What will you learn in a brain science class?
We’ll learn about the 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.
What is the best way to learn something?
Dr. Oakley suggested a great step-by-step process to approach learning something. First, survey and priming — this involves scanning a book or the syllabus of a course, for example, to get a general idea of the bigger picture. Second, observe an example. Then, do it yourself.
What is the best mode of thinking when learning?
When learning, there are times in which you are focused and times in which you allow your mind to wander. This unfocused, or diffused, mode is just as valuable as the focused mode in allowing your brain to LEARN something. So-take breaks, meditate, think about other things, and give yourself plenty of time in both modes.
What do adults need to learn?
Self-concept: Adults have more established identities. We learn best when involved in the planning and structure of our learning — rather than being passive. Motivation: Finally, adults need internal motivation, rather than external, to effectively learn.
How to learn something?
If you want to learn something, it’s important to take advantage of the two kinds of thinking. Combine intense periods of focus with intense periods of nothing. After studying, take a walk, have a nap or sit around and do nothing. And don’t feel bad for it.
How to engage unconscious diffused thinking?
Sleep is perhaps the best way to engage unconscious diffused thinking. Being in focused mode is to brain cells what lifting weights is to muscles. You’re breaking them down. Sleep provides an opportunity for them to repaired and for new connections to be formed.
What is chunking in neuroscience?
Multiple neurons firing together are considered a chunk. And chunking is the process of calling upon these regions in a way which they work together.
What happens when you focus on something intently?
Learning happens at the crossover of these two kinds of thinking. You focus on something intently for a period of time and then take a break and let your thoughts diffuse. If the brain was a flashlight, focused thinking would be a single intense beam of light. And diffused thinking would be a wider but less intense beam.
What is diffuse thinking?
Diffused thinking happens when you’re not focused on anything. You’ve probably experienced this on a walk through nature or when you’re laying in bed about to go to sleep. No thoughts but at the same time, all of the thoughts. Learning happens at the crossover of these two kinds of thinking.
Does learning happen in a straight line?
Learning doesn’t happen in a straight line. You could study all weekend and go back to work on Monday and no one would know. You could work on a problem all week and by the end of the week feel like you’re worse off than you started. Dr Sejnowski knows this. And emphasises learning doesn’t happen linearly.
Does learning happen linearly?
And emphasises learning doesn’t happen linearly. Learning tough skills doesn’t happen over the course of days or weeks or months. Years is the right timeframe for most things. I wanted to know how quickly how quickly I could learn all of the math concepts behind machine learning: calculus, linear algebra, probability.
How to learn interleaving?
Once you have a basic understanding of what you are trying to learn, interleaving can be used to help you master the concepts. By practicing jumping back and forth between problems that require different techniques, you can solidify your understanding of the concepts by learning how to choose to apply them in various situations. Know when to apply a particular concept is as important as knowing how.
How to master a concept?
In order to master a concept, you not only need to know it but also to know how it fits into the bigger picture. Mastered chunks form a whole puzzle (left) vs. learned but not mastered chunks don’t fit into a larger puzzle (right) Dr. Oakley suggested a great step-by-step process to approach learning something.
Why do adults learn best?
Adults learn best when they have an immediate application for the knowledge. Orientation: Because we are pragmatic learners, the adult brain learns best via problem-solving. We absorb information better when it’s presented as problems and solutions. Self-concept: Adults have more established identities.
Is it possible to learn without memory?
We see “rote memorization” as the opposite of “learning,” and end up dismissing a lot of valuable skills that could come from it. In reality, there is no learning without memory.
Service Learning – Learn more
Service learning combines project learning and community service with academic instruction. Students provide a service to a nonprofit agency and demonstrate a critical analysis of their experience as it relates to the class objectives.
Cooperative Education & Internships – Learn more
Cooperative education is a structured method of combining classroom education and practical work experience. At ACC, cooperative education is defined as employment placement for course credit. Examples at ACC include internship classes, practicums, capstone courses & independent study courses with external placement, leadership
Get to know the staff from these areas below
Lillian Huerta is the Director of Service Learning and aids faculty with incorporating service learning into their respective courses, planning out their curriculum, and developing partnerships between faculty and non-profit organizations. She also works with nonprofit organizations to train them in the service learning teaching methodology.
What do students learn in school?
Students learn study skills like chunking and interleaving, problem-solving, active reading and notetaking, and better memorization techniques. Even in challenging subjects, these tips provide clear strategies for the learning process.
Why is learning how to learn important?
Even if you're great at learning, there are always tricks to help make the process more efficient and more effective. Learning how to learn offers a path to better professional and personal development and less frustration along the way.
Part 1 — What Is Learning?
