Nice talk really liked it, here is my note, feel free to add if I missed anything 1. Focused mode and diffused mode - thinking - Switching between two modes of thinking - learning current subject makes quicker a. Unable to come up with solutions - go for a walk .. etc 2. Combat Procrastination using Pomodoro technique - focus of time not on “Completion” of task. 3. Sleep - Take good rest - it cleans brain toxins and helps for new leaning connections 4. Exercise - yes Walking in an exercise 5. Practice and Repetition - moves patterns from working memory into long term memory a. Spaced repetitions is much better 6. Attention - and create chunks of information 7. Homework - do it more than once and see if you can play it in your mind? 8. Recall - Recall 9. Passion - Follow your passion but BROADEN your passion
Pradeep Tiwari, ... I think this is great what you and other youtube watchers are doing to write down your own notes as a comment on the video... this is exactly one of the techniques the lady in this video is encouraging.... RECALL... and this actually takes our numb minds out of just watching videos like a netflix-series watching binge and converts this into the total opposite: a very educational and constructive experience.... bravo!!!!
19:00 - How to overcome procrastination... task, time, no focus on pain - then reward... 22:00 good guidelines... exercise importance around 28:00... good metaphor 33:00... 38:00 awesome awesome awesome... 47:00 the absolute best way to read
+Joe Miyaki I don't think you're doing right by only mentioning those few subjects. I've been watching the clip for the second time now and saw many new useful things, I think its best to make a summary for yourself (this is what she has somewhat said during the lecture about not underlining but writing down).
+Joe Miyaki Good summary, especially if you don't have time! For Viewers her personal story and context of these tips make it worth your while to watch the whole thing.
I've read her book and I did not even finish it. But from the top 40%, I graduated in high school as part of the top 10% of my class with straight A's. I'm from the Philippines and I'm here to share my experience and thank Barbara for the wonderful book she wrote.
She is not only a great teacher but came across as a compassionate human being by also touching on the fears and insecurities we all face and gave solutions for them as well . So thoughtful !
One of the most enlightening and interesting talks I have ever watched. I am a dyslexic and this explanation of what goes on when learning is very relevant, dyslexics are top down learners. Thank you Barbara I will watch this more than once.
Barbara Oakley is brilliant in articulating the process of learning, and in simple ways that everyone can understand. I pray that she has a chance to speak to all our kids (K-12) around the country about learning how to learn.
13:00 If you don't know something diffuse your brain 14:40 Use your relaxing brain to help you with the focused brain 22:30 Learn, sleep. And use pomodoro 30:30 Just focus 36:30 Chunk concepts 45:50 Do homework straight after the lesson, do quizzes. 54:00 Create some stories in chunks 1:04:00 Interleave, use small chunks of the big picture and connect them
This is the best lecture I have heard on UA-cam. Thank you to Ms. Oakley. I have had imposter syndrome my entire career and it has set me back. Your presentation was engaging throughout the entire hour, which is difficult.
I have read and implemented all these concepts in my life and I was able to study hard topics and get my masters in Data Science , and before that I barely used to get high marks, indeed everyone should watch this video and learn the techniques that teaches you how to learn, Thanks Barbara
watched this while washing the dishes. half way through. she's a good speaker. speaks clearly and in a way we can understand like with her metaphors. Excellent. She also has a lot of information and actual things to say unlike lots of speakers who just talk for a long time and really say nothing
I am glad that someone asked about the speed of reading. I remember being in grade school when we were doing silent reading. I would feel embarased if I was last to finish my reading assignment so i would end up reading faster but cause of it I never grasp what I had read. I wish there was someone to tell me that it did not matter how you learn or how slow or fast but rather that you retained the information.
Similar happened to me when I passed from class 10 to class 12. Till class 10 I was a slow reader but I used to see a lot of aspects of a given topic which fast readers missed. I was one of the toppers in class 10. But when I came to class 11 I found others were solving problems much faster than I could and they were learning from coaching institutes who teach them some techniques. And then there was this guy sitting next to me who used to read English very vast...he could finish a page in seconds. Seeing all that I started doubting myself and my confidence fell down very quickly as I was also trying to read faster but that brought more and more anxiety to me and my overall performance deteriorated. Since then I have been struggling a lot but this lecture has helped me get back on track. Thanks to this great teacher.
Here is another presentation that Mrs Barbra Oakley gave that I enjoy so much because she lets me feel inpowered in how I CAN think in many differant ways and I don't know how she does it , but I am more than grateful to be able to comprohend certain things she says about the different kinds of ways to think better with how to think better , if I said that correctly . I am just trying to be articulate my self in words that espress that she is making and has made a difference , in my life , in just two videos I viewed with her sharing ways to sort information , think , and try to apply it the best way , is the way I interrupt her words as a student with learning difficulties that give me confodence in areas of thinking and studing my multiple subjects taught to me by my tutor and someone who kinda of reminda me of her teaching mesthods too . I don't know how to explain that either but it's s great learning experience that makes me feel more like I too could be a champion learning if I can just do a fraction of what Mrs Barbra is saying with such love that allows me to feel a comfort level of it's safe to learn . A feeling not often felt into to many places or people . Which lead me to feel as if we are learning for greatest . Greatest that my words are not able to exspress do to me being in a I CAN become smarter by trying and this too she has provided to me from viewing two of her presentations . The first video after listening very careful to her words I learned after eight years of me struggling as a disability learner that I was not visualizing while I read and I read a lot of different academic books too , bit I did not know I was not visualizing until Mrs Barbra said to the audience visualize what is being said and taking twenty five minute without noise in the background to do it . I felt like one of the main issues in my learning had been achieved by her words to visualize with what is being said and read . I don't have words for how she provided me with being able to hear people in a way I had never been listening before they were words that I need to out together but when she said visualize . My mind is able to think differently now because of her words and that brings me to say this , I am just as happy to know that she wrote a book that I am more than joyful to go phurchase because I have to read it , and I hope when I read it once I get to Barron's and nobles to asked them if they have it for me to phurchase because I have a author that has given me knew direction on reading . Visualizing while reading and when something is being said it has made a difference in someone life . Mine . Again , my gratefulness to her is with words I am able to exspress at the level I would like to say to her . She has made a difference in someone's life to read better in just the five minutes listen in her other video and today was just as wonderful . I just can't wait to get her book because I want to try and read it . As soon a I go to buy it probably the beginning of next month . I want to read her book in betweenthe books I am required to read for my tutored education with my tutor whom I mentioned earlier as the person that had same or similar kind of tone and / or methods that I don't know how to articulate yet but I think if I read her book it's going make s difference for me , too . I can't wait to buy her book with confidence that I am going to learning even more about learning . I just want to bring my happiness and joy of learning from someone like Mrs Barbra Owens by viewing her videos . I am so thankful for her teaching is what I try to say and when I buy her book to try and read it to get as much as I CAN from what my reading level allows me , because I want to get book and know it's going be a good read ! I try to keep you informed of nee insperstion of true learning that I got results from just by listening to her comforting and welcoming but serious approach to learning that I want to learn to do better at too . Thanks again to Mrs Barbra Oakely and all person's providing such great learnings by video for learners , no matter the kind of learner . Thanks again from a struggling student of eight plus years that is also known as disability learners . Thank you Mrs Barbra Oakley ens and all those that provide champions that teach student eggar to learn by thinking in ways I hope us in the book too . A goal if mine is to read her book to get what she describes as thinking to think it has to be in the book too ! Mrs Barbra Oakley is A five star teacher ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Here is a little trick for Book Readers. When you're reading and get distracted by thoughts don't blame yourself. Attach the source of disturbance to page numbers. They easily take it and usually don't reply back. Great talk by Barbara.
Firstly thanks a lot madam for your presentation. Points she focussed as follows: 1. Focused Mode and Diffuse mode learning and how to connect both while learning. 2. Pomodoro technique to improve focus. Where not to focus on pain but on work. Eg. Pain in process of learning is like "target to be completed" Instead of that focus on process. 3. Sleep and exercise plays major role In the process of assimilation of knowledge you are learning. So sleep well, exercise daily and learn and repeat the cycle. 4. It's okay to have poor memory. It's just takes little more time in learning. You will enjoy the flavour which might have missed by speedy minds. 5. Imposter syndrome. It's quite common among us and just be aware of that. 6. Do the homework and just practice as much as you can till you will feel ultra comfortable. 7. The most valuable technique "RECALL" what you read or listened or learned. Which am doing now. 8. Learn judicially with classmates or colleagues which helps a lot. 9. Explain the concept so a 10 year old can understand which is my favourite among all. 10.Last but not least just read her book "A MIND FOR NUMBERS" by BARBARA OAKLEY and Course on learning how to learn which is absolutely free. I will definitely read and complete the course. Once again Thank you mam ❤ for your huge research. I will follow your 👣.
