#7 overallClassic
Learning How to Learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects
Coursera
60 recommenders · 69 threads · recommended in 12 years, 2014–2025 · score 80.3
A short Coursera course by Barbara Oakley (with Terrence Sejnowski) on the cognitive science of learning, covering topics such as chunking, memory, procrastination, and focused versus diffused modes of thinking. It is aimed at improving how people study rather than teaching a specific subject.
Commenters call it a fundamental, quick course that improves study habits and helps with procrastination and retention, and often recommend it before other learning.
General Learningbeginnerfreevideo lectures#learning techniques#memory#procrastination#metacognition#oakley
Recommendations by year
20062026
I have completed both of the following:
1) https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn
2) https://www.coursera.org/learn/machine-learning
I highly recommend both of them, if they cover a subject you're interested in, though if you only have time for one, they are listed in descending priority order.
Given how low it's time+energy requirements are, and how large the pay-off has been, I recommend Learning How to Learn by Dr. Barbara Oakley to everyone regardless.
You are not alone.
I'd guess at least over 50% of folks here would have gone through a similar phase at some point in their lives (learning block wise).
Based on my experience, especially over the past couple of years, I've realised that even if I can power through some of the subjects/topics which I find arcane (e.g. linear algebra, tensor calculus), I quickly lose what I've learnt if I don't get to apply the learning on a real project, not a toy one.
In your case, I think once you've familiarised yourself with the absolute basic syntax structure if python, go find couple of real world projects and just try to get them done, without worrying too much about code elegance. That would give you the necessary confidence and understanding for moving up the next step.
You can find small volunteer projects it participate in competitions (on platforms like kaggle) which may require you to use at least a portion of python.
But most importantly, don't lose heart. Learning takes time. It's just as important to take a step back from it for a while as it is to keep at it.
I strongly recommend a series of 4-5 video lectures on Coursera by a MIT prof I think. Course was called "Learning how to learn". You don't have to take everything in it but I still believe the overall approach may help you.
Cheers and all the best!
I have always had the exact same problem, sort of dealt with it by doing crazy sprints of work, but recently had a revelation. And I'm in my late 30s.
Try the free course "Learning How To Learn" by Barbara Oakley on Coursera.
It teaches you how to deal with this in the procrastination section. Roughly speaking, it teaches you how to recognize and effectively counter bad habit as well as change your mind set to focus on the process, not the product. For me the process/product bit was the big revelation.
Also, it sort of teaches you that your zombie mode can be used for good, I realized that by trying to have an incredibly flexible life and not have a set routine, I was actually working against one of my best "allies", habits for simple stuff are good, the mind likes routines as it can switch off. Use it to your advantage.
It's not a magic bullet, some days still go wrong, yesterday for example I played a game all day. But the odd thing is, techniques like the podomoro technique have now started working for me with this change in mindset.
I would go through the whole course start to end, it's short and really good. I've picked up several other new ideas and habits from it that are really working for me.
EDIT: Also, I second the therapy too, that's also helped.
Learning to Learn the coursera course is always recommended
I'm surprised the course by the name of this post isn't here.
The post covers a great mindset, but the math really is one thing, and learning how you learn and how you can learn is invaluable.
This is a great course to start learning about your learning.
https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn
After/with this, there is a slew of adult learning knowledge that will likely make you feel better.
One key is learning to understand something, before learning to memorize it.
Another is creating your own mind map of how the concepts you are learning fits together.
Farnham street has some great books on mental models as well that was recommended to me as helping
An expert is someone who can often explain complex things in very simple ways. being an innocent beginner is one of the best mindsets to cultivate - you learn what you do and don't know pretty quick, and also a sense of known vs unknown, and size and number of unknowns.
Memorization can be a useful part of mathematics, but that's more true of higher level courses where you might expend some effort in memorizing definitions to have them at hand to use in proofs.
But most of the time memorization is a side-effect of just solving lots of problems, which is the most effective way to learn mathematics in the same way that writing programs is the most effective way to learn programming.
