Learning How to Learn Overview

The core points so far:

Analogy

Analogy works best for learning. The example given in the course is that the mind is like a pinball machine. Imagine the many bumpers as ideas that the ball can bounce along to make connections. Focused learning has bumpers closer together than diffuse learning.

Another analogy is that learning is like building a wall. You have to let the ‘mortar’ settle and the foundation solidify. This take learning things in smaller bits, over time, rather than cramming (this would be building the wall in one night and so it collapses under the weight of so much brick on unsolid mortar!!)

Focus versus Diffuse

These are ways the mind works. We all know focused: this is the classic idea of studying something with as full attention as possible. Like in a library, with that A/C sound humming the background, until you are reading the same line over and over and over and slowly falllll asleeeeeeezzzzZZZzzzzzzz. I kid I kid! Of course we all know this. This is the classic exam time in University where you study and study. And of course 'learn'

Diffuse is that way of thinking you do when you are not really thinking. It’s akin to the mind making subconscious (I hate that word, but more on that later) connections between ideas. Maybe even this is that ‘A-HA!' mechanism at work here, the mechanism that we hear so much about with the geniuses.

Importance of Diffuse

It allows the focused bits of information to be organized and absorbed and eventually take shape into ‘chunks’ of ideas that help you to one day become a ‘master’.

More points to cover.

There’s more, but I’m going to follow the course methodology and go watch an episode of Broadchurch and let it all settle in there.

Importance of Sleeping

Chunking

Mind Chemicals involved in Learning

Procrastination/the overcoming of dotdotdot