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Coursera

Learning How to Learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects

Deep Teaching Solutions via Coursera

Overview

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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. To join the fully translated Portuguese version of the course, visit: https://www.coursera.org/learn/aprender To join the fully translated Spanish version of the course, visit: https://www.coursera.org/learn/aprendiendo-a-aprender To join the fully translated Chinese version of the course, visit: https://www.coursera.org/learn/ruhe-xuexi To join the fully translated French version of the course, visit : http://www.coursera.org/learn/apprendre-comment-apprendre

Syllabus

  • What is Learning?
    • 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.)
  • Chunking
    • 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.
  • Procrastination and Memory
    • 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.
  • Renaissance Learning and Unlocking Your Potential
    • 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!

Taught by

Terrence Sejnowski and Barbara Oakley

Reviews

4.9 rating, based on 26,075 Class Central reviews

4.8 rating at Coursera based on 90724 ratings

Start your review of Learning How to Learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects

  • I was of the impression that a free Statement of Accomplishment would be offered for completion of the course, but today I observed through the forums that there would be no such option. I feel that this should have been made clear from the beginning, I feel sort of cheated and thus I unenrolled from this course. Also, on the discussion forums, staff members are actively deleting threads addressing this issue - a policy which I feel should not be in place if the university were really in the spirit of global sharing of education.
  • Anonymous
    Before reviewing, I would like to note that I was a straight-A student in school, graduated Magna Cum Laude from university, and have taught myself both Japanese and Chinese. I love learning, hence why I took this course. With that said, this shou…
  • Jayne McCormack
    A very useful course covering concepts behind how to learn effectively and efficently. Barbara Oakley is a warm and friendly presenter whose videos make a potentially dull subject fun and enjoyable (with the use of zombies, flying mules, etc). Terre…
  • Anonymous
    If you're like me, you probably thought that the steps to proper learning were obvious. And in a sense, they are obvious, so you'd be right. Those people who told you to stop procrastinating, start early, and try harder/smarter if you weren't puttin…
  • This was one of the most rewarding courses I have taken. It's also very conveniently the most time-effective one because it teaches you a broad variety of tips and "cheats" for hacking into your own mind and making yourself feel and BE more producti…
  • Anonymous
    The farmer who wishes to maximize the yield from his crops could pursue the strategy of spending all of his working hours in directly maintaining his crops by hand. A superior strategy would be for the farmer to spend time inventing a tractor, a per…
  • Fantastic course. No wonder it's so popular. It's thorough, engaging, cleverly challenging and most importantly leaves you longing to keep learning for life. I cannot recommend it enough. As a taste thereof (that will hopefully help you gauge if it'…
  • Learning How to Learn is a 4 lesson self-paced course that summarizes key findings in neuroscience about how we learn. The course touches on brain function, working and long-term memory and various methods for improving learning as well as overcomin…
  • This is the first real elaborated review I´ve done in my life. That´s the kind of impact this course can produce. I felt like I wanted to express my opinion about it and my gratitude. If you are someone who likes learning or teaching, or need to per…
  • Anonymous
    An excellent course, thoroughly worth the time taken to complete. I learned so much about the way our brains work, which gave me a completely new appreciation of the mind. The messages are pretty simple: get a decent sleep, exercise, stop procrast…
  • Excellent MOOC, excellent Instructor great content overall. The instructor was clear, precise and concise in presenting and delivering the material. The material was great, great insights backed by research. Assignment and Quizzes were on point an…
  • Anonymous
    Dr. Oakley was fantastic. Sure, the videos are graphically simple, but she has done a great job of visually breaking up sections of her teaching by changing what you see on screen. She uses different combinations of camera angles and pictures to foc…
  • I appreciated very much the teaching methods, using easy language to explain and introduce others to concepts even more difficult, presuming no backgrounds on the part of students.
    Great practical tips and at the same time introducing to students to how even the body works at a chemical level or the physical consequences of using our minds.
    The course was really useful and it provided very useful information and practical cues.
    Thank you for doing and sharing it.
  • Yes, with my best possible truthfulness, honesty & sincerity (if I have those virtues to a satisfactory degree), I should, nay; must attest this most valuable course as an extraordinarily helpful one I ever have completed. Additionally, aspirationa…
  • Anonymous
    Learning How to Learn is a wonderful course for any student, education professional or lifelong learner. The course itself is full of useful information and scientific evidence on the process of learning. I highly recommend watching the optional int…
  • I really really am so happy I stumbled across this course on my coursera journey. I have always had a hard time learning and remembering, and people always said, it's easy, you can do it, all you have to do is just focus, focus, focus. I kept hearing those words until they lost meaning to me. Now after taking the course, I know how to focus and how to not procrastinate(I know know the spelling off-hand! Haha!) Thanks to Barbara and Terrence for making this course so lively and informative and interesting. Much love from your Nigerian Student. Thank you so much, God Bless you and your family, And Coursera for being a very platform for learners to not feel lost, God Bless every Coursera personnel and keep each and every one of you, Amen.
  • Anonymous
    I am on a self-teaching path towards becoming a software engineer with no formal training in college-level math or Computer Science. One of the main frustrations that I was having was my inability to problem-solve effectively or coming up strategies…
  • Anonymous
    "Learning How to Learn" is one of Coursera's most popular courses, created by Dr. Barbara Oakley and Dr. Terrence Sejnowski. It offers a comprehensive overview of key techniques and principles aimed at helping individuals improve their learning abil…
  • This course tackles multiple obstacles in learning. Most of the time in my journey in this course, I realized how complex our brain works but at the same time, learning how to play with it. You will discover the importance of rest and sleep and how you actually learn while doing it because your brain operates even better during these moments. If you aim for the highest marks, it is not that late to use your brain to its fullest potential. Indeed, there are ways to learn how to learn, especially with Dr. Oakley and Dr. Sejnowski to guide you. Enjoy, learning!
  • Amy Wallace
    Fantastic course for individuals who may not have received education/information throughout their life on good study habits. I personally left high school in early 9th grade due to medical reasons, to never return. Going into college, I was terrifie…
  • Anonymous
    it's very important and useful course I really benefit from it tasneem completed this course, spending 3 hours a week on it and found the course difficulty to be very easy. A very useful course covering concepts behind how to learn effectively and…

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