Learning How to Learn

A summary of my notes from a course on learning.

Learning How To Learn

Last month I wrote out my list of things I want to learn for the rest of the year. Initially I was a bit overwhelmed with the range of topics, and uncertain on what the best approach would be. Luckily the same week I wrote the list, I came across this course Coursea: Learning How To Learn.

The course was free and had good reviews so I decided to give it a go, and I’m really glad I did. I will list my specific notes and key takeaways below, but I think the biggest benefit I gained from doing the course is remembering learning is a skill. Not only do people learn differently, but they might need to take a different approach depending on the topic at hand. I know I struggled learning when I started coding, coming from a background in humanities where I did really well, but I couldn’t use the same study approach for software development or even security.

I viewed this course as a reset and I feel a lot more comfortable approaching and working towards my study goals this year. I’d encourage you to try the course for yourself but if you would like core concepts or a sneak peak, please keep reading.

Practice Makes Permanent

  • Focus solely on what you are trying to learn, then take a break to let your brain diffuse.
  • Small amounts every day instead of trying to cram information.

Introduction to Memory

Spaced Repetition

  • Review or revise information over the course of several days, rather than repeatedly in one seccions.

The importance of sleep in learning

  • It’s really important!
  • Try to dream about what you are studying

PASSION + PERSISTENCE = SUCCESS

Chunking

  • Uniting bits of information together through learning
  1. Focus entirely on the information you are trying to chunk.
  2. Understand the basic idea you are trying to chunk.
  3. Try to do it yourself.
  4. Gain context, practice with related an unrelated problems. e.g. Prime yourself before you read a chapter by looking at the sections, pictures, etc. and then go back and read it.
    • Learn the big parts first and then fill the gaps.

Illusions of Competence

Recall vs Recap

  • Retrieving information enhances deep learning.
  • Re-reading is too passive.
  • Build context maps.

Looking at a solution means the solution isn’t yours. You need the information in memory and the creativity to problem solve to master the material.

  • Be wary of over-highlighing or underlining notes
    • Need to focus on main ideas, concepts, and words
    • Notes in margins that synthesize ideas can help

Self-testing

  • test yourself often
  • test yourself in different environments

Two Approaches to Problem Solving

Sequential

  • Step-by-step reasoning
  • Utilises the ‘focused’ mode

Holistic

  • More creative and intuition based

Law of Serendipity: the more you try the easier it gets

Over-learning

  • Can help with anxiety, but doesn’t help with retention.
  • Spread out revision over multiple sessions.
  • Balance study between easy and challenging material.
  • DELIBERATE PRACTICE.

Interleaving

  • Once you have a basic understanding of a concept, try solve different problems that use different techniques.
  • WHEN to apply a particular concept is just as important as knowing HOW to use it.
  • Move from practice and repetition to thinking more independently.

Process vs. Product

  • Effort or routine vs. the outcome.
  • Focusing on the outcome can bring up negative feelings and lead to procrastinating. e.g “I am going to work for 30 minutes” vs “I am going to write my report”
  • Pomodoro method can help.
  • Try not to use will power to deter procrastination.
  • Use the ‘zombie effect’ for the process, not for the product.

Four Components of Habit

  1. The Cue
    • E.g. a notification, message, or form of distraction.
    • The reaction of response to a cue is the crux of bad habits.
    • Remove distractions.
      • Don’t trick yourself into thinking you can, or waste willpower trying to ignore distractions.
  2. The Routine
    • The response to the cue, aka the Plan.
    • Need to actively retrain your brain.
  3. The Reward
    • Helpful to rewire your brain.
    • Can also be routine based
      • e.g. Finish study at 5.
  4. The Belief
    • YOU CAN DO IT!

Juggling Life and Learning

  • Write a weekly to do list.
  • Write a daily to do list, the night before.
  • Mix other tasks with learning, such as chapters or exercise.
  • Plan your quitting time.
  • Maintain healthy leisure time.