- Focused and Diffused thinking
How do you answer such a question? What is learning? The course breaks it down with the combination of two kinds of thinking, focused and diffused. Focused thinking involves working on a singular task. For example, reading this post. You’re devoting concentration to figuring out wh… - Procrastination and how to combat it
You’re working a problem. You reach a difficult point. It’s uncomfortable to keep going so you start to feel unhappy. To fix this feeling, you seek something pleasurable. You open another tab, Facebook. You see the red notifications and click them. It feels good to have someone connecti…
Part 2 — Chunking
- Part 2 of the course introduces chunking. Multiple neurons firing together are considered a chunk. And chunking is the process of calling upon these regions in a way which they work together. Why is this helpful? Because when multiple chunks of neurons fire together, the brain can work more efficiently. How do you form a chunk? A chunk is formed by first grasping an understanding of a …
Part 3 — Procrastination & Memory
- The Habit Zombie
How hard do you have to think about making coffee in the morning at your house? Not very much. So little, your half asleep zombie mode body can fumble around in the kitchen with boiling water and still manage to not get burned. How? Because you’ve done it enough it’s become a habit. It’… - The dictionary isn’t the only place product comes after process
Thinking about the outcome of your learning is the quickest way to get discouraged about it. Why? Because there is no end. Learning is a lifelong journey. No one in history has ever said, ‘I’ve learned enough.’ And if they have, they were lying. I’ve been speaking English since I was young. …
Part 4 — Renaissance Learning & Unlocking Your Potential
- Learning doesn’t happen in a straight line
You could study all weekend and go back to work on Monday and no one would know. You could work on a problem all week and by the end of the week feel like you’re worse off than you started. Dr Sejnowski knows this. And emphasises learning doesn’t happen linearly. Learning tough skill… - Charles Darwin was a college dropout
How do you go from medical school dropout to discovering the theory of evolution? Easy. You be Charles Darwin. But what if you’re not Charles Darwin? Not to worry, not everyone is Charles Darwin. There will never be another Charles Darwin. History repeats, but never perfectly. It’s bett…
Learning: The Ultimate Meta-Skill
- Taking responsibility for your learning is one of the most important undertakings you can manage. Learning is the ultimate meta-skill as it can be applied to any other skill. So if you want to improve your ability to do anything, learning how to learn is something you should dedicate time to. The things I’ve mentioned in this article are only scratching the surface of what’s available in the Lear…
“Focused” and “Diffused” Modes
When learning, there are times in which you are focused and times in which you allow your mind to wander. This unfocused, or diffused, mode is just as valuable as the focused mode in allowing your brain to LEARN something. So — take breaks, meditate, think about other things, and give yourself plenty of time in both modes…
Chunking
- This is the idea of breaking what you want to learn into concepts. The goal is to learn each concept in a way that they each become like a well-known puzzle piece. In order to master a concept, you not only need to know it but also to know how itfits into the bigger picture. Dr. Oakley suggested a great step-by-step process to approach learning something. First, survey and primi…
Beware of Illusions of Competence
- There are many ways in which we can make ourselves feel like we have “learned” a concept. For example, looking at a solution and thinking that you know how to arrive at that solution is one of the most common illusions of competence in learning. Highlighting or underlining are also techniques that often lead to this illusion of learning. On the other hand, brief notes that summar…
Recall
- Dr. Oakley points to Dr. Jeff Karpicke’s research about retrieval practice to provide scientific support behind taking a couple minutes to summarize or recall material you are trying to learn. It goes a long way to taking something from short-term memory to long-term learning. Even recalling material in different physical environments can help you grasp the material independen…
Bite-Sized Testing
- In order to avoid or break through illusions of competence, you should test yourself as you’re encountering new material. Recall is a simple example of this mini-testing. It’s not important that you pass these tests without making any mistakes. Mistakes (and correcting those mistakes) are an important step towards solidifying your learning.
Over-Learning
- The main takeaway on this point is not to spend too much time in one sitting going over the same material over and over again. The law of diminishing returns certainly applies. Spread it out over many sessions and over many different modes of learning. I have been trying to set aside 30–60 minutes every day for each new thing I am trying to learn or learn in more depth. Not only has thi…
Interleaving
- Once you have a basic understanding of what you are trying to learn, interleaving can be used to help you master the concepts. By practicing jumping back and forth between problems that require different techniques, you can solidify your understanding of the concepts by learning how to choose to apply them in various situations. Know when to apply a particular concept is as imp…
Process Over Product
- When facing procrastination, think of process over product. I often procrastinate when I’m overwhelmed by the thought, “Ok, I have to get X done”. Instead, it can be beneficial to think, “Ok, I will spend an hour on X” — which isn’t overwhelming, doesn’t require a long breakdown of tasks, and gets me started (90% of the battle).
Metaphors and Analogies
- Metaphors and analogies are often talked about as helpful study techniques. Personally, I never made much use of them. But, as I’ve met more people and more teachers/mentors, I’ve found that the best ones always use these as they communicate. And being able to communicate what you’ve learned is one of the main skills that differentiates a good developer from a great one (IM…
Study Groups / Teamwork
- This one isn’t new to me and has proven to be most beneficial to maintain continued progress and hold each other accountable. But, it is important to include in this list and note that finding the right group is key. At work, I’m lucky to have plenty of internal groups: tech book club (currently reading Pragmatic Programmer), open source club, culture club, elixir group, and likely others to…
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