Coursera: Learning how to learn

Astrophysics, Molecular genetics, Immunology, Microbiology, Public

health, Environmental Science, Medical science, Mathematics
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math)
Engineering, Physics, Neuroscience, Philosophy
Week 1
Idea Journal keep from forgetting things, habit of observation, idea
for changings/future
4 principles of creativity
Everyone is creative, every moment
Creativity is diverse - level, style, motive, opportunity
No standard/ideal form of creativity
Analogy helps in learning sth new
Alternate between focus and diffuse thinking
Do some bit everyday
Million billion synapses where memory is stored
Synapses single connections between neurons, <1micron in
diameter
Procrastination
Some event activate brains area of pain, brain naturally switch
attention to something else
The neurodiscomfort assuages when people figure out what make
them uneasy
Pomodoro tool: concentrate for 25 min, then few min of rest
For more abstract knowledge that we dont have direct feelings or
sensing, we need more practice to strengthen the neural
connections.
Some rest between concentration intervals is useful for the brain to
cool and work the concept out in diffuse thinking mode
Long term memory
immense, information could bury each other
takes time and practice
more efficient if repeated over several days
Working (Short term) memory
Processes around 4 chunks of information at once
Need to repeat to keep the idea staying
Sometimes access to long term memory

Sleep: Wash away toxin (brain neurons shrink), Strengthen

important parts and erase trivial memories, Rehearse difficult
material (more likely to dream if thought and wanted before sleep),
Better at focusing in depth

Week 2
Chunks compact packages of information that your mind can
easily access
Working memory access them -- more difficult during
stress
Unite different thoughts together through meaning &
logic
Transfer - they can relate and combine, even helpful in
very different topics
1 Understand the topic
2 - Carry out the concept by yourself
3 Get hold of when and when not to use it, firm & accessible from
many paths
Context where 2 types of learning meet; learn when to use a
certain technique
View the major topics or concept first, helps brain to organize
chunks
Ex: Chapter outlines, subtitles, pictures, charts
Recall is much more efficient than reread/drawing concept maps
Radom highlighting & underlining has a negative effect
Making ideas into chunks takes less working memory space
Mistakes correct our thinking; know more exactly what to
improve
We unconsciously connect what we learn to the surrounding better
think of my revision or learning place during test!
Neuromodulators neurons producing chemicals that influence
neuron activity

Acetylcholine for focused learning &

synapses that build long-term memory
Dopamine control motivation;
produces when we receive unexpected
rewards; predicts future rewards as our
motivation
Lack of dopamine causes Anhedonia
lost of interest (severe)
Serotonin - Affect social life, the more
the better, low level causes risks taking
Emotions are intertwined with
perceptions and cognition
2 ways of solving problem
Sequential step-by-step reasoning, each to a solution, used in
focus mode
Holistic leaping through chunks, where most difficult ideas are
grasped, diffuse mode, must be checked and verified in focus mode
Law of Serendipity: Lady luck favors the ones who try
Things get easier - Ssssllowwwllly
Overlearning Repeating something constantly after knowing the
concept
Good & necessary for public performances and decrease stress
However, might waste time and trick you
Interleaving extraordinary important, build flexibility & creativity
- Jumping between problems requiring different techniques,
approach problem in different ways, think of why a particular
method is needed, have a glance at the most complex problems,
leave repetition and think more independently
- The process is painful & feels inefficient, but has great outcomes
Concept of Einstellung (mindset) you might be entrenched in
things that you do repeatedly and become less capable of switching
to new ideas
Week 3
Procrastination shifts mind automatically away from sth.
unpleasant
Habit CueRoutineReward
- Can be either good or bad
Tricks & facts to tackle procrastination:
Normal to start learning with some negative feelings
Handle the feelings in a scornful way
Focus on process instead of product
Process flow of time and the habits & actions associated with it
Product triggers the pain that causes procrastination

We want to change some habits by alternating parts of it,

dont wish to change all of it at once
Cue Location, Time, Mood, Reactions; Pomodoro Technique
Routine Make a plan; Do sth to prevent distractions
Reward Why the bad habit make you feel pleasant?
Belief Do it as if youre going to make it
Writing a task list frees working memory to focus more on present
tasks
Better done the evening before, it triggers the subconscious to work
on it
PLAN AN EARLY GOAL FINISH TIME
Week 4
We learn more effectively at critical period (2 yearsold/puberty/etc.), and it takes a much longer time after that to make
adjustments.
Visual cortex mature at childhood
Prefrontal cortex mature in early adulthood
Sometimes previous learned knowledge will suddenly collapse
dont worry, its the brain upgrading and reorganizing information
People with better working memory might be less creative, vice
versa.
Impostor Syndrome Others are going to figure out how
incompetent you are
We can make significant changes in our brain by changing how we
think.

Test checklist
- Did you make a serious effort to understand the text?
- Did you work with classmates on homework problems?
- Did you participate actively in homework group discussions?
- Did you consult with the instructor?
- Did you understand all your homework problem solutions?
- Did you ask in class for explanations of homework problem
solutions that werent clear to you?
- Go through study guide?
- Did you attempt to outline lots of problem solutions quickly?
- Did you go over the study guide and problems with classmates
and quiz one another?
- A review session?
- REASONABLE NIGHTS SLEEP BEFORE THE TEST

During test, alternate between hard and easy questions

You have not truly learned something unless you can teach it to
others