I'd highly recommend Cal Newport's books on studying [0] and his older blog posts on effective study habits [1]. Barbara Oakley's Learning How to Learn course on Coursera is also excellent [2].
In your current context, I'd probably just focus on time management and consistently grinding problems in areas you don't find easy with things like Schaum's Problem books and Outlines. You could use software like Anki to schedule review of problems and concepts that you've solved or understood.
If you aren't constrained by time, you could also use the Art of Problem Solving books to rebuild your math foundation at a much deeper level [3].
[0] https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0767922719?linkId=98a11bfd...
[1] https://calnewport.com/case-study-how-i-got-the-highest-grad...
[2] https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn
[3] https://artofproblemsolving.com/store/list/all-products
Again, "need" is a bit strong.
Successfully working through those books will have prepared you for the toughest math undergrad programs in the world, so it's a bit overkill, but the road is there if you wish to take it.
As an aside, something I should have recommended in my original comment is to learn efficient study habits, which will accelerate all of your efforts. This course is short but highly recommended: https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn
Just want to chime in with a recommendation for the "Learning How to Learn" Coursera course:
https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn
Check out the Learning How to Learn course on Coursera.
Yes! Something happens when we take notes and that seems to improve learning but recall using flash cards is interestingly much more useful than re-reading the same notes.
Anyone who wants to take a course in meta learning that's grounded in science is recommended to take the practical and free Coursera course Learning How To Learn: https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn
As many students know, you can cram a whole semester worth of material in just a few learning sessions before an exam: you can pass exam but you forget everything as fast as you've learned it. Use such methods for subjects that you don't care but must pass.
If you do care about something long term, spread the lessons over time.
For fundamentals, Learning to learn course is recommended https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn
I want to verify for myself that I _know_ the material. A series of challenging exams will do that more thoroughly than completing exercises from a textbook or online course (where, let’s be honest, we’re more forgiving of ourselves than we should be).
Check out Barbara Oakley’s Coursera course called Learning How To Learn. It turns out exams are actually an excellent tool for learning, more so than learning without assessment.
A side effect has been that having a deadline and a measurable outcome has been incredibly motivating. I’d have probably been distracted by side projects if I hadn’t committed to the exams.
And yes, it’s accepted for uni entrance here. STEM courses at top unis will expect A-level grades in maths/science subjects, even for mature students with industry experience.
Absolutely! There's a great online course out there called "Learning to learn". I recommend you to start with this one ASAP.
The fact is, just by reading something once, I barely remember stuff.
What makes me remember stuff is enforcement of the concept. This can be done-
1. Actively, by applying the knowledge to get things done- building something, explaining something you see IRL with the new concept. (Books like Made to Stick by Heath, Heath, and Black Swan by N. Nicholas Taleb add layers to your perception, and many things unexplained before start to make sense.) Write stuff (an elaborate blog or a four-line journal entry.)
2. Passively, by being in a community. This community can be an IRC channel, a university dorm, a school, a book-reading club, a dev meetup group, a cultural club, a study-group etc. (Do you notice that you can barely remember something that was just covered in a class, but you remember 70% of the lyrics of a catchy, new, viral song that you happen to hate?) This happens by being in a zone created and enforced by others. You repeat something many times, you hear it repeated many times, you dabble with ideas that take the original idea as the base. In this way, what you learn is cemented inside you, and the idea seems trivial. So, place yourself in a situation where you can repeat the things that you just learned, and the thing getting thrown at you now and then. Writing is also relevant here. Teach others what you have learned. Learn about the Feynman Technique.
Go onto Coursera and take the course- "Learning How To Learn". This is designed for college freshmen, may be? But it is still relevant for people like us. And although it is focused towards college and studies, it is still relevant for non-fiction Hobby-Reading.
When I attend a technical lecture, or watch a video, I take notes of stuff that I figured out, and was not explicitly mentioned in the lecture. I take notes of interesting stuff and "between the line" stuff and pair it up with class notes or slides.
When I was in college and HS, I gave mock-tests. My teachers often took Mini-Tests and quizzes. These are more valuable than revisions.
