I will try now a Summary of the whole course, without notes, by memory, so I am going to...
Recall the Learning how to learning course of Coursera.
Our brain is the most complex thing that human been has discovered in the whole universe. We are still learning how it works and about its functions. At the moment we can talk about two basic modes that our brain uses in the learning process of both academic and non-academic subjects.
The first mode is called Focus Mode: we put our attention in one specific idea, concept, material, or text that we are trying to learn for a reasonable time: not too long. We do not want to make tired our brains. Here we keep away as much as we can any distracting stimulus (phones, internet, friends, etc.). Focus Mode is an important part of the learning process, but not the only one.
The second mode is the Diffuse Mode: it is related with all the process that our brain does while we are in a more relaxing moment. For instance, when we are sleeping, or doing automatic things like riding a bike, driving a car or just eating or watching television. This process is as important as the focus mode. We hardly could imagine the deep connections that our brain is making during this. The Diffuse mode allows our brains to discover new ways solving problems that sometimes we cannot manage with the focus one.
I will continue with more concepts and less words:
- The importance of mix both modes (focus and diffuse)
- The importance of doing physical exercise (work out) in the resting moments or breaks during learning process. Sports or exercise in general maintain our new neural connection alive.
- excercesing
- The importance of go beyond procrastination:
o The use of Pomodoro Technique
o Having a Plan B to overtake bad habits, and create new better reaction when our minds do not want to do what we need to do because it looks boring or difficult what we are trying to learn.
o Understand that the pain we feel when we simply think in these things that we know we need to do but we do not want to, is absolutely normal. This pain or ugly sensation will disappear when we begin to do it.
o The more you delay the things you need to do, the more stressed you will become.
- The importance of using metaphors and analogies to learn and assimilate new concepts or ideas. The more visual, likely the best.
- The importance of “recall”: bring to memory what you are learning. It will be much better than read one time after another the same text, or repeat again and again something that you already know, but maybe you do not really understand in a deep way.
- The importance of study in a large period of time, repeating a little bit every day the material you need to memorise, and understand. The more you master the concepts, more time you will leave between every new study session of this main topic, ideas, subject or material.
- Create a task list:
o Do it before going to sleep.
o Write on it: your goals, and what works for you, and what does not to reach these goals.
o Be realistic in your goals. Step by step.
o This list will save working memory energy (you will stop thinking any moment: “oh, what I need to do?” “Am I forgetting something important?”....And all this kind of questions that make you tired and lose your vital energy.
- You can improve your learning process if you know how to work in a good way with partners that are achieving the same goals of you. If you study in a group, try to:
o Start on time the study sessions.
o Prepare the material before the session.
o Try to create answers for the questions if any.
o Be active, giving examples or showing possible answers, and asking when you do not know something.
o Keep not related with the material small talk as low as you can. And focus the attention of the group in the study object.
o If your study group in not helping you, look for another one.
- You have to use both sides of your brain. This is important because if you do not, one side of your brain could confuse you making you think that everything you have done in your test is correct. You must go back in your test and check your answers again. It is not a bad idea to review the test in other order than how you just did it.
- Taking a test:
o Check the before-test list before your test.
o Ask your teacher everything you cannot understand.
o Study hard until the test day, but then try to relax. The stress will never help your brain working well.
o Use relaxing techniques like breathing exercises, not only just before and during the test, but also weeks before the exam. Remember: practice makes permanent. So, learn how to breathing deeply to liberate the stress.
o Order to do your test: try to star with the hardest problems or questions, but if you see you are stack on them, Jump to easy
o You can change the way you feel about something changing your thoughts and reactions after some sensations. For example: you feel yourself completely anxious and stressed, your hands are sweating and your heart bit fast, because the test. Here you can see two options of thoughts about these feelings: a) this test will kill me; it makes me feel so afraid about it, or b) this test makes me feel excited! I want to do everything I can to pass it!
- List before tests
- You can change your life changing your thoughts.
- Take rest correctly the night before the test: this is maybe the most important point of the list before test, because if you do not sleep well your brain will be working with toxic fluids that will not allow you to think in a correct way.
- It is absolutely normal have a hard moment during your learning process. Sometimes you may perceive like you are going back on it, but it is not true. That means you are creating new and better basis for your knowledge. If you continue practicing and studying every day at least a little bit, you will improve for sure!
- You can learn and improve in any area of learning, not only where you find you have facilities or better capacities. You can also pride and take energy to improve from the very things that other people might use to convince you shouldn’t do this or that, telling you, for instance: “oh, no, you cannot do this. You are not good in this stuff, try another thing...” In the same way, you do not need to feel envy for others.
- Sleeping after study will help you to internalize what you are learning. If you dream about the new concepts or ideas is even better.
- Try to teach other people what you are learning. This will also help you mastering the concepts.
- We can learn how to learn!
- We can learn at any time during life!
- Learning is beautiful!
Thanks a lot my friends!