Thanks for writing it in detail. Practice makes permanent . Learning through practice and repetition. Using interleaved method for learning Work on widening passion.
Btw, about procrastination she says that it is an addiction, because it feels good to avoid the initial pain by focusing on more pleasant tasks. But if you constantly avoid what you choose to do it will get very detrimental to your life. So the trick is just to get used to that initial pain, to have a bigger pain tolerance, and just go through it. It lasts for a few minutes, then you can focus on the task. And when you start thinking about everything else, just allow those thoughts to drift away, exactly like when meditating, and return focusing on the task. When there is a lot of chaos in rhe thoughts, it is time to diffuse thinking: it could be going for a run, a walk, or relaxing until a key fall from your hand. But it is important to switch from the focused mode, or you wont get new important link
I agree... wonder why this foundational teaching is not part of basic education stage. We are humans... and we should first understand ourselves (psychology) and how our brain works so we can better learn how to efficiently learn. I appreciate so much Prof Barbara Oakley -AHA, 9/22/18
Amazing! I have ADHD and have naturally but randomly used the time technique to take away the pain that comes from thinking about something I don't want but have to do as a way of motivating myself. For example when I microwave something I use that time to motivate me, I will try and finish washing the dishes before the timer goes off, if I finish before the timer goes off I will sweep the floor and so on. I am so glad I bumped into your talk!
Wow! Barbara Oakley! She's 'Amazing'! Explains very well - clear sentences with clear, simple diagrams. Thank you millions Barbara Oakley! All the best
Nigel Cochran - Barabara; I have really enjoyed " Mind for Numbers" & I think it is helpful for for those taking part to review some of the pages - I have listed my 1st choices - Page 11 Focused V Diffuse Thinking + Page 13 The Focused Mode - Tight Pinball Machine. + Page 15 - Results on thinking on visions with two differant results Pinball. Page 19 - The Diffuse Mode - a spread out of Pinball Machine + Counterintutive Creativity. Barabara I hope this helps others with their reviews on this stage on " Learning How to Learn" - Thank you Barabara once again for all your help Nigel
SUMMARY: (and link to transcript at the bottom) 1 - Two types of thinking: Focused and Diffused (resting etc). Focused helps when you have experience with a similar problem and can draw an analogy. When you don't, use Diffused (e.g. doing other things with the problem in the background The Pomodoro technique (cycles of working and taking short breaks) allow you to experience both types 2 - Learning can be stimulated by: A. Sleeping (also reinforces learnt info), staying up does the opposite. Therefore breaks are a part of the learning process. B. Being in new environments (e.g. travelling) C. Exercising (even taking a walk) 3 - Brain has limited short-term ("Working") memory, and understanding something requires holding all of its component parts in this working memory. You can store more by tying information together with patterns/connections into chunks ("Chunking") so you can remember 4 chunks each holding a lot of information, not 4 pieces of information. These chunks can then help you learn more information by analogy to new information with similar patterns/connections (improving Focused thinking) 4 - Poor working memory/being a 'Slow thinker' can be an advantage but requires more work to benefit: it is a sign of focusing on more things simultaneously compared to fast thinkers. Allows more notice and understanding of detail, though it takes longer to reach the goal 5 - Practice reinforces information/chunks into long-term memory, ways of practising: A.Testing B Explaining to someone else Transcript: singjupost.com/barbara-oakley-learning-how-to-learn-talks-at-google-transcript/?singlepage=1
This is the best UA-cam lecture I have ever watched. I want to thank the speaker, Ms. Oakley. I used to use chunking, but somewhere along the way I’ve forgotten how important that is. The concept of chunking was very helpful in learning guitar, so for anyone reading this who likes chunking, you would find that activity enjoyable. I had imposter syndrome for my whole career and I just wish I had watched this years ago. When she answers the question on the way Americans are taught math, that is, with the need for it to be entertaining, I feel the speaker has touched on an important aspect of American culture. In America, there is entirely too much emphasis on entertainment, and not enough seriousness. Joy can come from hard work too. It seems many of us (and I am an American), fall for the easy way out. Our leaders should encourage us to be more serious about our lives.
I returned to school after 10 yers of absence to study a master in science, and I have noticed I have experienced similar situations and thought things like “maths and science are not for me”, “this or that is an useless thing to learn”, etcetera. And i am just realizing that I lost the habit of doing practice and repetitions of problems and prepare for tests. Thanks for sharing this talk Google.
Hi Barbara - Really finding the first part of your presentation interesting. As indicated on my earlier presentation I am starting now with my early days; which covers my 1st 28 years - • Born in Saint Asaph - North Wales, (1949) years my parents lived in shop above Kerfoot’s where my Dad was working. Post war he remained in the British Army for short while collecting damaged military equipment, for re- engineering etc. • My brother Andrew was born 3 years latter in (1952) & we both joined Colwyn Bay Primary School, an old pre-war school. While there was already the 11+ examination which put forward children into the local Grammar school. Many teachers were either much older generation or not properly trained because other war time jobs. • My mother was the first person to notice this - it was not at school. The family as you can imagine was very concerned indeed. In this time dyslexia were virtually unknown, there were some experts who written up about this but books, but very limited in publication, & not regular book shops! In primary school you were just thought of as “Thick or Stupid” • Once a week we were taught welsh for 30 mins each week. • Primary schools’ disciplines were punished by the beating by the teacher using the slipper - this would be undertaken in front of the whole class. In many respects I was very fortunate that we spent the whole six week's shool summer holiday at my Grandfather's farm in Weymouth - Dorset. Both Andrew & learnt so much in this time - which I will refer again to later
time stamp for myself or anyone interested 9:00 - focused mode vs diffuse mode 17:30 - procrastination and pomodoro technique 22:30 - sleep ongoing, not finished yet.
29:20 from this point starts the really interesting part about how can you get the big picture by putting together chunks of information that you have already moved to the long-term memory through recall and spaced repetition - spaced repetition is not about rewieving always the same subject to boringly memorize it but is about getting new links that you couldn't see before (before she talks about sleep, exercise, procrastination and the pomodoro technique, and illustrates the differences between focused and diffused mode)
She seems to be kind and encouraging teacher, her students must be lucky to have her I loved this talk. Also, I watched it while procrastinating a lot of other stuff.
maths it's about being relaxed and remembering to learn something new each time. forget about finding the solution. try to understand something new and commit it to memory.
Actually as a (fellow?) Math teacher for Many years, my observation has been almost opposite. For me, Math is Not about committing things to memory. Algorithms vs Concepts is nothing new though. And i think i Do understand what you mean(t). Thank you for your comments
Unfortunately, much of the atmosphere surrounding maths is clouded with tension and stress. Kids have a pre-conceived idea about their future should they pursue math with regards to the stress of learning it. Add to that the attached "loser nerd" image that comes with the field that many kids steer clear of out of fear of social rejection. I hate to say make math cool again, but it really is what we should be doing, for the sake of the human race.
@Сhet Vosm let me attempt to answer your question With a Question:How many Formulas and Algorithms does any "reasonably competent" Professional have memorized? Technology has changed everything. In my life And experience, Having a CLEAR UNDERSTANDING of the Problem AND knowing Where and How to ACCESS the information
The last point about the importance of mathematics and science, I agree with that. I'm actually planning to study medicine (I'm currently in prep year), but I'm thinking of taking courses in "advanced mathematics" like calculus and other similar math courses (having them as side tracks parallel to my main study path), because mathematics helps you develop problem solving and critical thinking skills that are very essential. But the thing is; these skills don't grow on trees, you can't just aquire these skills in one day. You have to -as mentioned- practice, do spaced repetition, and be very consistent; to the point where you're sharp as a razor blade. The more time you stay away from practicing an idea, the more it becomes "difficult" to get back on track with your learning, because you have a lot of things to re-study in order to catch up. So it would be better to start with the consistency then keep it up (by studying and reviewing past topics then looking forward -and repeat). This will allow for achievable sustained learning.
this talk is very important. Excellent research of Barbara Oakley and other colleagues This should be teach in every academic level and all the countries. also to the all people interesting in learn something the ones had not oportunity studying to the high school
1:01:48 "Because for a long time there's been this feeling that 'too much practice and repetition in mathematics will kill your creativity' instead of the reality that every great expert has to have practice and repetition.."
"Learning How to Learn", the course, is one of the most inspiring pieces of knowledge there is. I'd recommend everybody to take the course, you wont regret it.
