Learning how to learn | Barbara Oakley | TEDxOaklandUniversity
TLDRThe speaker recounts their journey from struggling with math and science to becoming an engineering professor. They share their experience in the military, learning Russian and working as a translator, which sparked their interest in problem-solving techniques used by engineers. After leaving the military, they sought to change their learning approach by studying neuroscience and cognitive psychology, discovering the importance of alternating between focus and diffuse modes for effective learning. Using analogies like a pinball machine, the speaker illustrates how to navigate these modes and offers practical tips like the Pomodoro Technique to combat procrastination. They also highlight the benefits of creativity in learning, the value of slow thinking, and the necessity of practice and repetition for mastery.
Takeaways
- 😀 Overcoming early struggles: The speaker struggled with math and science in school but eventually became a passionate professor of engineering.
- 🌍 Diverse experiences: The speaker's journey included enlisting in the army, learning Russian, working as a translator, and even meeting their spouse in Antarctica.
- 🧠 Brain modes: Effective learning involves alternating between focus mode (concentrated thinking) and diffuse mode (relaxed, wide-ranging thinking).
- 🎯 Problem-solving techniques: Both Salvador Dali and Thomas Edison used techniques that combined relaxation with focused work to foster creativity and solve problems.
- 🕰️ Pomodoro Technique: Using the Pomodoro Technique, which involves 25 minutes of focused work followed by a short break, can help manage procrastination and improve productivity.
- 🔄 Back and forth: Alternating between focused attention and relaxation is key to learning new concepts and solving problems.
- 💡 Creativity and memory: Students with poor working memory or attention may be more creative because they are open to new ideas.
- 🏃♀️ Exercise benefits: Physical exercise can significantly enhance learning and memory capabilities.
- 📚 Effective study methods: Testing oneself, using flashcards, and practicing problems multiple times are effective ways to reinforce learning.
- 🧠 Recall vs. rereading: Actively recalling information is more effective than passive techniques like highlighting or rereading for mastering material.
Q & A
What challenges did the speaker face with math and science during their early education?
-The speaker struggled with math and science from elementary through high school, failing their way through these subjects due to the lack of a sequential learning environment caused by moving frequently.
How did the speaker's military service influence their interest in learning languages and cultures?
-The speaker enlisted in the army right after high school to learn a language, which led to them becoming a Russian translator and working on Soviet trawlers in the Bering Sea. This experience nurtured their love for adventure and new perspectives.
Where did the speaker meet their husband?
-The speaker met their husband at the South Pole Station in Antarctica.
What realization did the speaker come to regarding their internal growth?
-The speaker realized that despite their external adventures and new perspectives, they were not changing internally. They recognized the need to learn problem-solving techniques from the engineers they worked with in the military.
Why did the speaker decide to change their brain after leaving the military?
-After observing the powerful problem-solving techniques used by West Point engineers, the speaker decided to learn these 'languages' of math, science, and technology to add to their existing knowledge and passions.
What did the speaker learn about the brain's learning modes from experts and cognitive psychology?
-The speaker discovered that the brain operates in two fundamentally different modes: focus mode, for concentrated thinking on familiar concepts, and diffuse mode, which allows for broader thinking and grappling with new ideas.
How does the speaker use the pinball machine analogy to explain the brain's focus and diffuse modes?
-In focus mode, thoughts follow established pathways, similar to a pinball bouncing along rubber bumpers. In diffuse mode, the 'bumpers' are further apart, allowing thoughts to range widely and explore new concepts.
What historical figure did the speaker mention as an example of using the diffuse mode effectively?
-Salvador Dali, the surrealist painter, used the diffuse mode by relaxing with keys in his hands, allowing ideas to form before waking up to work on them in focus mode.
What is the Pomodoro Technique and how can it help with overcoming procrastination?
-The Pomodoro Technique involves setting a timer for 25 minutes of focused work followed by a short break. This method helps build the ability to concentrate and relax, making it a practical tool against procrastination.
How does the speaker suggest leveraging perceived weaknesses like poor working memory or slow thinking?
-The speaker suggests that these perceived weaknesses can actually foster creativity and deeper understanding. For instance, poor working memory allows for more ideas to intermingle, while slow thinking provides a more profound learning experience.
What are some effective study techniques mentioned in the script for mastering learning material?
-Effective study techniques mentioned include regular exercise to enhance learning and memory, frequent self-testing, revisiting homework problems over several days until the solution becomes fluent, and using recall to reinforce understanding.
