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Back to Learning How to Learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects

Learner Reviews & Feedback for Learning How to Learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects by Deep Teaching Solutions

4.8
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88,662 ratings

About the Course

This course gives you easy access to the invaluable learning techniques used by experts in art, music, literature, math, science, sports, and many other disciplines. We’ll learn about how the brain uses two very different learning modes and how it encapsulates (“chunks”) information. We’ll also cover illusions of learning, memory techniques, dealing with procrastination, and best practices shown by research to be most effective in helping you master tough subjects. Using these approaches, no matter what your skill levels in topics you would like to master, you can change your thinking and change your life. If you’re already an expert, this peep under the mental hood will give you ideas for turbocharging successful learning, including counter-intuitive test-taking tips and insights that will help you make the best use of your time on homework and problem sets. If you’re struggling, you’ll see a structured treasure trove of practical techniques that walk you through what you need to do to get on track. If you’ve ever wanted to become better at anything, this course will help serve as your guide. This course can be taken independent of, concurrent with, or prior to, its companion course, Mindshift. (Learning How to Learn is more learning-focused, and Mindshift is more career-focused.) A related course by the same instructors is Uncommon Sense Teaching. To join the fully translated Portuguese version of the course, visit: https://www.coursera.org/learn/aprender To join the fully translated Spanish version of the course, visit: https://www.coursera.org/learn/aprendiendo-a-aprender To join the fully translated Chinese version of the course, visit: https://www.coursera.org/learn/ruhe-xuexi To join the fully translated French version of the course, visit : http://www.coursera.org/learn/apprendre-comment-apprendre...

Top reviews

JS

Aug 13, 2017

I really appreciate the time these guys invested in this course and am willing to take it again if they re-explain some topics in order to refresh some things that with time haven't stayed in my mind.

RS

Dec 31, 2021

This class really focused on the process of learning. It taught me so much. I even shared ideas with my college and high school student. They were surprised as some concepts were helpful to them also.

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776 - 800 of 10,000 Reviews for Learning How to Learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects

By Muhammad U A

Jul 28, 2021

One memory that keep coming to me about the diffused mode is from the start of my accounting career. In good old days when ledgers were written manually, tallying the trail balance was the most daunting task. Many a times we will work several hours, using each and every technique in the accounting books to find that 25 cents to tally our trial balance - only to leave late from the office in sheer frustration. And the next morning, within first half an hour, we will find it. Now I know why - and so many other things that I have been fighting off. Wish knew these techniques long ago!

By Lori C

Dec 23, 2015

I enrolled in this course because of my new job. I'm an analyst trainee and in order to help me learn my job, I needed to learn how to learn. This course gave me some very useful information and techniques that I've already started to apply (Pomodoro technique, chunking, memory palace - all of this takes practice!). I recommend this course to anyone - students, employees who are learning something new on the job, or just anyone who has the desire to gain new skills. Many thanks to the instructors and UC San Diego for providing this course. I was engaged and excited to start each lesson.

By Galyna K

Jun 5, 2023

This is a fantastic course, and after I finished it in December 2017 I could begin studying English regularly, which had been my dream all my life. At that time, I worked as a teacher of Computer Science, and my students (15 -17 years) struggled to study programming language. We together discussed their problem and this course helped me a lot. I also could change some of my bad habits. I tell all my students, my friends, and colleagues about this course. And now I want to repeat this course again. Thank you very much for creating this course and permit to learn for free.

Galyna Kravets

By Rana R

Jun 2, 2020

I can't thank you enough for such an amazing course with all the techniques you provided and the interesting way of interpreting how our minds work.

Indeed, it's a very useful course covering concepts behind how to learn effectively and efficiently.This course is applicable in all aspects of life. Because of this course, now I understand the process of learning better, and because I understand a little better, I've become more motivated in trying new things out.I want to thank the tutors for this wonderful useful course and their videos, and I look forward to seeing more of their work.

By Luciano C

Oct 18, 2019

In italiano: si tratta di un corso utile perchè si focalizza su qualcosa che raramente viene insegnato (almeno nelle scuole italiane) ovvero a COME studiare piuttosto che a cosa studiare. E' valsa la pena seguirlo. Grazie a tutte le persone coinvolte in questo progetto.

English: it's a MOOC worth his while because it focus on something seldom teached in school that is HOW study and not on what to study. Follow the course is, in my opinion a good way to spend a little of your time to get many cue on how improve yourself. Thank you to all the people involved in this project.