A summary of what I learnt: Have a good sleep Good Exercise Pomodoro Technique where rest is important (diffused state of mind to learn new things) Repetition, Practice is important Chunk - Make library of chunks.. When you get a idea, it is turned into compressed chunk, which can be easily explained (metaphor) Slow thinking Poor memory
It's such a great experience to learn from humble teachers...thanks a lot madam. It was a very helpful session that i was looking for a long time..reading to books is one thing which takes lot of time and listening from an expert is another
That is a very excellent lecture. It wrapped up and confirmed of the recent results in study of learning and building expertise. I think when she said that switching between focused and diffused modes is important in retaining more knowledge is perfectly match well with Anders Ericsson idea of how experts build their expertise by create a mental representations of subjects and problems which raise in their domain. Since focused mode capture the essentials of the subject matter as chunks, I think when we switch to diffused mode we create connections between these chunks in much more like a full mental image. Ericsson also argues that images works well with memory retention because images is more linked to our sensory experience for which it can easily save in our long-term memory. Repetitions and recalling help to enforce and cement the connections between the new neural patterns representing our mental representations which also represent our chunked learning experience! So, I think the sequence is in this way: Focused and Diffused modes --> Chunked information-->Mental representations-->Repetition and recalling-->Practice and Enforcement.REPEAT!
9:00 Brain in diffuse or focus mode Sometimes you have to stop focus to solve a problem. 17:00 Learning takes time 17:30 - Overcome procrastination Procrastination due to pain (can result in addiction). Focus on the time spent learning not the task. Pomodoro can help (e.g. 25min timers). 22:00 Importance of sleep and exercise 29:00 Working memory Try to minimise distraction to maximise "intelligence". 31:00 Practice makes permanence - Why you need to repeat 34:00 Chunking and transfer learning 39:00 Memory, creativity, and speed 42:00 Imposter syndrome Many feel this 44:30 Do you really understand? Use tests! Group learning. 47:00 How to read Don't underline, but write down (activates memorisation). After every page look up and recall what you remember. 49:00 Metaphors or explain it simply Feynman used to ask top mathematicians to explain concepts simple manner. Tell me if I missed something :)
"Focused mode vs Diffuse mode".... "Focus on the time, not the task"....About min 20:00+ procrastination. Min 24:00+ about sleep & new neurons. "Focusing vs multitasking... Actually, multitasking can make you stupider.. Careful focus attention is very important." Min 30:00+... "Long term memory to working memory is done through practice..." Min 32:00. "Libraries of chunks ... " Min 36:00... "Creativity... " Min 38:00ish... Slow thinkers can be of so much value... "Imposter Syndrome... " Min 42:41+...
You forgot the practical stuff: Chunking Spaced repetition Test yourself as often as possible Flashcards Recall after you read something, take notes, also test your recall by taking notes on your notes. Explain concepts so a child would understand Talk to classmates in the unfocused mode Imagine yourself being inside the environment you are learning.
Great talk! The only sad part for me is that now that I’m watching this talk (2021), Maryam Mirzakhani is passed away while during that talk she mentioned “she is one of the most creative mathematicians ALIVE.”😞 RIP Maryam🥀
2 modes- Focused mode Diffused mode Pinball machine representation in brain When you are stuck on a problem, you need to use the diffused mode instead Go for a run, go for a shower, something to get your mind off it So that you can go to diffused mode You need to go back and forth between the modes to solve the problem So it takes time It takes time to learn things Procrastination is like an addiction Use Pomodoro technique Sleep is important When you sleep new synaptic connections are being formed Have many sleep-learning cycles again and again instead of cramming Exercise is profoundly helpful by enhancing the ability of new neurons to survive 4 slots of working memory Imagine octopus with 4 tentacles Distractions take tentacles away Practice makes permanent Spaced repetition Chunk forming Learn more chunks and join them You can make similarly structured chunks Less focused means you likely have potential for way higher creativity Slower speed means that you are not skipping the conclusions that faster brain people are Tests are extremely useful
I took her coursera class. It was very enjoyable. This video covered a lot of what was in the class in one fell swoop, though there is some extra stuff in the class. For people who are interested, it's 100% free unless you want a certificate proving you took the class, then you have to pay for it, but if you just want to go and take the class for fun, it's free. Do it!
this talk is good it feels like it starts off slow to provide context but by the end there is a lot of practical advice that makes me feel like I have a lot of new methods to try.
At 51:20 the girl is talking about "divide et impera", a common problem solving method we use in programming. When you have a big problem to solve, you divid it in smaller problems you can solve and than add everything togheter. Divide et Impera means literally divid and conquer
This is so informative, worth listening to the whole talk! A lot of the things that Professor Oakley is talking about are things that I've felt in my first quarter at University, and it's really useful to hear it in this format, so I can put the techniques to use in the future!
Maestra jubilada sigo aprendiendo, ahora I am learning english, I see you point exactly the same spectrum as you. I really appreciate your speech. Thanks and Congratulations
59:52 I think I heard the answer to the motivation question in another lecture about motivation. Apparently, only the "carrot" actually deals with motivation, whereas the "stick" can only serve to extinct behaviors, wanted or unwanted. The ventral tegmental area (VTA) innervates the nucleus accumbens, causing it to release energy and motivation after working with the prefrontal cortex to determine if there is a reward and if that reward has an acceptable cost/benefit ratio. Individual differences are in part explained by which types of stimuli (and therefore hormone releases) activate the VTA. According to my textbook, at a very young age, children behave in order to avoid punishment (seemingly contrary to the idea that motivation is only extincted by punishment, but perhaps their cortices aren't developed enough to do the cost/benefit analysis necessary to drive specific behaviours), then they behave with self interest. From teenage through adulthood, they are driven by conformity and authority. From this, I can infer that punishment, as long as it's mild and infrequent enough to not activate the stress pathways associated with low intelligence in adulthood (i.e. timeout, but no yelling/spanking, in the event of misbehavior; the idea that they are being punished is not reliant on the extent of stimulus aversiveness), is an acceptable to extinct motivation causing unwanted behaviors in very young children but can't cause motivation. However, once they get to a certain developmental point (think for me, it would have been around 5-6), punishment loses effectiveness, and kids are motivated by self-interest. I imagine that demonstrating that doing math can help them acquire some reward would be useful. For instance, setting up a reward system giving a secondary reinforcer and following through (if you don't follow through, this would be seen as unfair [a negative punishment], and would likely extinct the desired behavior), like "ice cream tokens for math" (but not ice cream directly; that's a primary reinforcer). Once the child is a little bit older (pre-teens and teens), they become motivated by social groups and authority. At this point, approval of a teacher they view positively and incorporation into a rewarding social group that likes to do math would probably be effective. To deviate from the textbook a bit, according to the book "Stick With It," the community can be a powerful way to increase compliance, especially if that community has at least 15% of likeable, charasmatic individuals who have some leadership role (for instance, tutors). In the book, they cited a study where these 15% were paid individuals, so you could probably provide an incentive for the club. Additionally, branding someone with an identity can cause a self-fulfilling prophecy, so long as they truly believe it. For instance, after your child does well on a math test, tell them they're "A hard worker and great mathematician." But don't tell them they're smart, because this leads to a fixed mindset (whereas rewarding the effort rather than the outcome leads to a growth mindset). Anecdotally, the smartest math people I have known spent a lot of time doing math problems with parents or other adults as a form of bonding (rather than the more seemingly common teacher-student roles). A sense of self-efficacy and identifying as being good at something are key to people sticking to a task. Sorry to write so much! I've been studying psychology and sociology for my impending MCAT, and enjoy synthesizing what I've learned along with some of the non-fiction books I've read.
Excellent 'brief summary' of Dr. Barbara Oakley’s 4 week Coursera MOOC /w US San Diego Univ. ‘Learning how to Learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects’ - had the pleasure of participating together with some 217.000 students at global level January this year - can strongly recommend it :)
I always found memorizing challenging, but thanks for the positive interpretation of the tradeoff--a ton of creativity. People often vented their frustration about my slow thinking process, too, but apparently slow minds are more flexible. I can live with that.
I can focus better when I write everything down on lectures, but some profs don't like it. They get conscious or distracted even by the slightest movement. I'm glad we've switched to online learning now.
1) Sleep (Wash out toxins & weak send dendritic, Strength new information ) 2) Exercise (Good for dendritic to grow which helps to hook information ) 3) Eat healthy 4) Learning & Link (Topic A with Topic B) 4.5) Do theory and practical (Fast learning) 5) Retrieve (Test yourself, Spaced repetition ) 6) Take Breaks (Pomodoro, Avoid burnouts) 7) Reward yourself.(Most Most Most important tip)
I just watched a number of videos one after the other and I am really amazed by them! Thanks for delivering such interesting videos and super compact and helpful information
She is so inspirational! I just got her book and it's a resource I'm using in my thesis paper. I've always been amazed by how we learn and that's what I'm studying!
