Learning How to Learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects
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Course Content
About Course
What You will learn
- Explain the difference between focused and diffuse modes of thinking.
- Explain what a chunk is, and how and why you can and should enhance your chunking skills.
- Explain how working memory and long term memory differ from one another.
- Describe key techniques to help students learn most efficiently such as: the Pomodoro, metaphor, story, visualization, deliberate practice, and interleaving.
- Describe actions that hinder students from learning most effectively, such as procrastination, over-learning, Einstellung, choking, multi-tasking, illusions of learning, and lack of sleep.
- Describe the most important aspects of proper test preparation.
- Explain the importance of “mindset” in learning.
Course Curriculum / Content
Week1: Focused and Diffuse Modes
Although living brains are very complex, this module uses metaphor and analogy to help simplify matters. You will discover several fundamentally different modes of thinking, and how you can use these modes to improve your learning. You will also be introduced to a tool for tackling procrastination, be given some practical information about memory, and discover surprisingly useful insights about learning and sleep.(Please note that this module should only take about an hour--the extra time quoted relates to purely optional activities.)
- 04:00
Terrence Sejnowski and Barbara Oakley–Introduction to the Course Structure
04:00Welcome and Course Information
Guidance in Applying for Continuing Education or Professional Development Credit
Using the Focused and Diffuse Modes–Or, a Little Dali will do You – Video
04:00What is Learning? (Video)
05:40Get to Know Your Classmates
Procrastination, Memory, and Sleep
A Procrastination Preview (video)
02:51Practice Makes Permanent (video)
06:30Introduction to Memory (video)
04:43The Importance of Sleep in Learning (video)
03:15Interview with Dr. Terrence Sejnowski (video)
03:15
Summary
Summary video for Module 1 (video)
04:28Excitement About Whats Next! MaryAnne Nestor Gives Special Hints (video)
01:30
Review
Reading: Focused versus Diffuse Thinking
A Posting about Anxiety, Depression and PTSD from a learner in Learning How to learn
Optional Interview with “Benny the Irish Polyglot” about Learning Languages (Video)
19:00Optional Interview with Dr. Robert Bilder on Creativity and Problem Solving (video)
15:00Optional Interview with Writing Coach Daphne Gray-Grant (video)
18:49
Week 2: Chunking—The Essentials
In this module, we’re going to be talking about chunks. Chunks are compact packages of information that your mind can easily access. We’ll talk about how you can form chunks, how you can use them to improve your understanding and creativity with the material, and how chunks can help you to do better on tests. We’ll also explore illusions of competence in learning, the challenges of overlearning, and the advantages of interleaving.
Introduction to Chunking (Video)
00:00What is a Chunk (Video)
06:05How to Form a Chunk – Part 1 (video)
05:00How to Form a Chunk – Part 2 (video)
07:09Illusions of Competence (video)
08:00Optional Video: How to Integrate a Flashcard Retrieval Practice System into This Course (Video)
04:14Retrieval Practice
Seeing the bigger Picture
What Motivates You? (Video)
05:00The Value of a Library of Chunk (Video)
05:30Overlearning, Choking, Einstellung, Chunking, and Interleaving (Video)
08:42Summary for Module 2 (Video)
04:00Retrieval Practice
Reading: Chunking
Optional Interview with Dr. Norman Fortenberry – Learning at MIT (Video)
10:00Optional Interview with Scott Young, a “Marco Polo” of Learning (video)
16:09
Week 3 Procrastination
In this module, we talk about two intimately connected ideas—procrastination and memory. Building solid chunks in long term memory--chunks that are easily accessible by your short term memory—takes time. This is why learning to handle procrastination is so important. Finally, we talk about some of the best ways to access your brain’s most powerful long term memory systems.
