How To Learn More Effectively

Elite Avner Marriott Coursera – Learning How to Learn, Assignment 2

Contents

• Introduction• The focused and diffused mind states• Memory in learning• Practical ideas for improving learning• Integrating learning with daily life in business

Elite Avner Marriott Coursera – Learning How to Learn, Assignment 2

Introduction

People learn throughout their lives.In school, university, at the workplace, from books and from reading or watching online content, from other people around them – the world is full of knowledge that we can all tap into.

In order to master the knowledge we wish to remember and use, it helps to understand how the human brain works when it comes to learning and memory.

This slide-deck will attempt to give you a few tips onHow To Learn More Effectively

Elite Avner Marriott Coursera – Learning How to Learn, Assignment 2

The focused and diffused states

Focused Mode

• Requires deliberate effort and elimination of disturbances

• Can induce a ‘flow’ state• Uses all 4-7 working memory slots

in the frontal lobe• The brain follows consciously

recognized patterns of neural connections Barbara Oakely, A Mind For Numbers

Elite Avner Marriott• Coursera – Learning How

to Learn, Assignment 2

The focused and diffused states (2)

Diffused Mode• Happens during non-focused times such

as: Sleep Exercise Driving/walking House-chores

• In the diffused mode, the brain goes over new neural connections as well as older ones and finds new links between them, strengthening understanding and allowing for creative solutions. Barbara Oakely, A Mind For Numbers

Elite Avner Marriott• Coursera – Learning How

to Learn, Assignment 2

Recommendation: Short bursts of focus followed by rest or change of focus are recommended to allow the brain to use different processes that can strengthen neural connections and increase understanding.

Barbara Oakely, A Mind For Numbers

The focused and diffused states (3)

Elite Avner Marriott Coursera – Learning How to Learn, Assignment 2

Memory in learning

In order to master learned concepts, it’s necessary to move chunks of information from short-term memory (or ‘working’ memory) to the long-term memory storage space in the brain.

This is called: chunking

In order to chunk, the brain needs to go repeat and examine new concepts and ideas from different perspectives, strengthening your ability to remember and retrieve these concepts when you need them.Reading is not enough!

Mastery can only be achieved through experiential learning. In the next few slides you’ll find a few tactics to enable this type of learning.

Elite Avner Marriott Coursera – Learning How to Learn, Assignment 2

Memory in learning (2)

One powerful tool for chunking is Recalling key points

•Recall fights the illusion of mastery– Recall is a powerful method to

strengthen neural connections, and put chunks in context

– Look away from the book and recall the main key points from memory

- Research has shown that when students have read material, then recalled, then read again and recalled again, they did much better than students that just read the material several time, or indeed used any other study methods!

Arnold Schwarzenegger in Total Recall

Elite Avner Marriott Coursera – Learning How to Learn, Assignment 2

Memory in learning (3)

Another powerful tool is the use of vivid imagery

•Visual memory– Located in the right brain, visual memory goes back to

prehistoric hunter-gatherer times – useful to remember where we discovered that berry bush last month!

– Example: The Flying Mule – The funnier and more evocative the images, the better– Memory Palace

• Imagine the things you want to remember in visual form located at various spots around your home

• E.g. the flying mule sitting on top of the kitchen surface, between the sink and the hob!

Image from Coursera “Learning how to learn”

F = M + A (Force = Mass + Acceleration

Elite Avner Marriott Coursera – Learning How to Learn, Assignment 2

Practical ideas for improving learning

Do’s

•Take a ‘picture walk’ before delving in – read the chapter headers and look at images and graphs to help your brain put the puzzle pieces together•Take notes•Test yourself – understanding or “aha” moments don’t prove you’ve mastered it•Alternate between topics (interleaving helps with context)•Explain the material to someone else•Use analogies and metaphors•Draw vivid images to aid memory•Use spaced repetition, practicing every day, then every few days•Recall key points (put the books down and practice retrieving the material)

Elite Avner Marriott Coursera – Learning How to Learn, Assignment 2

Practical ideas for improving learning (3)

Don’ts

•Highlight text and leave it at that•Read material over and over again and leave it at that•Believe you’ve mastered it by repeating the easy stuff (illusion of mastery)

• Instead, identify the difficult stuff, and tackle it first• Use the Pomodoro technique – stopwatch set for 25 minutes of focus

Elite Avner Marriott Coursera – Learning How to Learn, Assignment 2

Integrating learning with daily life in business

Business people (like me) tend to read a lot.But reading alone does not equal Mastering the material…

My declaration of learning effectively:1.I will take notes rather than highlight, as if explaining the key concepts to somebody else2.I will recall key points from memory after every reading session3.I will think up vivid imagery and analogies for what I wish to remember4.I will practice in spaced repetition – reading once does not allow the brain to go over and strengthen neural connections

Elite Avner Marriott Coursera – Learning How to Learn, Assignment 2

Conclusion

We’ve learnt a lot about the brain – specifically how memory and learning takes place in the brain.

Now we know, we can use these techniques to learn more effectively (don’t forget to be nice to yourself along the way).

Useful stuff!

Elite Avner Marriott Coursera – Learning How to Learn, Assignment 2