9:04 To simplify the brain's operation "And you can simplify the brain's operation into two fundamentally different modes. First one is Focused mode, and the second is the Diffused mode. And this is actually-- it relates to the default mode network and other related-- there's some 24 or 25 so far-- neural resting states that have been detected. And so all of these states altogether, I'll just call the diffuse mode. And what can happen-- I mean, our best way to really understand these two different modes is to use a metaphor." Metaphor: pinball machine. " 19:00 - How to overcome procrastination procrastination can actually be like an addiction. You do it once, you do it twice-- it's not that big a deal. You do it a lot of times, though, and it actually can be very, very detrimental for your life. here's the most effective way to help you deal with procrastination. And it is simply to use the Pomodoro Technique. 21:51 So a couple of little pointers. First, don't sit down and do a Pomodoro and say, you know, I'm going to finish off my work. Don't focus on the task. Only focus on the time. 21:57 And that's the trick to this technique. Because it gets you past that pain in the brain and allows you to just relax comfortably and get into the flow of the task. And that's the trick to this technique. Because it gets you past that pain in the brain and allows you to just relax comfortably and get into the flow of the task. make subtle change 22:00 good guidelines... exercise importance around 22:32 Sleep is important 28:00... good metaphor 33:00... 38:00 awesome awesome awesome... 46:15 Now, probably the most valuable technique when you're trying to really understand something difficult is simple recall. When you're reading material on a page, you read away, and your tendency is to-- well, I'm going to underline it, right? Because when you're hand is moving on the page, you think it's moving it into your brain somehow. But it actually is not.47:00 the absolute best way to read 47:15 But it's better to write it because you're helping to neurally encode these ideas. And then when you read the page, simply look away and see what you can recall. That, as it turns out, is very powerful in building your understanding of the material in a way that other technique, including mind mapping and re-reading-- they're not nearly as good as recall. 1. Focused mode and diffused mode - thinking - Switching between two modes of thinking - learning current subject makes quicker a. Unable to come up with solutions - go for a walk .. etc 2. Combat Procrastination using Pomodoro technique - focus of time not on “Completion” of task. 3. Sleep - Take good rest - it cleans brain toxins and helps for new leaning connections 4. Exercise - yes Walking in an exercise 5. Practice and Repetition - moves patterns from working memory into long term memory a. Spaced repetitions is much better 6. Attention - and create chunks of information 7. Homework - do it more than once and see if you can play it in your mind? 8. Recall - Recall 9. Passion - Follow your passion but BROADEN your passion
Just a personal comment about the question at 56 min: when I was a kid I used to create and prefer alternative ways to sum and subtract rather than just memorise everything. So for me, I would love to learn at school more than one way how to multiply, for example!
I was watching this video as a procrastination from work, but the video is quite long and a bit complex, but very interesting nevertheless, so I procrastinated again, and kept the video paused for more than a month, and finally finished it... and now finally going back to work. Very good video though, and very clear answers. Thank you!
This is incredible! it gives purpose to every human specially to those who think they're not good enough. Your reason to exist is magnified by this great speech.
My summary of some highlights would be: - Exercise, even simple brisk walking, can enhance the neural connections & help build new neurons, similar to the effect of learning new things itself & supportive to it. - Distraction makes it hard for short-term memory to interact with long-term memory (saving in it & retrieving from it). - Spaced regular repetitions of studied materials (without leaving big time gaps in between) help to homogenize & consolidate the material in the brain. - People who think that they are slow thinkers can be actually experiencing the very common "imposter syndrome". Also, slow thinking can be actually a more of "analytical thinking" that can observe & detect important things that other "rushing" minds cannot detect. - "Following your passion" can be a tricky concept, as people have passion towards topics they are relatively "good" at, & some topics take much more time to be good at than others. So, instead of following your passion, first "broaden" your passion..
I've been doing this since years and never thought of it as a technic lol. I'm an A+ student and she is so right about all of this. You just gotta understand everything that you're learning. If you miss something it blocks the rest of your understanding. By understanding and being able to deeply get it and explain it with your own vision, the whole subject will naturally build up itself in your mind to finally become a big chunk of accurate elements. By doing this you'll also see that what you actually learn in college or whatever will naturally apply in your daily life and make you understand more sides of this world that you didn't know. That's it. Very well explanation.
Maybe you are born with strong working memory and be you got talent on cognitive psychology. what she brought up here are part of cognitive psychological research topics and some relevant to brain science
Agreed. I was home schooled some, so i learned to teach my self at a young age. I use this with youtube videos when learning something. if i dont understand it i just watch someone elses youtube video until i get it. different explanations stick for different people. You just have to look at it a different way. (sorry if this was messy i was just writing as i was thinking. lol) Not going to win any awards for this comment but hope you get my drift.
@@rubbermanburningflowers9204 She must have talent on cognitive psychology because she has already subconsciously practice what scientists have researched? That's like saying I have a talent in muscular physiology because I know that working out gives me big muscles.
@@rubbermanburningflowers9204 It's not about that, you may get stuck one time and try and wonder how to study a course more effectively, then you read or watch videos on how to do that then experiment what you learned, and then evaluate its effectiveness. As the saying says "Success is in the details", if you know all the small details about the course and you were able to explain them in the most simplest ways, then -and only then- you'll be able to map through your knowledge and be able to answer any given question, because you'e got it all figured.
Nice talk really liked it, here is my note, feel free to add if I missed anything
1. Focused mode and diffused mode - thinking - Switching between two modes of thinking - learning current subject makes quicker
a. Unable to come up with solutions - go for a walk .. etc
2. Combat Procrastination using Pomodoro technique - focus of time not on “Completion” of task.
3. Sleep - Take good rest - it cleans brain toxins and helps for new leaning connections
4. Exercise - yes Walking in an exercise
5. Practice and Repetition - moves patterns from working memory into long term memory
a. Spaced repetitions is much better
6. Attention - and create chunks of information
7. Homework - do it more than once and see if you can play it in your mind?
8. Recall - Recall
9. Passion - Follow your passion but BROADEN your passion
you forgot "Test are the Best!".. Test yourself on everthing, all the time. and use "Flashcards" :)
Good job Pradeep Tiwari
Pradeep Tiwari, ... I think this is great what you and other youtube watchers are doing to write down your own notes as a comment on the video... this is exactly one of the techniques the lady in this video is encouraging.... RECALL... and this actually takes our numb minds out of just watching videos like a netflix-series watching binge and converts this into the total opposite: a very educational and constructive experience.... bravo!!!!
No multitasking
No speed reading - take your time
19:00 - How to overcome procrastination... task, time, no focus on pain - then reward... 22:00 good guidelines... exercise importance around 28:00... good metaphor 33:00... 38:00 awesome awesome awesome... 47:00 the absolute best way to read
thanks
+Joe Miyaki Good Job! Thanks for helping others ;)
+Joe Miyaki I don't think you're doing right by only mentioning those few subjects. I've been watching the clip for the second time now and saw many new useful things, I think its best to make a summary for yourself (this is what she has somewhat said during the lecture about not underlining but writing down).
+Joe Miyaki Good summary, especially if you don't have time! For Viewers her personal story and context of these tips make it worth your while to watch the whole thing.
Joe.. you make this world a better place! 😀 thank you.
I've read her book and I did not even finish it. But from the top 40%, I graduated in high school as part of the top 10% of my class with straight A's. I'm from the Philippines and I'm here to share my experience and thank Barbara for the wonderful book she wrote.
She seems to be kind and encouraging teacher, her students must be lucky to have her
hohoho
@@certifiedpublication4870 is it newer version of hehehe
She's so lucky, she's a star.
She also looks like she plays no games
Kekynfojiyuskmdsgywlrkunvvslimkrfyeah d for m set use on 38 pyltikgtrto
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She is not only a great teacher but came across as a compassionate human being by also touching on the fears and insecurities we all face and gave solutions for them as well . So thoughtful !
Her strategies about how to overcome procrastination LITERALLY CHANGED MY LIFE. Love this woman!
Bro, could you please tell. What all did you do? And How?
@@channelx9645 I think he referring to the part where the speaker tells to work for only 25 minutes on the task you are willing to procrastinate.
One of the most enlightening and interesting talks I have ever watched. I am a dyslexic and this explanation of what goes on when learning is very relevant, dyslexics are top down learners. Thank you Barbara I will watch this more than once.
Barbara Oakley is brilliant in articulating the process of learning, and in simple ways that everyone can understand. I pray that she has a chance to speak to all our kids (K-12) around the country about learning how to learn.
