Learning how to learn: The missing link in Grade school learning has arrived...

The answer to the education system has arrived via Coursera and UC San Diego by Dr. Terence Sejnowski and Dr Barbara Oakley... Outlining the key aspects of the program as follows is an amalgam to my benefits of the program

• Focused and diffuse modes of thinking:

Dr Barbara Oakley says: "It turns out that if you know about a little bit of the basics of how the brain works, you can learn more easily and be less frustrated." After which she enlightens and educates us about the fun intricacies of the two modes of thinking. Diffuse mode we learned is a relaxed way of thinking that is broad in its approach using the "whole picture paradigm." Grade school learners in South Africa do not know of this whole brain approach. 

• Key techniques proven by research to help students learn most efficiently:

Chunking, Pomodoro technique, Memory Palace, Interleaving and Einstellung to name a few

• Illusions of learning:

Repeating someting you know overly well leads to "illusion of learning" or what Dr. Oakley calls "Illusion of Competence" (Week 2:6) in other words learning the easy stuff.

• Memory:

The interchange of Working memory and long term memory by way of practice daily over time is like a warehouse of information that also involves "interleaving" which can be recalled later. Important for solid structures to grow. Excercise as we saw in Dr Sejnowski's beach run is vitally important for memory integrity.

• Chunking:

By definition "Chunking" is the mental leap that helps unite bits of information together to form meaning.

It engages the prefrontal cortex in the focused modes by connecting parts of the brain to bring information together to tie ideas to each other.

• Sleep:

Learned from Dr Oakley that sleep is important because according to Jon Hamilton's NPD article: "Brains sweep themselves clean of toxins during sleep" - the flow of cerebro spinal fluid in the brain increases dramatically, washing away harmful waste proteins that build up between brain cells during waking hours, a study of mice found. "It's like a dishwasher," says Dr. Maiken Nedergaard, a professor of neurosurgery at the University of Rochester and an author of the study in Science.

• Metaphor, story, and visualization in learning:

Metaphor provides powerful techniques for learning and takes chunking and and helps one tackle a subject that is applicable to another area. Story is like the mneumonic technique and visualization allows spatial and right brain thinking to occur

• Transfer of ideas and concepts from one area to another

Again chunking and interleaving together with deliberate practice helps manifest this kind of paradigm of idea transition of interrelated concepts between different areas.

• Deliberate practice

When Bill Gates and Steve Jobs read for extended periods so that their brains can come up with fresh ideas and maximize the most out of chunking and pomodoro

• Interleaving

Technique on how and when to use certain chunks by jumping back and forth between situations that require different strategies..

• Procrastination:

Is associated with the insular cotex which is pain and is a roadblock and you funnel your attention onto a more pleasant task. The solution is the Pomodoro technique that involves: 25 minutes, no interruptions, focus and reward is a technique that stymies procrastination.

• Testing

Remembering to avoid "Illusion of competence" and keep working on the long term memory is key.

• Mindset:

Reference to writing down activities that require your most apt attention or eating the frog by (Week 3:4) harnessing your inner zombie to assist.

• Working with others in learning

Stimulating and interactive this is missing in today's world were the smartphone robs humanity of true connection.

• Cultural similarities and differences in learning

There is a universality in the way the brain learns through spatial awareness and the five senses in acquiring information personifies cultural similarities and in some cases differences in learning. 

• Life-long learning and broadening your passions

The Scott Young (Week 3: 4-14) interview encompasses and enlivens one to lifelong learning and broadening one's passions in eternal learning.

• Learning independently

Techniques relating to procrastination and taking to heart the bonus lectures really brings change to having the discipline to learn indie style.

In case you missed my "Attach cover page" to Assignment 2...
UC San Diego's breakthrough Coursera offering entitled Learning how to learn: "Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects" by Dr. Terrence Sejnowski and Dr. Barbara Oakley has provided learners especially from Grade school who had to deal with the inability of the basics of learning and all the years being nervous and afraid... until now!
My journey through this course has helped my 34-year-old self deal with issues of how proper learning would have made grade school more fun, more enjoyable and more satisfying.
Understanding the way the brain functions in its focused and diffuse modes (Lecture: Week 1 Video 1) by Dr. Oakley is like a key to a proverbial pandora's box to improved marked learning. I now have the tool to teach my kids the natural way of fun learning.
The revelation and appropriateness of the Pomodoro technique in a focused 25 minute learning session where the mind is free from distractions from smartphones and always on Internet.
This real life South African journalist found Week Three life changing with the focus on procrastination (Week 3: 0 Introduction - Procrastination and memory); (Week 3: 1 Tackling procrastination - Its easier and more valuable than you think) and (Week 3: 6 Introduction - Summing up procrastination).
I was able in an instant to condition my mind as to the psychology of the brain and its innate reaction to procrastination. I actually finished three top stories in a personal record time.