Luciano Ciotola

By Kalpana C

Jan 11, 2021

I have truly enjoyed the Course, I kept coming back to it with more curiosity and need to learn. I am being totally inspired by the facilitator Barbara Oklay's syle of the transaction, it has such a social presence and an appeal to the learner. The videos , learning material, essential and optional resources are organised so well, that whatever is taught is applied like chunking, short videos, testing, etc. My own doctoral research is on self-directed learning and the interview with Dr Richard in week 4 was so relatable.

Thank you for such a wonderful, stimulating learning experience!!

By Sathishkumar K

May 21, 2020

This is an amazing course. The design, flow and videos help gain understanding of the content in a seamless manner. The learning is highly engaging because of the simplicity of concept and the clarity of ideas provided right from the beginning of the course. Regular assessments and options to study additional content makes the learning more fun and exciting. The best part of this course is that one can apply the learnings of this course to anything and everything that you are learning or wish to learn. This is must do course for anyone who wants to keep learning in this journey of life

By Maher H

Jan 29, 2018

Amazing course given by amazing people! the course chunks the idea of learning and explains it very well. The course provides techniques to learn and to combat procrastination. I have discovered that I didn't know how to learn and all my previous study sessions were totally ineffective! This course doesn't just apply if you are learning in school or college but also it applies in the work place! More and more we as individuals are committed to a life long learning, and this course is the perfect companion to hone in the right skills needed to learn! Thank you for such a brilliant work!

By Sameer D

Nov 14, 2021

This is a wonderful course!

I thank Dr. Oakley and Dr. Sejnowski and all the team members who put the MOOC together.

The videos are wonderfully edited with change in image sizes, animation and supers providing a pause which helps in the learning process.

The content is superlative and extremely helpful. Of course, it will require spaced repetition for the knowledge to become part of my long term memory : )

Though I am not a student in the academic context, I found the material very beneficial. The optional readings and videos had surprising bonuses.

I recommend it highly to everyone.

By Iulia F

Nov 17, 2020

This is the first Coursera course that I finish. Large part of this is due to the instructors. Their candour and dedication to the job took me back to my 7-yeard old self, eager for and excited about school and learning. The work and passion put into every detail in this course - references to personal situations, funny quizz questions - are off the charts and contagious. Dr. Oakley and dr. Sejnowski (and the whole team), I hope you are reading this. Big, big thank you for this course and for all the efforts to connect with your students. Everyone deserves professors like yourselves!

By Nicolette v Z

Apr 18, 2020

I loved doing this course. It gave a lot of insight in learning, always in short clear video's. I especially enjoyed it, because you didn't have to view all videos at once to understand the information. You could easily stop somewhere and pick it up two days later. The test at the end of a "chunk" of information was nice to really check if you understood everything. And after this course I not only have some new tools which I'm using when learning, I was also able to find out where in my learning I could improve. Thank you for making this course available for Free. Much appreciated!!!

By Swarnim N

Jul 10, 2020

Amazing course! I took this course out of curiosity, but it turned out to be a prespective-changing course. I am really inspired by the contents of this course and the efforts they have put into making the complicated contents easily understandable. The Instructors have addressed many problematic issues for students such as imposter syndrome, procrastination, and also preparing for the test. I am really grateful to the instructors for making this course. I recommend this course to all the students and lifelong learners. I hope you find this course as helping and interesting as I did.

By José P

Mar 29, 2018

Fantastic Course! Helpful and full of quirky, actionable information to help people learn, retain information and perform better when test taking. Concise videos with funny and amusing examples and enough extra reading material to encourage more curios individuals to further pursue their learning efforts around this subject! A huge Thank you to Dr. Barbara, Dr. Terrence and of course, the rest of the team which helped make this MOC a success =)!

By Carol E

Sep 22, 2017

I really enjoyed this class. It gave practical and immediately useful ways of learning just about any material, and was a great motivator for trying to learn not just about learning, but several other subjects that I've been putting off. Dr. Oakley's clear, and fun examples not only helped me remember the concepts, but also modeled what methods I could be employing as I learn on my own. Highly recommended (and sent to a couple of college-freshmen-to be!). Wish I'd had it back in my college/post university studies; it would have made life and learning both more effective and more fun.

By Vibhor V

Jun 15, 2020

Although I started off the course with not a lot of dedication and concentration (one of the reasons why I decided to take it up - my lack of commitment), the course definitely got me hooked even though it sometimes used terms I have been unaware of. Barbara really made it an easy to understand and take control of two of my age old enemies - lack of willpower and excess of procrastination. Now that I understand the science behind why we do what we do, why we think why we think, I believe it will definitely be much easier for me to tackle this in the future. Do give this course a go!