Very thoughtful yet humble presenter, which is a lesson in itself. The Q&A session starting at 51:21 is as valuable as the talk itself.
13:00
If you don't know something diffuse your brain
14:40
Use your relaxing brain to help you with the focused brain
22:30
Learn, sleep.
And use pomodoro
30:30
Just focus
36:30
Chunk concepts
45:50
Do homework straight after the lesson, do quizzes.
54:00
Create some stories in chunks
1:04:00
Interleave, use small chunks of the big picture and connect them
This is the best lecture I have heard on UA-cam. Thank you to Ms. Oakley. I have had imposter syndrome my entire career and it has set me back. Your presentation was engaging throughout the entire hour, which is difficult.
That really resonates with me dude!
Her positive outlook is really contagious. Her life story is an inspiration.
I loved this talk. Also, I watched it while procrastinating a lot of other stuff.
Me to. I used to keep watching this kind of video instead of studying
Its survivorship bias. She's trying to sell a book.
Same
I should tidy up, with my mind less bored I actually get more done (as I stop less).
Sebastian
I have read and implemented all these concepts in my life and I was able to study hard topics and get my masters in Data Science , and before that I barely used to get high marks, indeed everyone should watch this video and learn the techniques that teaches you how to learn, Thanks Barbara
watched this while washing the dishes. half way through. she's a good speaker. speaks clearly and in a way we can understand like with her metaphors. Excellent. She also has a lot of information and actual things to say unlike lots of speakers who just talk for a long time and really say nothing
I am glad that someone asked about the speed of reading. I remember being in grade school when we were doing silent reading. I would feel embarased if I was last to finish my reading assignment so i would end up reading faster but cause of it I never grasp what I had read. I wish there was someone to tell me that it did not matter how you learn or how slow or fast but rather that you retained the information.
Similar happened to me when I passed from class 10 to class 12. Till class 10 I was a slow reader but I used to see a lot of aspects of a given topic which fast readers missed. I was one of the toppers in class 10. But when I came to class 11 I found others were solving problems much faster than I could and they were learning from coaching institutes who teach them some techniques. And then there was this guy sitting next to me who used to read English very vast...he could finish a page in seconds. Seeing all that I started doubting myself and my confidence fell down very quickly as I was also trying to read faster but that brought more and more anxiety to me and my overall performance deteriorated. Since then I have been struggling a lot but this lecture has helped me get back on track. Thanks to this great teacher.
Here is another presentation that Mrs Barbra Oakley gave that I enjoy so much because she lets me feel inpowered in how I CAN think in many differant ways and I don't know how she does it , but
I am more than grateful to be able to comprohend certain things she says about the different kinds of ways to think better with how to think better , if I said that correctly .
I am just trying to be articulate my self in words that espress that she is making and has made a difference , in my life , in just two videos I viewed with her sharing ways to sort information , think , and try to apply it the best way , is the way I interrupt her words as a student with learning difficulties that give me confodence in areas of thinking and studing my multiple subjects taught to me by my tutor and someone who kinda of reminda me of her teaching mesthods too .
I don't know how to explain that either but it's s great learning experience that makes me feel more like I too could be a champion learning if I can just do a fraction of what Mrs Barbra is saying with such love that allows me to feel a comfort level of it's safe to learn . A feeling not often felt into to many places or people .
Which lead me to feel as if we are learning for greatest .
Greatest that my words are not able to exspress do to me being in a I CAN become smarter by trying and this too she has provided to me from viewing two of her presentations .
The first video after listening very careful to her words I learned after eight years of me struggling as a disability learner that I was not visualizing while I read and I read a lot of different academic books too , bit I did not know I was not visualizing until Mrs Barbra said to the audience visualize what is being said and taking twenty five minute without noise in the background to do it .
I felt like one of the main issues in my learning had been achieved by her words to visualize with what is being said and read .
I don't have words for how she provided me with being able to hear people in a way I had never been listening before they were words that I need to out together but when she said visualize .
My mind is able to think differently now because of her words and that brings me to say this , I am just as happy to know that she wrote a book that I am more than joyful to go phurchase because I have to read it , and I hope when I read it once I get to Barron's and nobles to asked them if they have it for me to phurchase because I have a author that has given me knew direction on reading .
Visualizing while reading and when something is being said it has made a difference in someone life . Mine .
Again , my gratefulness to her is with words I am able to exspress at the level I would like to say to her .
She has made a difference in someone's life to read better in just the five minutes listen in her other video and today was just as wonderful .
I just can't wait to get her book because I want to try and read it .
As soon a I go to buy it probably the beginning of next month . I want to read her book in betweenthe books I am required to read for my tutored education with my tutor whom I mentioned earlier as the person that had same or similar kind of tone and / or methods that I don't know how to articulate yet but I think if I read her book it's going make s difference for me , too .
I can't wait to buy her book with confidence that I am going to learning even more about learning .
I just want to bring my happiness and joy of learning from someone like Mrs Barbra Owens by viewing her videos .
I am so thankful for her teaching is what I try to say and when I buy her book to try and read it to get as much as I CAN from what my reading level allows me , because I want to get book and know it's going be a good read !
I try to keep you informed of nee insperstion of true learning that I got results from just by listening to her comforting and welcoming but serious approach to learning that I want to learn to do better at too .
Thanks again to Mrs Barbra Oakely and all person's providing such great learnings by video for learners , no matter the kind of learner .
Thanks again from a struggling student of eight plus years that is also known as disability learners .
Thank you Mrs Barbra Oakley ens and all those that provide champions that teach student eggar to learn by thinking in ways I hope us in the book too .
A goal if mine is to read her book to get what she describes as thinking to think it has to be in the book too !
Mrs Barbra Oakley is A five star teacher ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thanks
Here is a little trick for Book Readers. When you're reading and get distracted by thoughts don't blame yourself. Attach the source of disturbance to page numbers. They easily take it and usually don't reply back. Great talk by Barbara.
Can you explain it again but in more easy way
Firstly thanks a lot madam for your presentation.
Points she focussed as follows:
1. Focused Mode and Diffuse mode learning and how to connect both while learning.
2. Pomodoro technique to improve focus.
Where not to focus on pain but on work. Eg. Pain in process of learning is like "target to be completed" Instead of that focus on process.
3. Sleep and exercise plays major role In the process of assimilation of knowledge you are learning. So sleep well, exercise daily and learn and repeat the cycle.
4. It's okay to have poor memory. It's just takes little more time in learning. You will enjoy the flavour which might have missed by speedy minds.
5. Imposter syndrome. It's quite common among us and just be aware of that.
6. Do the homework and just practice as much as you can till you will feel ultra comfortable.
7. The most valuable technique "RECALL" what you read or listened or learned. Which am doing now.
8. Learn judicially with classmates or colleagues which helps a lot.
9. Explain the concept so a 10 year old can understand which is my favourite among all.
10.Last but not least just read her book "A MIND FOR NUMBERS" by BARBARA OAKLEY and Course on learning how to learn which is absolutely free. I will definitely read and complete the course.
Once again Thank you mam ❤ for your huge research. I will follow your 👣.
Thanks for writing it in detail.
Practice makes permanent .
Learning through practice and repetition.
Using interleaved method for learning
Work on widening passion.
Just remineder for you to stick with what you wrote brother ❤️
Btw, about procrastination she says that it is an addiction, because it feels good to avoid the initial pain by focusing on more pleasant tasks. But if you constantly avoid what you choose to do it will get very detrimental to your life. So the trick is just to get used to that initial pain, to have a bigger pain tolerance, and just go through it. It lasts for a few minutes, then you can focus on the task. And when you start thinking about everything else, just allow those thoughts to drift away, exactly like when meditating, and return focusing on the task.
When there is a lot of chaos in rhe thoughts, it is time to diffuse thinking: it could be going for a run, a walk, or relaxing until a key fall from your hand. But it is important to switch from the focused mode, or you wont get new important link
Learning how to learn should be a foundational subject taught in every school. Incredibly, it's not.
Because schools dont give a shit about your success. They just care about training you to take standardized tests.
It's more surprising that institutionalised education didn't change much since the mid 18th century. Its much like the US construction.
I agree... wonder why this foundational teaching is not part of basic education stage. We are humans... and we should first understand ourselves (psychology) and how our brain works so we can better learn how to efficiently learn. I appreciate so much Prof Barbara Oakley -AHA, 9/22/18
3e3op88 human bean
Aspire to Inspire Others I love you so much can I kiss you
Amazing! I have ADHD and have naturally but randomly used the time technique to take away the pain that comes from thinking about something I don't want but have to do as a way of motivating myself. For example when I microwave something I use that time to motivate me, I will try and finish washing the dishes before the timer goes off, if I finish before the timer goes off I will sweep the floor and so on. I am so glad I bumped into your talk!