When I read non-fiction, I use Zettelkasten to store new ideas learned. New connections made. I revisit those notes.
And I have designed my circle appropriately. Nowadays, so easy to do with several options.
I have also found writing (and teaching others in general) to be highly valuable in learning.
What you need is some study techniques, proper note-taking, and a community.
In previous iterations of this thread I think various people recommended the "Learning How to Learn" course on Coursera. I think the consensus for learning tech related concepts in the aforementioned thread was that many people learn well by building things. I like to read books for most forms of learning, although for things like complicated algorithms I prefer to watch videos. I also like to use spaced repetition for more specific uses like vocabulary - anki/supermemo seem to highly recommended here for automating spaced repetition.
coursera course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn
a previous thread: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23211184
What helped me was learning about how my brain functions, and all the ways it likes to sabotage me. Check out "learning how to learn," it's a free course on coursera and I think udemy.
It is recommended often because Learning How To Learn is a very fundamental part of your skill set which, sadly, many people either lack or do sub-optimal. Precisely because of that it can contain "obvious" device; because you are already (partly) familiar with it. I find it rather arrogant to say its useless for everyone. Its a fairly quick course, where you can spend more time on aspects if you desire.
This topic about the top Coursera courses or which ones you recommend comes up regularly here on HN.
On top of the mentioned Learning How To Learn I can recommend the following:
Terrorism and Counterterrorism: Comparing Theory and Practice by Edwin Bakker [1]
Securing Digital Democracy by J. Alex Halderman [2]
Cryptography I by Dan Boneh [3]. I didn't finish this one, but its very good...
[1] https://www.coursera.org/learn/terrorism
[2] https://www.coursera.org/learn/digital-democracy
[3] https://www.coursera.org/learn/crypto
This is the most effective route. BetterExplained can be a good supplement.
Make sure you know how to learn effectively: check out the Learning How to Learn course on Coursera.
If you want to go even deeper than Khan Academy, the Art of Problem Solving books are great.
Identify why you're not getting better with practice. As a developer, you're constantly learning. "Learn How to Learn" is a great course on Coursera.
Maybe, your expectation is off. You won't get better in a day, it takes weeks, if not months to get better.
To stay sane, make sure to take care of yourself. Eat, sleep, and exercise well. These things are not luxuries, they are requirements.
If you're interesting in improving your ability to learn, I recommend Learning How To Learn on coursera: https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn#syllabu...
It discusses the actual science of learning (it does not feature spaced repetition).
If you're interested in how our brains work during learning, check out "A Mind for Numbers" by Dr. Barbara Oakley [0]. It may be geared towards STEM college students, but I found it a great resource for fine tuning my own process.
And if you prefer a visual medium, please check out the Coursera course "Learning how to learn" [1] by the same person.
[0]: https://barbaraoakley.com/books/a-mind-for-numbers/
[1]: https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn
This post touches many topics I learned in a MOOC about meta-learning: focus time (there's also the important diffuse time, eg shower thoughts), recall, practice, forming long term memories, resting. I highly suggest the MOOC, it's free without certification, and you can start any time:
https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn
yup, coursera's 'learning how to learn' mentions _just_ that in the first week of the lessons. excellent, excellent, excellent course, btw, _heavily_ recommended.
I'd recommend https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn
I recommend the meta-cognition course: Learning how to Learn.
https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn
The primary instructor, Dr. Barbara Oakley, wrote the book, _A Mind for Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science (Even If You Flunked Algebra)_ that isn't just about learning math.
This where I would like people to consider the Psychological concepts of Focussed Mind and Diffused mode of thinking. Barbara Oakley's course on Coursera named, "Learning how to learn" talks a lot about it. It is an interesting read and would totally recommend it.
So a parallel to the Top Idea in your mind would be a diffused mode of thinking stuck on a single problem. The course touches a lot on this.
I would use Khan Academy. Start at a level that feels too easy, even if it's elementary school math. The key to learning anything is to start at a level that feels too easy and gradually increase difficulty.
