Based on one of the most popular open online courses in the world, this course gives you easy access to the learning techniques used by experts in art, music, literature, math, science, sports, and many other disciplines. No matter what your current skill level, using these approaches can help you master new topics, change your thinking and improve your life.
This course explains:
* Why sometimes letting your mind wander is an important part of the learning process
* How to avoid "rut think" in order to think outside the box
* The value of metaphors in developing understanding
* A simple, yet powerful, way to stop procrastinating
If you’re already an expert, these strategies will turbocharge your learning, including test-taking tips and insights that will help you make the best use of your time on homework and problem sets.
We all have the tools to learn what might not seem to come naturally to us at first—the secret is to understand how the brain works so we can unlock its power.
Filled with animations, application questions, and exercises, this course makes learning easy and fun!
Overview
Syllabus
- What is Learning?
- In this module, we'll use metaphor and analogy to help you more easily understand key ideas about how your brain works. You will discover two modes of thinking—you can use these modes in different ways to improve your learning. We will also show you a powerful tool for tackling procrastination, give you some great memory tips, and point out why "sleeping on it" can be a good idea!
- Tips to Build Your Memory
- In this module, we explore the brain’s process for storing information in long-term memory in an easy to understand metaphor involving a school bag, a locker and an octopus. Then, we will talk about some of the best ways to access your brain’s most powerful long-term memory systems, like metaphor, recall, memory palace and rhyming.
- Brain Links and Study Tips
- 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 avoid “information overload,” and how to recognize your own strengths. 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!
Taught by
Dr. Barbara Oakley, Dr. Terrence Sejnowski and Greg Hammons
Tags
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Reviews
4.8 rating, based on 1,138 Class Central reviews
4.8 rating at Coursera based on 2889 ratings
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I really loved how the instructors shortened their Learning how to learn video and made a concise yet perfect video with more self-help pdfs and tips.
The instructors taught in such a way that even a kid would understand, how I wish I had learnt about it sooner, who ever reads this, do not waste your time anymore and start doing self-help courses, this is beginner friendly and only took 3-4 hours to complete, it took that much time because I wrote precious notes and advices from this course.
I participated on all the optional feedback surveys too so if anyone joins in, that's be great too. -
Great and funny! Those are the two words I would describe when completing this course. There is a note that I consider to be a weakness of this course, namely that the rhythm is a bit fast and the learning videos are also very short. But it's not a big deal and doesn't reduce the rating. The material is very easy to understand but also very important to learn. So I highly recommend this course to all of you, happy learning!
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Sharifa Hainie Dacula @hdaculaThe course is great! I learned a lot of key concepts that I could apply on my journey of learning. The instructors are fun to listen and the activities will help you retain the information that you learned. Overall, time spent wisely! -
A must-take for young/primary-secondary school-level learners of any inclinations as well as educators to help their students learn efficiently; to go further, consider taking the main Learning How To Learn course and Mindshift, also from the same instructors.
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As someone who struggles a lot with studying and suffers from bad study habits, I find this course immensely helpful. This course is filled with tips that can assist me in learning more effectively and efficiently, and I want to give it a 10/10 in terms of content and delivery. All professors were beyond amazing, as they were able to discuss everything in a way that’s easy for everyone to understand. The lectures were also very fun; I really enjoyed the anecdotes that they used to supplement their lessons, as well as the silly little metaphors which really helped me in remembering the topics. I would love to learn from these professors again. Thank you so much!
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It is a great class modeled after the popular class from the team from ...' Learning how to learn '. This one is more targeted toward school kids. It is a nicely designed class and quite an entertaining and engaging instruction for children. I would recommend this class to all youths in the elementary to the middle school level. Nice if the teacher assigns the class for everyone to join and then everyone discusses and practices their new learning skills. It will be a lot of fun learning by practicing what they learn! Learning is fun with peers! :)
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I have always had difficult times with learning at school. I was thinking like"I will memorize all the things the night before the exam." And that was my strategy for exams most of the time. Was it helpful for getting good grades? The answer is yes…
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This is a great course. I am a high school teacher and have completed the adult version of this course twice. I am recommending this new course to my students. It is certainly pitched at the right level for high school students and is equally intere…
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Learning mechanics explained, along with suggestions and tips.