Very clear voice of audience when questions asked , not something that is seen on other talks.
Wow! Barbara Oakley! She's 'Amazing'! Explains very well - clear sentences with clear, simple diagrams. Thank you millions Barbara Oakley! All the best
Thanks
By far to me this is the best video in UA-cam 🙌🙌🙌....I rewatch it everyday to relearn more and more. Thanks, Barbara Oakley and Talks at Google 👏
Nigel Cochran - Barabara; I have really enjoyed " Mind for Numbers" & I think it is helpful for for those taking part to review some of the pages - I have listed my 1st choices - Page 11 Focused V Diffuse Thinking + Page 13 The Focused Mode - Tight Pinball Machine. + Page 15 - Results on thinking on visions with two differant results Pinball. Page 19 - The Diffuse Mode - a spread out of Pinball Machine + Counterintutive Creativity. Barabara I hope this helps others with their reviews on this stage on " Learning How to Learn" - Thank you Barabara once again for all your help Nigel
SUMMARY: (and link to transcript at the bottom)
1 - Two types of thinking: Focused and Diffused (resting etc).
Focused helps when you have experience with a similar problem and can draw an analogy. When you don't, use Diffused (e.g. doing other things with the problem in the background
The Pomodoro technique (cycles of working and taking short breaks) allow you to experience both types
2 - Learning can be stimulated by:
A. Sleeping (also reinforces learnt info), staying up does the opposite. Therefore breaks are a part of the learning process.
B. Being in new environments (e.g. travelling)
C. Exercising (even taking a walk)
3 - Brain has limited short-term ("Working") memory, and understanding something requires holding all of its component parts in this working memory. You can store more by tying information together with patterns/connections into chunks ("Chunking") so you can remember 4 chunks each holding a lot of information, not 4 pieces of information. These chunks can then help you learn more information by analogy to new information with similar patterns/connections (improving Focused thinking)
4 - Poor working memory/being a 'Slow thinker' can be an advantage but requires more work to benefit: it is a sign of focusing on more things simultaneously compared to fast thinkers. Allows more notice and understanding of detail, though it takes longer to reach the goal
5 - Practice reinforces information/chunks into long-term memory, ways of practising:
A.Testing
B Explaining to someone else
Transcript: singjupost.com/barbara-oakley-learning-how-to-learn-talks-at-google-transcript/?singlepage=1
Thanks a lot for the transcript link!!!
😩Thank you!
🗣Thanks for the link to the transcript
one word, awesome. this woman is magic explaining, make jokes, is interesting etc, all professors in the world should explain that way.
Thanks
This is the best UA-cam lecture I have ever watched. I want to thank the speaker, Ms. Oakley. I used to use chunking, but somewhere along the way I’ve forgotten how important that is. The concept of chunking was very helpful in learning guitar, so for anyone reading this who likes chunking, you would find that activity enjoyable. I had imposter syndrome for my whole career and I just wish I had watched this years ago.
When she answers the question on the way Americans are taught math, that is, with the need for it to be entertaining, I feel the speaker has touched on an important aspect of American culture. In America, there is entirely too much emphasis on entertainment, and not enough seriousness. Joy can come from hard work too. It seems many of us (and I am an American), fall for the easy way out. Our leaders should encourage us to be more serious about our lives.
I returned to school after 10 yers of absence to study a master in science, and I have noticed I have experienced similar situations and thought things like “maths and science are not for me”, “this or that is an useless thing to learn”, etcetera. And i am just realizing that I lost the habit of doing practice and repetitions of problems and prepare for tests. Thanks for sharing this talk Google.
"Don't just follow your passions, broaden your passions, and you lives will be greatly enriched." Oakley. Well stated.
Hi Barbara - Really finding the first part of your presentation interesting. As indicated on my earlier presentation I am starting now with my early days; which covers my 1st 28 years - • Born in Saint Asaph - North Wales, (1949) years my parents lived in shop above Kerfoot’s where my Dad was working. Post war he remained in the British Army for short while collecting damaged military equipment, for re- engineering etc.
• My brother Andrew was born 3 years latter in (1952) & we both joined Colwyn Bay Primary School, an old pre-war school. While there was already the 11+ examination which put forward children into the local Grammar school. Many teachers were either much older generation or not properly trained because other war time jobs.
• My mother was the first person to notice this - it was not at school. The family as you can imagine was very concerned indeed. In this time dyslexia were virtually unknown, there were some experts who written up about this but books, but very limited in publication, & not regular book shops! In primary school you were just thought of as “Thick or Stupid”
• Once a week we were taught welsh for 30 mins each week.
• Primary schools’ disciplines were punished by the beating by the teacher using the slipper - this would be undertaken in front of the whole class. In many respects I was very fortunate that we spent the whole six week's shool summer holiday at my Grandfather's farm in Weymouth - Dorset. Both Andrew & learnt so much in this time - which I will refer again to later
time stamp for myself or anyone interested
9:00 - focused mode vs diffuse mode
17:30 - procrastination and pomodoro technique
22:30 - sleep
ongoing, not finished yet.
Thanks. I am also taking my time through this lecture. It is very enjoyable
29:20 from this point starts the really interesting part about how can you get the big picture by putting together chunks of information that you have already moved to the long-term memory through recall and spaced repetition - spaced repetition is not about rewieving always the same subject to boringly memorize it but is about getting new links that you couldn't see before (before she talks about sleep, exercise, procrastination and the pomodoro technique, and illustrates the differences between focused and diffused mode)
She seems to be kind and encouraging teacher, her students must be lucky to have her
I loved this talk. Also, I watched it while procrastinating a lot of other stuff.
maths it's about being relaxed and remembering to learn something new each time. forget about finding the solution. try to understand something new and commit it to memory.
Didier Ambroise You're awesome for this.. I re-iterate the same to my younger siblings.
Actually as a (fellow?) Math teacher for Many years, my observation has been almost opposite. For me, Math is Not about committing things to memory. Algorithms vs Concepts is nothing new though. And i think i Do understand what you mean(t). Thank you for your comments
Hogwarts
Unfortunately, much of the atmosphere surrounding maths is clouded with tension and stress. Kids have a pre-conceived idea about their future should they pursue math with regards to the stress of learning it. Add to that the attached "loser nerd" image that comes with the field that many kids steer clear of out of fear of social rejection. I hate to say make math cool again, but it really is what we should be doing, for the sake of the human race.
@Сhet Vosm let me attempt to answer your question With a Question:How many Formulas and Algorithms does any "reasonably competent" Professional have memorized? Technology has changed everything. In my life And experience, Having a CLEAR UNDERSTANDING of the Problem AND knowing Where and How to ACCESS the information
The last point about the importance of mathematics and science, I agree with that. I'm actually planning to study medicine (I'm currently in prep year), but I'm thinking of taking courses in "advanced mathematics" like calculus and other similar math courses (having them as side tracks parallel to my main study path), because mathematics helps you develop problem solving and critical thinking skills that are very essential. But the thing is; these skills don't grow on trees, you can't just aquire these skills in one day. You have to -as mentioned- practice, do spaced repetition, and be very consistent; to the point where you're sharp as a razor blade. The more time you stay away from practicing an idea, the more it becomes "difficult" to get back on track with your learning, because you have a lot of things to re-study in order to catch up. So it would be better to start with the consistency then keep it up (by studying and reviewing past topics then looking forward -and repeat). This will allow for achievable sustained learning.
Thank you Barbara for being a beautiful human being and sharing your wisdom!
this talk is very important.
Excellent research of Barbara Oakley and other colleagues
This should be teach in every academic level and all the countries.
also to the all people interesting in learn something the ones had not oportunity studying to the high school
1:01:48 "Because for a long time there's been this feeling that 'too much practice and repetition in mathematics will kill your creativity' instead of the reality that every great expert has to have practice and repetition.."
"Learning How to Learn", the course, is one of the most inspiring pieces of knowledge there is. I'd recommend everybody to take the course, you wont regret it.
Dr. Barbara Oakley, thank you very much for your deep insights. "The mind is a terrible thing to waste." --Great teacher.
A summary of what I learnt:
Have a good sleep
Good Exercise
Pomodoro Technique where rest is important (diffused state of mind to learn new things)
Repetition, Practice is important
Chunk - Make library of chunks.. When you get a idea, it is turned into compressed chunk, which can be easily explained (metaphor)
Slow thinking
Poor memory
You forgot "active recall", which is the most effective way to remembering what you learn (along with spaced repetition).
