Learning is a lifelong pursuit. An attempt has been made to track the key
points from a Coursera course “Learning how to learn” taught by Barbara Oakley,
Terrence Sejnowski, Becca judd. The inputs from the course do make an impact on
learning to make it more scientific.
Week 1
· There are two modes of thinking namely
o
Focused
mode
o
Diffused
mode
In the focused
mode, it is difficult to form neural patterns but in the diffused it is easier
to form neural patterns and hence easy to create new ideas. Ideas form through creation of neural pattern in our brain.
Focused mode would be used in a problem solving exercise involving sequential steps, where each steps deliberately leads to subsequent steps.
Diffused mode involves intuitive linking of seemingly different ideas. Simply, diffused mode of thinking is a place for creativity.
After a relaxed
sleep, diffused mode would be on.
· Metaphors are powerful techniques to remember things.
· Using Pomodoro technique one can
overcome the habit of procrastination. In Pomodoro technique, one is required to put a
concentrated effort for a spell of 25 Minutes, followed by a break.
· The more abstract a thing is, the more one needs to practice.
Abstract things tend to go off memory easily.
· After learning go into diffuse mode so that it can settle well.
· There are two types of memory namely
o Long term memory – This involves activities like recollecting your
mother tongue, childhood memory etc...
o Working memory – Holding few ideas in mind to understand a
concept, working memory would be in operation.
· Working memory can hold only four chunks of information during its
operation since it has only four slots. Repeating what you learn can help you
to absorb all chunks of information in one slot so that the other slots would
become free to absorb more.
· Long term memory is like a storage warehouse. You can store “n”
number of items. But you need to revisit frequently to ensure it stays.
· Practicing 10 times spread over several days is more effective
than practicing 10 times in a single day.
· Sleeping entrenches the concepts you learnt, rehearses understanding
and tidies up ideas.
· Revising what you learnt before sleeping increases the chances of
dreaming about it and dreaming about the stuff enhances the understanding of
the concept.
· Enriched environment, interacting with
new people gives birth new neurons during adulthood.Physical exercise
also gives rise to new neurons. Success comes
by passion and persistence and not by smartness. -Dr.
Sejnowski, Co-instructor of the course.
· Polyglot Benny Lewis used the following strategy while learning
new languages – Learning 6 days and taking 1 full day off and studying 4 weeks
and taking 1 full week off.
· Dr. Bildert says being disagreeable
and open to new achievements as symptoms for greater achievement.
Week 2
· When you are stressed you lose your ability to make neural
connections, thereby ability to understand things and respond to stimulus.
· Just because you see a concept , understand a concept it doesn’t
mean you have actually understood a concept. Contextual understanding – when to
use and when not to use - is important.
· Forming chunks is an effective way of learning. Break the large
concept you want to learn into small chunks of information and accommodate
in your working memory.
· Recalling on your own is the right strategy. Revising from
the book just gives the illusion as if you have retained something in your
memory.
· Better practiced you are on a subject, the better is the scope for
creativity. ( As how an artist improvises kalpana swaras based on the better
understanding of a raga)
· Luck favours one, who tries.
· Repeated reading in a single study session is wastage of time and
energy.
· Einstellung is a problem, where repeated practice of a
particular way of solving a problem prevents new ideas that could give rise to solve the problem in a way that different from the usually done way. It blocks the pathways for creation of fresh ideas.
· Interleaving can overcome the problem of Einstellung. In
Interleaving, we would switch back and forth between different topics requiring
different type of approaches. It also helps in creative new inter-disciplinary
ideas. (In an art form like Carnatic too, practicing different ragas in a
single practice session would be productive)
Week 3
· Pay attention to the process of learning rather than the product.
Set targets based on process – Eg: I will have to concentrate on learning the
next 25 minutes. I won't mind about the end result. Challenge yourself not to mind
about the result.
· People normally tend to procrastinate out of some cues like
responding to text messages while studying, surfing on the internet. Pre-empt
such cues by activities like switching off your mobile, putting yourself in a
disciplined environment like library etc…
· A routine of irregularity would beget further irregularity. On the
other hand, a routine of being regular would let us being regular in attending
our duties. (Remember, Success begets Success)
· Have a group of studymates, who could
encourage you in the process. It would provide a source of inspiration.
(Remember “Thaniyoruvan” movie. Actually a syndicate like that could be
magically productive. But forming one such association is extremely difficult.)
· Prepare a weekly list of key tasks at
the last day of the previous week.
· Prepare a daily list of key tasks at
the end of the previous day.
· Review your weekly list and daily list
regularly.
· Plan your quit time for every day.
· Challenge yourself with small chunks of the larger thing you want to learn. Not chunking into smaller chunks would normally
obstruct our vision from forming a proper plan.
· Empirically those who have healthy leisure time outperform
those who work on their tasks restively.
· Finish off your most disliked task in the morning, when you are
fresh.
· Memory palace technique
Associating the
items to be memorized to specific objects in your mental memory palace.
· Your childlike creativity is still inside you. You have to just
reach-out to it.
· Broaden your passions. Don’t restrict yourself to limited things.
Week 4
· Physical exercises enhance learning like nothing.
· Some are inherently given with smaller working memory. The up-side
of this is they would have better creativity than their counter-parts with
greater working memory.
· Perseverance is the virtue of less brilliant – Nobel
laureate Santiago Ramon y Cajal.
· Santiago Ramon y Cajal was imprisoned when he was 11 for breaking his neighbour's yard gate.
· Changing your thinking in positive ways can alter the inherent deficiencies in your brain.
· Take responsibility for your own learning. Rarely people learn by
someone explaining the concept to them.
· By team work during your study time, you can catch up where you go wrong in your study strategy.
· In test, start with the toughest problem. But have the courage to
steer away and pursue a lighter problem if you think you are moving in wrong.
Again pick the tough problem which you left half-way after finishing the lighter problem. Make a progress. Doing
this way, switches on diffuse mode and gives room for creative thinking
· Ways to feel de-stressed during the test.
o Think this test has got to bring the best out of me.
o Deep breathing exercise helps a lot.
o Have alternative career plans.
· Often you may be convinced that you solved the problem right in a test.
At such times, divert your attention for a while and check for errors.
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