As you finish a subject, see if there's a corresponding book in the Art of Problem Solving store [0]; you can revisit the subject at a deeper level that will strengthen your foundation. The AoPS books will also expose you to areas useful in programming like discrete mathematics.
Before any of the above, take Coursera's Learning How to Learn course. You'll learn lots of effective strategies to get the most out of your efforts. For example, you can use Anki [1] to remember definitions and concepts you've managed to understand and to schedule review of problems you've already solved.
[0] https://artofproblemsolving.com/store/recommendations.php
[1] http://augmentingcognition.com/ltm.html
Highly recommend the "Learning How to Learn" Coursera course. I took it late last year and believe it is a must for anyone interested in continual learning. It can be cheesy at times and seem like common sense, but the material is highly applicable to your daily life.
No matter what you choose to learn, it's good to learn how to learn.
You have the free "Learning how to learn" course on coursera : https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn
And I'm currently reading a book called "Ultralearning" by a guy called Scott H Young who I imagine is the type of person to be on hacker news and be like "Hey, thanks for recommending my book!"
https://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/ultralearning/
The book so far is great, there are certainly some principles which may seem obvious but in reality they need to be acknowledged and used effectively. Overall it's a clear read and gives a pretty clear way to get started on learning a ton of things in a short amount of time.
No shortcuts though, still a ton of effort involved.
I'm reading a lot and have done so for many years. It is one of the great sources of joy and richness in my life. Choosing a book is more difficult than it might seem. It sounds like you haven't encountered many great books yet. Humanity has produced about 130.000.000 books and roughly 4k are added each day.
If you are an avid reader consuming one book per week from age 20 to 80, you'll get through a little more than 3000 books. Few people make it this far. 60 years of reading don't cover the output of a single day of publishing.
There are many more great books than any single person can hope to get through in a lifetime.
Regarding the reading speed: As you read more, you will get better. With enough practice, reading becomes a fully-immersive and effortless experience (though the ideas in the book might stun you!). Your eyes and your mind get more accustomed to the practice, for example through a better knowledge of vocabulary.
Forgetting is a real issue that I struggle with as well. Spaced repetition is helping a lot of people [0].
Paul Graham (pg) makes some great points about how reading shapes the mind (so even if you don't remember all the facts, the act of reading still changes who you are) [1]
I suggest you look learning strategies to process text more efficiently and to aid retention. There is a well-rated course called "Learning how to learn" on Coursera. [2]
Since selecting books is such hard work, you can benefit from the reading lists of others, here's mine on Goodreads: [3]
[0] http://augmentingcognition.com/ltm.html
[1] http://www.paulgraham.com/know.html
[2] https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn
[3] https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/10152457?view=table
Very much in line with what one reads in Barbara Oakley's "A Mind for Numbers," and her free Coursera course based on the book (both recommended).
Am I the only one to think the article missed a trick here?
Yes, it may be that traditional books don't work as well as they might. I do know I frequently read articles and come away with very little to show for the time spent. I think partly that's a function of the setting - I seem to retain much more from paper or e-ink compared to something read on a VDU. It's probably also a function of my own state of mind. I know I retain much more when I'm rested and reading earlier in the day. I also retain much more the day after, when I've had time to sleep on something.
And yet, there is something about the art of learning. I did a really good Coursera course that went through this (How to learn), and it, too, explained the importance of working to engage with material. Even doing something like looking away every few paragraphs and giving yourself a quick test to see if you can summarise what you just read works wonders. Combine that with spaced repetition, exercise, sleep and memory tricks like a memory palace, and retention/understanding grows hugely. So I do think there's something to this article.