Sorry, what do you exactly mean by "Slow thinking" and
"Poor memory"?
It's such a great experience to learn from humble teachers...thanks a lot madam. It was a very helpful session that i was looking for a long time..reading to books is one thing which takes lot of time and listening from an expert is another
That is a very excellent lecture. It wrapped up and confirmed of the recent results in study of learning and building expertise. I think when she said that switching between focused and diffused modes is important in retaining more knowledge is perfectly match well with Anders Ericsson idea of how experts build their expertise by create a mental representations of subjects and problems which raise in their domain. Since focused mode capture the essentials of the subject matter as chunks, I think when we switch to diffused mode we create connections between these chunks in much more like a full mental image. Ericsson also argues that images works well with memory retention because images is more linked to our sensory experience for which it can easily save in our long-term memory. Repetitions and recalling help to enforce and cement the connections between the new neural patterns representing our mental representations which also represent our chunked learning experience! So, I think the sequence is in this way: Focused and Diffused modes --> Chunked information-->Mental representations-->Repetition and recalling-->Practice and Enforcement.REPEAT!
She's so awesome. The way she speaks sounds so optimistic
9:00 Brain in diffuse or focus mode
Sometimes you have to stop focus to solve a problem.
17:00 Learning takes time
17:30 - Overcome procrastination
Procrastination due to pain (can result in addiction). Focus on the time spent learning not the task. Pomodoro can help (e.g. 25min timers).
22:00 Importance of sleep and exercise
29:00 Working memory
Try to minimise distraction to maximise "intelligence".
31:00 Practice makes permanence - Why you need to repeat
34:00 Chunking and transfer learning
39:00 Memory, creativity, and speed
42:00 Imposter syndrome
Many feel this
44:30 Do you really understand?
Use tests!
Group learning.
47:00 How to read
Don't underline, but write down (activates memorisation). After every page look up and recall what you remember.
49:00 Metaphors or explain it simply
Feynman used to ask top mathematicians to explain concepts simple manner.
Tell me if I missed something :)
I miss her voice.
I sampled the "Learning how to Learn" course through Coursa that she taught, loved it! She's an amazing educator.
"Focused mode vs Diffuse mode"....
"Focus on the time, not the task"....About min 20:00+ procrastination. Min 24:00+ about sleep & new neurons.
"Focusing vs multitasking... Actually, multitasking can make you stupider.. Careful focus attention is very important." Min 30:00+...
"Long term memory to working memory is done through practice..." Min 32:00.
"Libraries of chunks ... " Min 36:00...
"Creativity... " Min 38:00ish... Slow thinkers can be of so much value...
"Imposter Syndrome... " Min 42:41+...
Love this video!!!
Recall...
"Writing down instead of highlighting when you read..."
You forgot the practical stuff:
Chunking
Spaced repetition
Test yourself as often as possible
Flashcards
Recall after you read something, take notes, also test your recall by taking notes on your notes.
Explain concepts so a child would understand
Talk to classmates in the unfocused mode
Imagine yourself being inside the environment you are learning.
@Sobeida..Thanks :-)
Sobeida Lagrange good job
Great talk! The only sad part for me is that now that I’m watching this talk (2021), Maryam Mirzakhani is passed away while during that talk she mentioned “she is one of the most creative mathematicians ALIVE.”😞
RIP Maryam🥀
Had the same thought((
I just learned the Pomodoro Technique. Thank you very much. I look forward to becoming a better learner.
I have a very high personal debt with Coursera, Barbara and Dr. Terry Sejnowski. This course basically changed my life. Awesome advice.
2 modes-
Focused mode
Diffused mode
Pinball machine representation in brain
When you are stuck on a problem, you need to use the diffused mode instead
Go for a run, go for a shower, something to get your mind off it
So that you can go to diffused mode
You need to go back and forth between the modes to solve the problem
So it takes time
It takes time to learn things
Procrastination is like an addiction
Use Pomodoro technique
Sleep is important
When you sleep new synaptic connections are being formed
Have many sleep-learning cycles again and again instead of cramming
Exercise is profoundly helpful by enhancing the ability of new neurons to survive
4 slots of working memory
Imagine octopus with 4 tentacles
Distractions take tentacles away
Practice makes permanent
Spaced repetition
Chunk forming
Learn more chunks and join them
You can make similarly structured chunks
Less focused means you likely have potential for way higher creativity
Slower speed means that you are not skipping the conclusions that faster brain people are
Tests are extremely useful
51:03 "Broaden your passion... it is not follow your passion alone", the thousand dollars advice from Barbara Oakely!
Very very powerful ideas. Her books helped me crack my exams witH high marks and more importantly high understanding and depth. Amazing !
I took her coursera class. It was very enjoyable. This video covered a lot of what was in the class in one fell swoop, though there is some extra stuff in the class. For people who are interested, it's 100% free unless you want a certificate proving you took the class, then you have to pay for it, but if you just want to go and take the class for fun, it's free. Do it!
this talk is good it feels like it starts off slow to provide context but by the end there is a lot of practical advice that makes me feel like I have a lot of new methods to try.
Thank you to google for uploading this amazing presentation. I have gained so much from listening to the talk
Explanation is clear. Good questions were asked and were answered with enlightenment. Good talk.
At 51:20 the girl is talking about "divide et impera", a common problem solving method we use in programming. When you have a big problem to solve, you divid it in smaller problems you can solve and than add everything togheter. Divide et Impera means literally divid and conquer
thank you, Barbara Oakley, and Talk Google for sharing the good lesson that anyone needs.
I'm watching this to help My students to learn English in a better way. Thanks for this.
This is so informative, worth listening to the whole talk! A lot of the things that Professor Oakley is talking about are things that I've felt in my first quarter at University, and it's really useful to hear it in this format, so I can put the techniques to use in the future!
Maestra jubilada sigo aprendiendo, ahora I am learning english, I see you point exactly the same spectrum as you. I really appreciate your speech. Thanks and Congratulations
Great introduction! That guy at the beginning could give lessons on how to do an introduction for a speaker. Genuine, relevant, and short. Bravo.
As a lifelong Procrastinator, this talk was very informative.
Also, very well presented.....
I learned a lot from mindmapping my learning ... it encompasses most of the learning tips given here.
What an incredible woman! Barbara’s course on Coursera is great!
Thanks
Learned more than I had expected while coming here. Thanks for the great talk!
59:52
I think I heard the answer to the motivation question in another lecture about motivation. Apparently, only the "carrot" actually deals with motivation, whereas the "stick" can only serve to extinct behaviors, wanted or unwanted. The ventral tegmental area (VTA) innervates the nucleus accumbens, causing it to release energy and motivation after working with the prefrontal cortex to determine if there is a reward and if that reward has an acceptable cost/benefit ratio. Individual differences are in part explained by which types of stimuli (and therefore hormone releases) activate the VTA.
According to my textbook, at a very young age, children behave in order to avoid punishment (seemingly contrary to the idea that motivation is only extincted by punishment, but perhaps their cortices aren't developed enough to do the cost/benefit analysis necessary to drive specific behaviours), then they behave with self interest. From teenage through adulthood, they are driven by conformity and authority.
From this, I can infer that punishment, as long as it's mild and infrequent enough to not activate the stress pathways associated with low intelligence in adulthood (i.e. timeout, but no yelling/spanking, in the event of misbehavior; the idea that they are being punished is not reliant on the extent of stimulus aversiveness), is an acceptable to extinct motivation causing unwanted behaviors in very young children but can't cause motivation. However, once they get to a certain developmental point (think for me, it would have been around 5-6), punishment loses effectiveness, and kids are motivated by self-interest. I imagine that demonstrating that doing math can help them acquire some reward would be useful. For instance, setting up a reward system giving a secondary reinforcer and following through (if you don't follow through, this would be seen as unfair [a negative punishment], and would likely extinct the desired behavior), like "ice cream tokens for math" (but not ice cream directly; that's a primary reinforcer). Once the child is a little bit older (pre-teens and teens), they become motivated by social groups and authority. At this point, approval of a teacher they view positively and incorporation into a rewarding social group that likes to do math would probably be effective.
To deviate from the textbook a bit, according to the book "Stick With It," the community can be a powerful way to increase compliance, especially if that community has at least 15% of likeable, charasmatic individuals who have some leadership role (for instance, tutors). In the book, they cited a study where these 15% were paid individuals, so you could probably provide an incentive for the club. Additionally, branding someone with an identity can cause a self-fulfilling prophecy, so long as they truly believe it. For instance, after your child does well on a math test, tell them they're "A hard worker and great mathematician." But don't tell them they're smart, because this leads to a fixed mindset (whereas rewarding the effort rather than the outcome leads to a growth mindset).