By Sonya N

Jan 18, 2020

As opposed to having one long video or lecture per week, the short video clips made it easier to complete the weekly assignments thereby completing the entire course. The course has increased my self-confidence in my learning abilities by realizing that my way of learning throughout the years, by writing the material and testing myself, has not been effective because of a self-perceived learning disability, but these methods are truly effective for all learners. As for my school-aged children, it further validates their Grandmother's advice about learning and test performance. :)

By Chezarina M

May 2, 2020

This course was amazingly eye-opening and encouraging! I've struggled my entire life with the limiting belief that there is something wrong with my brain because I don't seem to retain information as easily as my fellow peers. Thanks to the information in this course I've realized that this belief, coupled with the ineffective techniques I've been using are the real reason I've been struggling. My brain is in fact completely capable! This course is a healthy dose of vitamins for the mind. I'm so excited to apply what I've learned to all the subjects I've avoided learning thus far!

By Namita S

Jul 12, 2020

This is a great course that brings scientific knowledge about the workings of human brain and teaches the ways to maximize results when studying for a test/examination or competition. The course is full of research backed data and interviews from academicians who shed light on their own ways of learning and success.

I was glued to this course from start to end as if it was a Netflix TV series. It is that gripping and delivers great information in lucid and easy to digest format. Highly recommended for anyone preparing for any big test in need of an extra edge in their performance!

By Manu

Mar 3, 2023

Dear Coursera,

I wanted to express my gratitude for offering the "Learning How to Learn" course by Barbara Oakley on your platform. As a lifelong learner, I found this course to be incredibly helpful in improving my learning skills and expanding my thinking.

Overall, I would highly recommend the "Learning How to Learn" course to anyone looking to become a more effective learner and thinker. It's a valuable resource that has helped me to unlock my better potential and achieve my learning goals.

Thank you again for offering such an excellent course on your platform.

Best regards, Manu

By Pankaj D

Jan 8, 2022

Everyone should read this book right at their teenage or before and follow up the concepts throughout their lifetime. Even if you missed it don't panic! it is still equally worthy if you consider yourself reading anything generally for academic purpose; just give a few hours a week to this course and you will feel its merit...throughout your life. Thanks for the instructors and COURSERA for scholarship to University-attached email due to which I got to study one course for free per year. Even if you cannot pay, don't panic, still you can consider filling the financial aid form.

By Jay S

Apr 30, 2019

Thank you for providing insight into the indoctrination process that began in early childhood. Antithesis modeling of globular science, Darwinian evolution and the total elimination of the Creationist model of belief. This course further reinforced my belief that men and women in power have abandoned critical thinking but will blindly follow the beliefs of previous generations without having the ability to go against the schooling from liberal institutions with only creating sheep. Thank you again for reminding me of the power of illusion that is witchcraft of the highest order.

By Felecia W

Sep 18, 2017

I love this course! It is endlessly fascinating to me, and actually one of my "problems" is I NEVER want to just do the coursework. I want to read EVERY optional reading, and view EVERY optional video, and so on! The ability to switch sessions has been lifesaving for me! Although I'm not getting the certification, so I do have that flexibility, thanks to Coursera and the instructors! I am very encouraged by Dr, Oakley's personal turnaround in her areas of expertise AND career-satisfaction! I highly recommend this course to ANYONE who is trying to learn, and who enjoys learning!

By Goldie J

Jul 20, 2016

Excellent course! I thought it would be just another bit of practical advice to scroll through and pick up a couple of gems of insight from the rubble. But the whole course was amazing! It provided so MUCH insight into the neuroscience and brain processes involved in learning and paired it with techniques to hone skills. I came away recommending it to all of my friends, and with a better grasp on the second language (espanol) I've been working on for forever. I never thought I would get such immediate real world application from what I had considered an 'extra' type of course.

By Peter J P

Sep 22, 2015

This is a fantastic course and should be either a prerequisite or recommendation for anyone taking any Coursera course. It's simple, easy, insightful, and yet very powerful. Most of the the observations on how to learn may already be familiar, but the explanations put things into a coherent framework. A great review of some useful techniques to help save time by learning more efficiently and productively.

Kudos to the presenters and UCSD for keeping it light hearted, interesting, and engaging!

I can not recommend this essential course highly enough: Does what it says on the tin!

By Kavin P

May 26, 2020

Today, when social media and many other platforms are affecting career choices of many people- just due to the fact, that technical stream needs more efforts to be put in. Young people take it as their own inability or that the subjects to be very tough... This course fills our minds with motivation, energy and equips us with the necessary skills to study in the best way.

With psychological and biological reasoning, it brings us the best effective way to - how to learn anything in the best way.

Thank you so much to both the instructors - it has entirely changed the way I learn.