But I also think about some classic articles that are also models of what they are discussing, and I'm wondering why the author didn't attempt something similar. For example, here's a description of the importance of varying sentence length in writing that at the same time is an example of the very practice of what it's talking about:
"This sentence has five words. Here are five more words. Five-word sentences are fine. But several together become monotonous. Listen to what is happening. The writing is getting boring. The sound of it drones. It’s like a stuck record. The ear demands some variety. Now listen. I vary the sentence length, and I create music. Music. The writing sings. It has a pleasant rhythm, a lilt, a harmony. I use short sentences. And I use sentences of medium length. And sometimes, when I am certain the reader is rested, I will engage him with a sentence of considerable length, a sentence that burns with energy and builds with all the impetus of a crescendo, the roll of the drums, the crash of the cymbals–sounds that say listen to this, it is important." = Gary Provost.
Here's an article about suspense that's also a model of the very thing it's talking about:
https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/08/a-simple-wa...
Given this is possible, I'm disappointed. I tend to agree the article made sense and that there are better and worse models of how to engage with a text. It's even possible that a text can self-guide a novice reader through good techniques simply by good writing. So, my disappointment. I think the article definitely missed a trick here, which would have been to go one level deeper, and tried to not only discuss the importance of a new type of text, but to do so with a model of the very text the author was talking about. As a result, although I think it may be possible to do what the author is describing, I don't know how anyone might go about it. And I'm not sure I fancy reading an entire book on a subject that doesn't interest me all that much in order to find out, either.
I use Anki for improving my memory on different topics; philosophy, geography, etc. I'm currently using it to prepare for the french motorcycle exam and that's the first time I had to write my own cards.
I'm a software engineer and I feel like I'm forgetting a lot of things that I learned during university and during my carreer (algorithms, architecture models, design patterns, etc.). This feeling is very frustrating. I never thought about using Anki professionally and I'm gonna start to add some algo-related cards to Anki right now.
Note: I also recommend "learning how to learn", https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn/ - give some simple techniques and tips to be better at learning (spaced repetitions is one of them, learn by chunks, force yourself to recall, etc.).
I am not sure how helpful this would be to you. I just started this course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn
This seems to be very popular and highly recommended in Reddit. She briefly talks about how she was scared off of maths at one point in her life and later went on to get a phd. She also has a book on the same topic. Note that the course is not math specific.
I remember reading that it was proven that the more basic subject the more structured educational methods are beneficial (i.e., an ability to teach is more important than how well you know the subject at earlier stages) — you are not a special snowflake.
I would heartily recommend "Learning how to learn" course (free) and the corresponding books.
1) If you haven't, take this MOOC: https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn
2) Machine learning and computational neuroscience are two different fields. You really don't need to understand neuroscience to contribute meaningfully to machine learning.
You'd be much better served by studying mathematics like real/complex/functional analysis, abstract algebra, probability, etc.
3) If you've struggled with suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and depression, don't bother waiting to see a therapist. Finding a therapist should be the first thing on your list.
It sounds like it could be burnout.
Nevertheless I de-facto recommend you read "The Practice of Programming" by Pike and Kernighan. I would also you recommend learning how to learn (there is a good coursera course on it), and also I would recommend finding a good course on learning to search for things.
The last two things are probably more important that having "good knowledge" -- being able to find the good knowledge, and good sources, and knowing enough to discern bad knowledge from good.
I first heard about it in the excellent learning how to learn online course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn
1. The frustration you're experiencing is normal. Even if you switched to another field where you had an easier time at first, you'd eventually encounter the same frustration at a certain point.
2. You will get better with practice.
3. Nobody is born knowing how to code. It's fairly absurd to imagine Nature carefully selecting the ability to configure Dockerfiles. There may be genetic markers for neurobiological traits that accelerate learning in certain fields, but this acceleration is only an advantage if you're trying to master as many things as possible within a lifespan, or you're working under some other deadline. If you really want to code (whether out of personal interest, financial interest, or some other motivation), you can do it as long as you practice correctly and put in the time.
4. Practicing correctly is important. I'd recommend the "Learning How to Learn" course. I personally keep this quote taped to my computer:
"The most effective learning requires a well-defined task with an appropriate difficulty level for the particular individual, informative feedback, and opportunities for repetition and corrections of errors."