Anecdotally, the smartest math people I have known spent a lot of time doing math problems with parents or other adults as a form of bonding (rather than the more seemingly common teacher-student roles). A sense of self-efficacy and identifying as being good at something are key to people sticking to a task.
Sorry to write so much! I've been studying psychology and sociology for my impending MCAT, and enjoy synthesizing what I've learned along with some of the non-fiction books I've read.
Thanks! Can you elaborate on the point of icecream vs icecream tokens?
Loved reading your comment. Learning a lot. Will definitely deep dive
She is great the way she explains with her tips and methods. She kinda reminds me of Sheldon's mom.
I have yet another idea I want to add: embrace the topic or field u r learning as something that is ur own.
Excellent 'brief summary' of Dr. Barbara Oakley’s 4 week Coursera MOOC /w US San Diego Univ. ‘Learning how to Learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects’ - had the pleasure of participating together with some 217.000 students at global level January this year - can strongly recommend it :)
Barbara.You Are Very Awesome, Thank You
I always found memorizing challenging, but thanks for the positive interpretation of the tradeoff--a ton of creativity. People often vented their frustration about my slow thinking process, too, but apparently slow minds are more flexible. I can live with that.
This video is a must download... visiting just once isn't enough...
59:50 - It is great to hear Barbara Oakley state that there is an over-emphasis on "math is fun" in the USA today. Right on!
I can focus better when I write everything down on lectures, but some profs don't like it. They get conscious or distracted even by the slightest movement. I'm glad we've switched to online learning now.
1) Sleep (Wash out toxins & weak send dendritic, Strength new information )
2) Exercise (Good for dendritic to grow which helps to hook information )
3) Eat healthy
4) Learning & Link (Topic A with Topic B)
4.5) Do theory and practical (Fast learning)
5) Retrieve (Test yourself, Spaced repetition )
6) Take Breaks (Pomodoro, Avoid burnouts)
7) Reward yourself.(Most Most Most important tip)
I interact with the world through analogy and metaphor it is the only consistent way I have found to communicate effectively.
I just watched a number of videos one after the other and I am really amazed by them! Thanks for delivering such interesting videos and super compact and helpful information
This lecture is fantastic! Your explanations are so clear.
She is so inspirational! I just got her book and it's a resource I'm using in my thesis paper. I've always been amazed by how we learn and that's what I'm studying!
3min into it, i can already tell. lol
Bravo Professor Barbara Oakley. You are awesome. Thanks.
I had the opportunity to take an class from Dr. Oakley 12 years ago. She is a superb professor and would highly recommend her to anyone.
9:04 To simplify the brain's operation
"And you can simplify the brain's operation
into two fundamentally different modes.
First one is Focused mode,
and the second is the Diffused mode.
And this is actually-- it relates to the default mode network and other related-- there's some 24 or 25 so far--
neural resting states that have been detected. And so all of these states altogether,
I'll just call the diffuse mode. And what can happen-- I mean, our best
way to really understand these two different modes is to use a metaphor."
Metaphor: pinball machine. "
19:00 - How to overcome procrastination
procrastination can actually be like an addiction.
You do it once, you do it twice-- it's not that big a deal. You do it a lot of times, though,
and it actually can be very, very detrimental for your life.
here's the most effective way
to help you deal with procrastination. And it is simply to use the Pomodoro Technique.
21:51 So a couple of little pointers.
First, don't sit down and do a Pomodoro and say,
you know, I'm going to finish off my work.
Don't focus on the task. Only focus on the time. 21:57
And that's the trick to this technique. Because it gets you past that pain in the brain
and allows you to just relax comfortably and get into the flow of the task.
And that's the trick to this technique. Because it gets you past that pain in the brain
and allows you to just relax comfortably and get into the flow of the task. make subtle change
22:00 good guidelines... exercise importance around
22:32 Sleep is important
28:00... good metaphor
33:00...
38:00 awesome awesome awesome...
46:15 Now, probably the most valuable technique when you're trying to really understand something difficult
is simple recall. When you're reading material on a page, you read away, and your tendency is to-- well, I'm going to underline it, right?
Because when you're hand is moving on the page, you think it's moving it into your brain somehow. But it actually is not.47:00 the absolute best way to read
47:15 But it's better to write it because you're helping
to neurally encode these ideas.
And then when you read the page, simply
look away and see what you can recall.
That, as it turns out, is very powerful in building
your understanding of the material in a way
that other technique, including mind mapping and re-reading--
they're not nearly as good as recall.
1. Focused mode and diffused mode - thinking - Switching between two modes of thinking - learning current subject makes quicker
a. Unable to come up with solutions - go for a walk .. etc
2. Combat Procrastination using Pomodoro technique - focus of time not on “Completion” of task.
3. Sleep - Take good rest - it cleans brain toxins and helps for new leaning connections
4. Exercise - yes Walking in an exercise
5. Practice and Repetition - moves patterns from working memory into long term memory
a. Spaced repetitions is much better
6. Attention - and create chunks of information
7. Homework - do it more than once and see if you can play it in your mind?
8. Recall - Recall
9. Passion - Follow your passion but BROADEN your passion
I knew it...many of these ideas exposed I experienced myself...they do work...of course I've learn much more from this talk....awesome talk!!!
Oh, I have no thoughts to write about this one. I really really really really got new thing...
51:00 QUESTION/ANSWERS
Just a personal comment about the question at 56 min: when I was a kid I used to create and prefer alternative ways to sum and subtract rather than just memorise everything. So for me, I would love to learn at school more than one way how to multiply, for example!
I like Barbara 's simplicity , visuals & analogies
to the question at 58:41 an answer can be using audio books because they go faster and u can't control
I was watching this video as a procrastination from work, but the video is quite long and a bit complex, but very interesting nevertheless, so I procrastinated again, and kept the video paused for more than a month, and finally finished it... and now finally going back to work.
Very good video though, and very clear answers. Thank you!
Very informative. I like the last part: don't follow your passion, broaden your passion.
She's super upbeat and speaks very clear, loved it!
AIU is encouraging and motivating me while teaching me the basics of techniques on learning
This is incredible! it gives purpose to every human specially to those who think they're not good enough. Your reason to exist is magnified by this great speech.
My summary of some highlights would be:
- Exercise, even simple brisk walking, can enhance the neural connections & help build new neurons, similar to the effect of learning new things itself & supportive to it.
- Distraction makes it hard for short-term memory to interact with long-term memory (saving in it & retrieving from it).
- Spaced regular repetitions of studied materials (without leaving big time gaps in between) help to homogenize & consolidate the material in the brain.
- People who think that they are slow thinkers can be actually experiencing the very common "imposter syndrome". Also, slow thinking can be actually a more of "analytical thinking" that can observe & detect important things that other "rushing" minds cannot detect.
- "Following your passion" can be a tricky concept, as people have passion towards topics they are relatively "good" at, & some topics take much more time to be good at than others. So, instead of following your passion, first "broaden" your passion..
Broaden your passion is something interesting.
Superb talk, reinforces what I have learnt over the years on How to Learn...
Thanks for everything.
I've been doing this since years and never thought of it as a technic lol. I'm an A+ student and she is so right about all of this. You just gotta understand everything that you're learning. If you miss something it blocks the rest of your understanding. By understanding and being able to deeply get it and explain it with your own vision, the whole subject will naturally build up itself in your mind to finally become a big chunk of accurate elements. By doing this you'll also see that what you actually learn in college or whatever will naturally apply in your daily life and make you understand more sides of this world that you didn't know. That's it. Very well explanation.
Maybe you are born with strong working memory and be you got talent on cognitive psychology. what she brought up here are part of cognitive psychological research topics and some relevant to brain science
Agreed. I was home schooled some, so i learned to teach my self at a young age. I use this with youtube videos when learning something. if i dont understand it i just watch someone elses youtube video until i get it.
different explanations stick for different people.
You just have to look at it a different way.
(sorry if this was messy i was just writing as i was thinking. lol) Not going to win any awards for this comment but hope you get my drift.
I see no other way to learn, y'know.
@@rubbermanburningflowers9204 She must have talent on cognitive psychology because she has already subconsciously practice what scientists have researched? That's like saying I have a talent in muscular physiology because I know that working out gives me big muscles.
@@rubbermanburningflowers9204 It's not about that, you may get stuck one time and try and wonder how to study a course more effectively, then you read or watch videos on how to do that then experiment what you learned, and then evaluate its effectiveness. As the saying says "Success is in the details", if you know all the small details about the course and you were able to explain them in the most simplest ways, then -and only then- you'll be able to map through your knowledge and be able to answer any given question, because you'e got it all figured.