/"
description: "Download the slidesDownload When planning a course, many creators ask: “What should my course be about?” But, in actuality, that’s the wrong question. The right…"
vertical: "Software"
area: "Academy"
topics: ["Best Practices", "Crafting Your Course", "Promoting Your Course"]
date: "2022-01-05"
last_modified: "2026-07-02"
---

# The Four Gaps

[Download the slides](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/The-Four-Gaps.pdf)[Download](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/The-Four-Gaps.pdf)

When planning a course, many creators ask: *“What should my course be about?”* But, in actuality, that’s the **wrong question**. The right question is:

**“Which gap in what market can I serve best?”**

Understanding the four key gaps in online learning will help you design courses that meet real learner needs.

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#### 1. Knowledge Gaps

- Occur when learners lack specific information they need.
- Example: Learning how to use a fireplace flu opener by watching a YouTube tutorial.
- Another example: Learning the vocabulary of a new language.
- Many online courses are designed to fill **knowledge gaps**—they provide missing information.
- Knowledge gaps are the easiest to understand and address.

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#### 2. Skill Gaps

- Occur when learners know *what* to do but lack the ability to perform the skill effectively.
- Require **practice, repetition, and effort**—not just information.
- Example: Buying Chuck Norris workout equipment but failing to use it consistently. The gap wasn’t knowledge but the ability to build and sustain the skill.
- Another example: Eddie the Eagle knew about ski jumping but needed practice to master the sport.
- Skill gaps demand courses that emphasize **doing**, not just teaching.

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#### 3. Context Gaps

- Occur when learners understand something in one setting but struggle to apply it in another.
- Example: A programmer moving from C to PHP faces a new context despite already knowing programming fundamentals. Books like *C for Java Programmers* bridge this gap.
- Another example: A confident boardroom presenter struggling on a stage with 500 diverse audience members. Bridging the gap requires new communication strategies.
- Pixar provides a great model—crafting content that resonates differently with children and adults at the same time.
- Solving context gaps involves building **semantic bridges** to explain how and why things are different in the new context.

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#### 4. Motivation Gaps

- The most overlooked but most powerful gap to solve.
- Occur when learners **know what to do, have the skills, and understand the context—but lack the drive to act**.
- Example: Knowing it’s healthy to stand up every hour, but not doing it due to lack of motivation.
- Solutions include: 
    - **Accountability**
    - **Group connection**
    - **External drivers that “pull” learners into action**
- Common in coaching, health, and wellness programs, where accountability groups or coaches close the motivation gap.

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### Why This Matters

By understanding the **four gaps—knowledge, skill, context, and motivation**—you can design courses that address the *right learner problem*. Each market segment values different gaps, and identifying which one you serve best ensures your course stands out and delivers real results.

> **Tip:** Before building your course, ask not *“What do I want to teach?”* but *“Which gap do I want to close for my learners?”*

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