From here:
https://www.norvig.com/21-days.html
If you are interested in the topic, you should check out the Learning How to Learn course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn
I took the "learning how to learn" course in Coursera. They discuss Anki and recommend each person makes their own flash cards because that's also part of the learning process.
I can recommend the following:
Coursera's course "Learning How to Learn"
Thinking Fast and Slow, Kahneman
How to Read a Book, Adler[0]
The Trivium, Sister Miriam Joseph
How to Solve It, Polya
I'd also recommend others that have already been recommended, such as the Discourse On the Method, the logic course (which I haven't personally taken, but a logic course certainly helps enter the right frame of mind for evaluating arguements with others or yourself, ime) and of course, learning more mathematics.
[0]: There's also an excellent summary here: https://pastebin.com/wGFMM1pZ
I'm taking you at your word and assuming you truly want to reach the cutting edge of knowledge and learn things like QFT, Gauge Theory, String Theory, etc. alongside the math needed for it.
This is a long-term project, so I'd recommend by starting a bit with "learning about learning". There is a great, fairly short Coursera course called "learning how to learn".
Things not covered in the above course: - Your learning ability is not actually much lower in your 30s than it was in your 20s. You have a relatively benign rate of learning decline, until your late 50s / early 60s, when it drops quite a bit. You can still learn a lot, but it's meaningfully harder. (learning rate != thinking rate / creation rate!!)
You'll likely be able to write good papers into your late 60s, and perhaps 70s. There are exceptions and people who do significant work even later, but that's more unlikely.
When I started learning stuff again in my late 20s, I felt frustrated because I'd take a couple courses over a year, and by the time the year's over, I'd forget the first one. We all know what this feels like - we've forgotten most of what we've learned in college that we don't use in our profession.
When I was a teenager, I had great recall for things I've learned only once or twice. I didn't realize this was unusual and thought I got very bad at learning. In fact, the vast majority of people, including high IQ people, will need spaced repetition and study to retain things for a long period.
I'd recommend the following "schedule" to absorb things into y memory permanently. (By "learn" I mean read, do problems, write summaries.. it's a wide range):
Days to repeat: 0 (initial learning), 1, 6, 15, 37, 93, 234, 586, 1464, 3662, 9155
This would suggest interleaving classes instead of learning things sequentially for optimal time management. It's also a bigger time investment than people usually think of upfront, but pays dividends later on as the material builds-up like a cathedral of knowledge.
Like other commenters I'll also repeat: Do problems, problems, problems. The struggle is where the learning happens.
On the other hand, I wouldn't worry too much about super-high IQ etc. I don't think it's a strict requirement to have an extraordinary IQ to learn grad school physics and math.
Learning how to learn, Barbara Oakley, Coursera.
By far and away the best learning course I've taken in my life as well, I wish it had been available before I had completed my formal education.
If I'm viewing learning as pointless, I'm forgetting about how learning anything is a practice in learning how to learn.
The need to learn how to learn is so important and poorly taught in society. There's a great online course on the subject here:
https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn
Barbara Oakley?
Maybe not who your thinking of, but similar story.
See: https://barbaraoakley.com/books/a-mind-for-numbers/
She also has a great Coursera class called learning how to learn
You can just recreate a CS degree and build yourself a foundation from which you can build anything.
Before anything else, check out Coursera's Learning How to Learn course.
You can jump right into CS50 which will provide you with a very strong foundation.
If you wished to continue developing your C skills from CS50, you could work your way through K&R, Hanson's C Interfaces and Implementations (in conjunction or following working through material on algorithms and data structures), and learn lower level details by working your way through Bryant and O'Halloron's Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective.
You can learn proofs from Hammack's Book of Proof, freely available online. From there, you can learn algorithms and data structures from Stanford and/or Princeton's courses on Coursera.
The above would be the equivalent of a strong CS minor.
From there, you could dive into pretty much anything. The recommendations from https://teachyourselfcs.com/ are spot on. Between Coursera, edx, Stanford's Lagunita, and Udacity, you can learn pretty much everything. Be sure to check out Udacity's courses on debugging and testing, as well as anything Peter Norvig teaches. Lagunita will be helpful for CS theory, Computer Networking, Compilers, Databases, and Data Mining.