No matter if you are a student or not, this course will give you powerful tools to improve both your professional and personal life. -
This is not very different from Learning How to Learn. I like this course. I just don't know the reason why this exists as an entirely different course.
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This course was just about perfect, with an upbeat style aimed at young people that can also be enjoyed by adults of any age. Engaging videos, enjoyable exercises, and thoughtful discussion topics were excellently presented. It introduces young peop…
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The information in this course is presented in a very interesting, encouraging and attractive way. The metaphors and examples of how our brains work in learning are related to our daily life, making it easy for the learners to understand deep neur…
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Shu-Chuan ChiuThe information in this course is presented in a very interesting, encouraging and attractive way. The metaphors and examples of how our brains work in learning are related to our daily life, making it easy for the learners to understand deep neur… -
Đăng PhạmHello, i live in Vietnam and i am 30 years old, with me, learning a new thing is very difficult, but throught this course, with the explain clearly and easy understand of those tutors, I can easily to understand , follow and practice by myself. The lectures are fun by using metaphors and vivid images so me or any learner can easily following. This very helpful not for me but also good for each parents who want to teach their children at home. -
Francisco ValdezCuando empece el curso no teniaexpectativas, pense que lo iba a dejar al rato, pero luego de unos minutos logro cautivarme por lo sencillo que era, las explicaciones y metaforas tan divertidas y faciles de aprender, ya teia conciencia masomenos del tema pero sin dudas este curso me ayudo a entender como funiona mi cerebro y como resultado me ayudo a aprender cosas nuevas mas rapidamente. Muchas gracias a los profesores que hicieron este curso, se los agradezco de corazón. Voy a recomendar este curso a quien yo crea que necesita aprender de este conocimiento. -
I really appreciate your choice of topic, teaching methods, course outline, and the rich materials that you have been provided. In my point of view, this course is helpful for everyone, no matter in which stage or phase of learning journey we are, it is going to be helpful for school students, college students, teachers, mentors, and experts. Further, by consideration of lifelong learning, everyone needs some basic skills which were presented in the current course. Therefore, I strongly recommend the course to everyone whom are passion of learning and teaching, particularly pre-primary and primary school teachers, since the can share and practice the tips and skills with their students in their beginning of learning journeys.
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I liked this course very much. All three tutors were very engaging and easy to understand. The concept and pace of course were excellent. I very much liked the learning through animation. I think "the octopus" will be imprinted on my "Mind Locker" for long period of time.
I wish the course could be more lengthy and covered more ideas.
Thank you very much tutors for your support to help me understand learning concept in easy way.
I am surely going to recommend this course to my partners & colleagues. -
Although I already knew some of the concepts taught in this course, I still gained a lot of insight and new knowledge. This course helped me realize that I can improve on my studies and work. Overall, I had fun and felt more motivated.
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Although I am not a teen, I have participated in Learning How to Learn for adults and I wanted to see whether this course for teens is good for my students.
Personally, it was helpful to learn it this way too, I liked the analogies with the octopus and the locker, the images helped to understand the principle and also myself better.
I also liked the fact that the teachers emphasized that each learner is different and that every weakness has a hidden strengh. -
1. Simple and straight forward explanations. Quizzes have no 'tricks'. Student scores better and feels good.
2. Good boundaries with essential minimum contents.
3. Simple and elegant visuals. Easy to grasp.
4. Clear accent. Easy for people from all over the world to grasp.
5. AI assistance. Student can get additional material and help when needed.
6. Short enough to complete over a weekend.
7. No slides, no excessive/unrelated materials. No gimmicks.