What is the key takeaway from the speaker about the importance of learning how to learn?
-The key takeaway is that learning how to learn is the most powerful tool one can grasp. It's not just about following passions but broadening them, which can greatly enrich one's life.
Outlines
😀 Overcoming Educational Challenges
The speaker reflects on their unconventional journey to becoming an engineering professor despite struggling with math and science throughout school. They recount their love for language and culture, which led to military service to learn Russian and work as a translator. This experience, along with meeting their husband in Antarctica, sparked a realization about the importance of internal change. Inspired by West Point engineers, the speaker decided to tackle their academic weaknesses and change their learning approach after leaving the military at 26. They reached out to top professors worldwide to understand effective learning and teaching methods, leading to insights into the brain's focus and diffuse modes of learning.
🤔 The Pinball Machine of Learning Modes
The speaker uses a pinball machine analogy to explain the two modes of learning: focus mode and diffuse mode. Focus mode is direct and involves familiar thoughts, while diffuse mode allows for broader thinking, essential for grappling with new concepts. The analogy illustrates how learning involves toggling between these modes, especially when stuck on a problem. The speaker highlights the importance of stepping away to let the diffuse mode work in the background, citing examples from Salvador Dali and Thomas Edison, who used relaxation techniques to enhance their creativity. The speaker emphasizes the universal creativity in problem-solving and idea analysis, regardless of one's field.
🎓 Strategies for Overcoming Procrastination
The speaker addresses procrastination, describing it as a physical pain that can be overcome by pushing through or by using distraction as a temporary fix. However, consistent avoidance can become addictive and detrimental. To combat this, the speaker suggests the Pomodoro Technique, which involves 25 minutes of focused work followed by a short break. This method not only improves focus but also acknowledges the importance of relaxation in learning. The speaker also discusses how perceived weaknesses, such as poor working memory or slow thinking, can enhance creativity and lead to deeper understanding. They caution against the illusion of competence and the importance of effective study techniques, including exercise, self-testing, and varied practice.
🏃♂️ Enhancing Learning Through Physical and Mental Techniques
The speaker highlights exercise as a means to improve learning and memory capabilities. They advocate for frequent self-testing and the use of flashcards in all subjects, including math and science. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of revisiting homework problems multiple times over several days until the solution becomes second nature. They advise against relying solely on highlighting and rereading as study methods, instead promoting the effectiveness of recall. The speaker dispels the myth that understanding alone is sufficient for mastery, stressing the necessity of practice and repetition in various contexts. They conclude by stating that learning how to learn is the most powerful tool one can possess and encourage broadening one's passions for an enriched life.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Sequential
💡Bandwagon
💡Engineering Professor
💡Language and Culture
💡Adventure
💡Problem Solving
💡Diffuse Mode
💡Pinball Machine Analogy
💡Pomodoro Technique
💡Creativity
💡Mastery
Highlights
The speaker overcame a challenging academic background to become a passionate engineering professor.
Mathematics was a struggle for the speaker until they fell behind in 3rd grade.
The speaker's journey includes military service, learning Russian, and working as a translator on Soviet trawlers.
Antarctica's South Pole Station is where the speaker met their husband.
Despite external adventures, the speaker realized a lack of internal change and sought to learn problem-solving techniques.
After leaving the military at 26, the speaker decided to retrain their brain with a focus on learning.
The speaker consulted top professors and experts in neuroscience and cognitive psychology to understand effective learning.
The brain operates in two modes: focus mode for direct attention and diffuse mode for relaxed neural states.
The pinball machine analogy is used to explain the difference between focus and diffuse modes of thinking.
When stuck on a problem, shifting to diffuse mode allows the brain to work through solutions in the background.
Salvador Dali and Thomas Edison used relaxation techniques to enhance creativity and solve problems.
The Pomodoro Technique is recommended to manage procrastination by working in focused intervals followed by short breaks.
Traits like poor working memory, tension, and slow thinking can lead to greater creativity and deeper understanding.
Exercise has been shown to increase the ability to learn and remember, with neurophysiological benefits.
Regular self-testing and the use of flashcards are effective study techniques for reinforcing learning.
The importance of practicing homework problems multiple times to achieve mastery, similar to learning a song.
Highlighting and rereading are less effective than active recall for learning and retaining information.
Mastery of material requires understanding combined with practice and repetition in various contexts.
Learning how to learn is the most powerful tool one can possess and should be used to broaden passions.
Transcripts
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