If you were to complete all of the courses I explicitly mentioned, you would have the equivalent of a CS major as long as you study discrete math (Rosen and Epps are the standard texts) and Operating Systems, too.
Any books or other resources you recommend to learn these things? On learning to learn I have enjoyed A Mind for Numbers[1] by Barbra Oakley with Coursera course[2], Make it Stick[3] by Peter C. Brown, and How We Learn[4] by Benedict Carey.
1. https://www.amazon.com/Mind-Numbers-Science-Flunked-Algebra/...
2. https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn/
3. https://www.amazon.com/Make-Stick-Science-Successful-Learnin...
4. https://www.amazon.com/How-We-Learn-Surprising-Happens-ebook...
There's actually scientific support for that theory. You gave an example of 'diffused mode' [1] of thinking as opposed to the 'focused mode' of thinking.
Neither is necessarily 'better'; both have their place in our daily lives. The 'diffused mode' regularly doesn't get the credit it deserves as people (e.g. educational systems) are hammering too much on the 'focused mode'.
If you are interested in learning how to use the 'diffused mode', more things related to learning, and optimizing the way you learn I can recommend the free course on Coursera called Learning How To Learn by Dr. Barbara Oakley and Dr. Terrence Sejnowski.
[1] https://staciechoice1010.wordpress.com/2014/08/08/focused-vs...
[2] https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn
Take a look at "learning how to learn" course at Coursera. They talk about focused and diffuse modes of thinking quite a lot. Shower or walks help you to get into the latter. Edit: see this https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14236433
I thought the Learning to Learn course on Coursera was excellent. It covers some of the things you mentioned but a lot more and also explains why in terms of how your brain works. It only took me a few hours to complete the course.
Just an FYI: there is a great Coursera MOOC on learning how to learn: https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn
Simply awesome.
If this interests you and you want to dive deeper into how you learn, I am enjoying this coursera course and highly recommend it:
https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn
The only resource I'd recommend is Learning How To Learn by Barbara Oakley
https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn
It also has a companion book.(Book came first anyway). It's well researched and has many tricks on boosting productivity e.g Pomodoro technique.
Start with Strang's MIT OCW Linear Algebra course: https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/mathematics/18-06-linear-algebra...
You really only need to know arithmetic to get started.
Use Anki to create flash-cards so that you learn faster and don't forget.
https://apps.ankiweb.net/
Also, manual calculation is fundamentally how you learn mathematics. Following along is a first step, but is not good enough to learn the material. You need to do the calculations and run into problems, so you can re-create the knowledge in your brain.
EDIT> Take Coursera's Learning How to Learn Course. It sounds flaky, but will accelerate all of your other learning, and help with procrastination as well.
https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn
See already recommended course https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn Without small building blocks comfortably sitting in your brain there will be no larger ideas to focus on.
Barbara Oakley's MOOC is great. I taught me to take Pomodoro seriously. Also taught me that taking breaks is important to help the brain integrate material.
Learning Hot to Learn course on Coursera (highly recommended) talks about procrastination a bit and they do recommend a Pomodoro technique to fight it.
unfortunately not everything can be solved with an app. i highly recommend the coursera 'learning about learning' course for some deep insight on how our brains work and how to maintain and improve them.
This article was written by Barbara Oakley who also teaches the most popular MOOC in the world and also my favourite MOOC called Learning How To Learn: https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn
She also a upcoming book titled 'Mindshift: Break Through Obstacles to Learning and Discover Your Hidden Potential': https://www.amazon.com/Mindshift-Obstacles-Learning-Discover...
There is a learning to learn course on Coursera https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn
I strongly recommend it for engineers over 40.
Agreed. This was a wonderful course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn
Ha! I know how you feel! Check out "Learning how to learn?" (https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn) - it's an excellent course that may help you out. (Though not with jiu-jitsu, kung-fu, and b-212 helicopter piloting I'm afraid :-)).