Introduction to Procrastination and Memory (Video)
03:15Tackling Procrastination – It is Easier, and More Valuable, Than You Think (Video)
06:15Zombies Everywhere (Video)
03:10Surf is Up: Process Versus Product (Video)
04:02Harnessing Your Zombies to Help You (Video)
05:35Juggling Life and Learning (Video)
05:37Summing Up Procrastination (Video)
02:00Retrieval Practice
Memory
Diving Deeper into Memory (Video)
00:00What is Long Term Memory? (Video)
05:30Creating Meaningful Groups and the Memory Palace Technique (Video)
06:30Summing Up Memory (Video)
03:00Reading: Procrastination and Memory
Optional Interview with 4 Time US Memory Champion Nelson Dellis (Video)
25:00Optional Interview with Dr. Robert Gamache, an Award-winning Bilingual Scientist (Video)
14:00Optional Interview with Keith Devlin from Stanford, the NPR
21:00
Week 4: Renaissance Learning and Unlocking Your Potential I
In this module we’re going to talk more about important ideas and techniques that will enhance your ability to learn. You’ll also discover how to more profitably interact with fellow learners, how to recognize your own strengths, and how to avoid the “imposter syndrome.” Fighter pilots and surgeons use checklists to help them with their critical duties—you can use a similar checklist to help you prepare for tests. Ultimately, you will learn more about the joys of living a life filled with learning!
How to Become a Better Learner (Video)
05:00Introduction to Renaissance Learning and Unlocking Your Potential (Video)
02:00Create a Lively Visual Metaphor or Analogy (Video)
04:00No Need for Genius Envy (Video)
00:00Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life (Video)
06:15
Renaissance Learning and Unlocking Your Potential II
The Value of Teamwork (Video)
06:00A Test Checklist (Video)
04:00Hard Start – Jump to Easy (Video)
04:00Final Helpful Hints for Tests (Video)
06:00Summary for Module 4 (Video)
04:00
Summary of the Course
Wrapup to the Course by Terrence Sejnowski and Barbara Oakley (Video)
11:10Reading: Renaissance Learning and Unlocking Your Potential
Optional: Part 1: How NOT to Take a Test, Interview with Dr. Richard Felder and Dr. Rebecca Brent (Video)
10:00Optional: Part 2: Learning Something New, Interview with Dr. Richard Felder and Dr. Rebecca Brent (Video)
Optional: Part 3: The Imposter Syndrome and Dealing with Procrastination, Interview with Dr. Richard Felder and Dr. Rebecca Brent (Video)
10:00Optional: Writer John Maguire (readablewriting.com) on the Importance of Putting Objects in Your Writing (Video)
20:00Optional Interview with William Craig Rice on learning in the humanities (Video)
40:00Farewell and Hello!
Student Ratings & Reviews
Requirements
- You will need a decent internet speed
- Can be accessed on mobile phones and PC
- A dedicated community for discussions
- Self paced earning environment
Target Audience
- Young Professionals
- University Students
- High School Students
- Anyone who want to maximize their learning skills
Material Includes
- Vidoes
- Transcripts
- Notes
- Recommended Materials
Description
This course gives you easy access to the invaluable learning techniques used by experts in art, music, literature, math, science, sports, and many other disciplines. We’ll learn about how the brain uses two very different learning modes and how it encapsulates (“chunks”) information. We’ll also cover illusions of learning, memory techniques, dealing with procrastination, and best practices shown by research to be most effective in helping you master tough subjects.
Using these approaches, no matter what your skill levels in topics you would like to master, you can change your thinking and change your life. If you’re already an expert, this peep under the mental hood will give you ideas for turbocharging successful learning, including counter-intuitive test-taking tips and insights that will help you make the best use of your time on homework and problem sets. If you’re struggling, you’ll see a structured treasure trove of practical techniques that walk you through what you need to do to get on track. If you’ve ever wanted to become better at anything, this course will help serve as your guide. This course can be taken independent of, concurrent with, or prior to, its companion course, Mindshift. (Learning How to Learn is more learning-focused, and Mindshift is more career-focused.) A related course by the same instructors is Uncommon Sense Teaching.
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