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Learn Like a Pro: Science-Based Tools to Become Better at Anything

via edX

Overview

Do you spend too much time learning with disappointing results? Do you find it difficult to remember what you read? Do you put off studying because it’s boring and you’re easily distracted? This course is for you!

Dr. Barbara Oakley—instructor of some of the most popular online courses of all time—and her co-instructor Olav Schewe, educational coach extraordinaire, have struggled in the past with their learning. But they’ve found ways to succeed—Barb has gone from a math-phobic failure in high school to become an engineering professor, and Olav has gone from a mediocre, muddling student to become a standout in his graduate studies at Oxford. In Learn Like a Pro , Olav and Barb lay out techniques based on easy-to-understand but cutting-edge neuroscientific research that can also help you master any material.

Learn Like a Pro is like no other course on learning—it weaves late-breaking insights from neuroscience into Barb and Olav’s previous research and teaching to show unexpected, yet practical, new approaches. You’ll learn why note-taking isn’t always beneficial and why speed-reading techniques don’t work (they speed up only your eyes, not your brain—but there is something better you can do instead). You’ll also learn why the best strategies for learning a new language as an adult are inevitably different from the approaches you used as a child. And guess what? The same techniques you might use to boogie-down with dance or sink a basketball share can, with clever retooling, also help you gradually become an expert coder or master at chess.

Think you aren’t so smart? Learn why your slower way of learning can help you see the faulty assumptions and discover deeper truths that even geniuses can miss. In fact, you’ll learn how applying useful learning techniques to your slow-learning approach can help you to sometimes perform better than mental superstars. Are you already a great learner? Learn Like a Pro will give you useful tools to become even more powerful in your learning. (Pro tip—what you’ve previously been taught about how to learn successfully is often the opposite of what neuroscience tells us about how to learn most successfully.) This inspirational course will also teach you how to boost your motivation and creatively handle frustration—no matter what you’re learning. You’ll find new pathways to triumph, and you’ll have a lot of fun while you’re at it. Join us at Learn Like a Pro and boost your learning success today!

Taught by

Olav Schewe and Barbara Oakley

Reviews

4.9 rating, based on 289 Class Central reviews

4.6 rating at edX based on 22 ratings

Start your review of Learn Like a Pro: Science-Based Tools to Become Better at Anything

  • A compact course packed with information and techniques to help you learn more quickly and effectively. While some information is the same as in Barbara Oakley's Learning How to Learn, it introduces new material and explains the "Why" behind the strategies presented. Also includes some interactive activities and encourages effective participation in the discussion forums. A well-made course!
  • Yet another top course from Barbara Oakly, building further on previous successes, improving the material and adding new concepts. This is a short course full of tips & tricks to improve your learning, backed by scientific research. The animation…
  • The best course about how to learn. I became a much better student and more motivate to do everything I need to do. I recommend a lot.
  • Anonymous
    Great!!!! "I completed this course and it exceeded my expectations. The content was well-structured and engaging, making complex topics easy to understand. The instructor was knowledgeable and provided clear explanations. The practical exercises were particularly helpful in reinforcing the material. Overall, this course has significantly enhanced my skills and confidence in the subject. Highly recommended for anyone looking to deepen their understanding!"
  • Anonymous
    The course helped me to better understand concepts and ideas that I didn't know, and also to delve deeper into some that I already knew in their basic version. The teachers are really amazing people who transmit positive energy, showing how much they like what they do, which encouraged me to continue and finish the course. I hope that in the future more exercises will be added to have a more active interaction with the course and its content.
  • Profile image for Mariela Lopez
    Mariela Lopez
    I found really helpful the lectures about motivating myself, two ways dopamine increases, and at the end how to be more metacognitive in our learning process. I already have the ebook and I was enjoying it when I found this course. I love this course and the ebook as well. I'll put in action all the advices. Thank you so much for everything. Take care. Mariela
  • This was an informative course presented in compact learning modules. The instructors did a great job presenting information on the topic in easy-to-digest ways. I appreciated their inclusion of both visual and auditory learning modalities.
  • Anonymous
    great course. i believe this is a must course to take for highschoolers, in the past i always struggled with learning and my grades were low, on history i was barely interested about it in my childhood and now i see all that time i could learn for t…
  • It has very clear videos and good exercises to practice. Great tools recommended. The two people that teach are very good to explaining the concepts.
  • Anonymous
    I recently completed the course and found it to be incredibly informative. The content was well-structured and covered a range of relevant topics that will undoubtedly aid in my learning journey. The instructors explained complex concepts clearly and provided practical examples that enhanced my understanding. The course materials were comprehensive and easy to follow, making the learning experience smooth and engaging.
  • Anonymous
    This course exceeded my expectations in every way. The content was well-structured, engaging, and easy to follow. The instructors did a fantastic job explaining complex topics in a clear and understandable manner. The interactive elements and real-world examples made learning enjoyable and practical. I appreciated the flexibility of the course, allowing me to learn at my own pace. The resources provided were valuable, and the overall experience was seamless. I feel much more confident in my understanding of the subject. I highly recommend this course to anyone looking to expand their knowledge. It was truly a great learning experience!
  • Excellent introduction to the process and to smart methods of learning. The teachers are engaging and fun; the course is short and well structured.
  • Profile image for Marouane EL HASNAOUI
    Marouane EL HASNAOUI
    This course, based on the book Learn Like a Pro by Dr. Barbara Oakley and Olav Schewe, provides practical, science-backed strategies for effective learning. It covers key techniques like active recall, spaced repetition, chunking, and time management. The content is engaging and well-structured, with actionable exercises to reinforce learning. While it’s great for students and lifelong learners, some concepts may feel familiar to those already versed in study techniques. Overall, it's an excellent resource for improving learning efficiency.
  • Anonymous
    I only audited the course. I took a similar course/audited on Coursera about a year or two ago. This is a much better, improved, simpler, and shorter course-while very effective. I recommend the course to parents of school-age children as well. I…
  • Anonymous
    Great!!!! "I completed this course and it exceeded my expectations. The content was well-structured and engaging, making complex topics easy to understand. The instructor was knowledgeable and provided clear explanations. The practical exercises were particularly helpful in reinforcing the material. Overall, this course has significantly enhanced my skills and confidence in the subject. Highly recommended for anyone looking to deepen their understanding!"

  • Anonymous
    Excellent! The lessons were clear and easy to follow. The instructors explained well, and the examples made the lessons clear and entertaining. Each lesson had the right amount of information, was well-presented, and was very organized. It was also great to learn at my own pace. I definitely recommend this course if you want to be a better learner!
  • Profile image for B Schock
    B Schock
    This course contains easy to follow and easy to use techniques and practice to enhance the learning process.
  • Anonymous
    The best course ever and also the first course I finish in my life!

    It Introduced hands-on experience, applicable tips and great examples to showcase the techniques while also making the course enjoyable.

    I really noticed improvement in my learning and comprehension.

    Thank you for making this course!
  • Anonymous
    The instructors explained techniques that were applied immediately and the results were instantaneous. I especially enjoyed the visual description which gave me a picture of what they were talking about and exactly how to apply it.

    Previously, I heard about the concept of a mind palace in the series "Sherlock" and thought it was something only geniuses like Sherlock can use, now I am convinced otherwise and will apply the skills learned in this course to improve my learning of finance.
  • Profile image for Maria Mercedes Chen
    Maria Mercedes Chen
    LOVED THIS COURSE. They apply everything they talk about during the course, to this course. The content was engaging, it was easy to understand, the facilitators are great explaining and also they added humor. It was very easy to learn.

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