I did Creative Problem Solving through Coursera and had a great time participating in the class projects.
There are some great tools which you can use in your everyday life to think innovative solutions to problems. The exercises were incredible fun as well.
https://www.coursera.org/learn/creative-problem-solving
Another course which I highly recommend is Learning How To Learn https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn
I would suggest you do something much more comprehensive and do this: https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn
I've never taken any course that was more useful and a lot of other people feel the same way.
Interestingly we get a lot of mixed reviews for R Prog course: https://www.class-central.com/mooc/1713/coursera-r-programmi...
Learning how to learn is the best course online that any one can take.
https://www.coursera.org/course/rprog - This is the best online course I've taken. Another one I am signed up for and have already done one week of lectures (preview mode) and find very applicable is https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn/
I can recommend a coursera course that could help you. Its short and always open so doesn't require waiting for it to start:
https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn
What I like about it is that its created by a neurobiologist and an engineer so it combines understanding of brain function combined with practical methods to work around its limitations like procrastination and concentration.
I expect everyone will have a different take away but for me, it was the role of how chunking not just involved in learning but procrastination. When we approach something unstructured, the complexity can generate the type of discomfort that leads to procrastination. Seeing that chunking not only helps the brain remember something but helps it stay on mission has been helpful.
I did a great course earlier this year on Coursera called "Learning How To Learn"
It's pretty short but covers some good strategies for learning that are backed up by current Neurobiology research.
https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn
In response to the response to my first comment, a lot of what is missing from these discussions is an understanding of how the brain acquires knowledge and builds skills. I recommend https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn/ as a good starting point.
There is a coursera course called "Learning How to Learn"[1] by Barbara Oakley that is starting soon. I took the previous session and it was very interesting. I liked the science[2] behind each part of the course (procrastination, memory, modes of thinking etc). The weekly interviews were certainly a big plus (however they were usually long at ~40 minutes).
It's a fun four week course with very little work and I recommend it.
[1] https://www.coursera.org/course/learning
[2] After each lecture there was a list of references to check out for more info.
Great points!! I just did a coursera course, learning how to learn, in which the professor emphasized some of these points. I have started using the Anki software and has helped me.
https://class.coursera.org/learning-001/lecture
In the "Learning How to Learn" course, that was mentioned in the MOOC-discussion a while back, they suggest tackling this by focusing on process over product and tying a reward to it:
"I'm just gonna sit here and do taxes for 25 minutes and then eat some chocolate" rather then "I'm going to finish my taxes".
The reasoning is that by removing the pressure of completing the whole task you can sometimes convince yourself to stop procrastinating.
If that still doesn't do it for you then at least you have the chocolate.
[...]
I find that 'laziness' is generally the laziest explanation for a phenomenon. Also the least charitable, which is an aspect of interpretation that I've been trying to pay more attention to.
That said, I don't disagree with you. In fact, I'm often baffled by how bad people are, in a more general sense, at exploration and search.
I feel like half the stuff I teach junior coders is simply how to search for solutions to a problem, or how to build up a collection of sources that can help with the particular domain they're working in. Or even just how valuable it is to take an hour or so to read through some library's documentation before or while using it. Not to mention how to develop heuristics to decide which library is the best one to use for a particular task.
In a world where most necessary information is at your fingertips, the skill to focus on is how to handle and filter all this information. Even just a cursory look at most people's google search queries makes it clear that there's a lot that people can learn in this regard. Or the fact that many people I know are barely aware of their mac's Spotlight feature, and instead click around through 'untitled folder (2)' to figure out which document named 'copy of <document> (2)' is the relevant one.
(Basically, aside from the more general value of 'learning how to learn' (for which Coursera offers a wonderful MOOC with the same name), I feel that 'learning how to find information' is something that most people are shockingly bad at.)
Anyways, I don't think laziness explains it. It's more that people are just not taught this as a basic skill in school, nor are they taught that this is a valuable skill. If you don't know how to find things, or how to learn things for that matter, or why this is something hugely valuable, how can you be expected to figure that out by yourself?