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Arizona State University

Learning How To Learn for Youth

Arizona State University via Coursera

Overview

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Based on one of the most popular open online courses in the world, this course gives you easy access to the learning techniques used by experts in art, music, literature, math, science, sports, and many other disciplines. No matter what your current skill level, using these approaches can help you master new topics, change your thinking and improve your life.
This course explains:

* Why sometimes letting your mind wander is an important part of the learning process
* How to avoid "rut think" in order to think outside the box
* The value of metaphors in developing understanding
* A simple, yet powerful, way to stop procrastinating

If you’re already an expert, these strategies will turbocharge your learning, including test-taking tips and insights that will help you make the best use of your time on homework and problem sets.

We all have the tools to learn what might not seem to come naturally to us at first—the secret is to understand how the brain works so we can unlock its power.

Filled with animations, application questions, and exercises, this course makes learning easy and fun!

Syllabus

  • What is Learning?
    • In this module, we'll use metaphor and analogy to help you more easily understand key ideas about how your brain works. You will discover two modes of thinking—you can use these modes in different ways to improve your learning. We will also show you a powerful tool for tackling procrastination, give you some great memory tips, and point out why "sleeping on it" can be a good idea!
  • Tips to Build Your Memory
    • In this module, we explore the brain’s process for storing information in long-term memory in an easy to understand metaphor involving a school bag, a locker and an octopus. Then, we will talk about some of the best ways to access your brain’s most powerful long-term memory systems, like metaphor, recall, memory palace and rhyming.
  • Brain Links and Study Tips
    • In this module, we’re going to talk more about important ideas and techniques that will enhance your ability to learn. You’ll also discover how to avoid “information overload,” and how to recognize your own strengths. Fighter pilots and surgeons use checklists to help them with their critical duties—you can use a similar checklist to help you prepare for tests. Ultimately, you will learn more about the joys of living a life filled with learning!

Taught by

Dr. Barbara Oakley, Dr. Terrence Sejnowski and Greg Hammons

Reviews

4.8 rating, based on 1,071 Class Central reviews

4.8 rating at Coursera based on 2767 ratings

Start your review of Learning How To Learn for Youth

  • Alysson Vasconcelos Gomes De Menezes
    It's a very helpful course that provides you with an overview of how your brain functions among many other interesting things. Doing this course you will learn how to improve your learning process and make your life better. I recommend it. Thanks Dr. Barbara Oakley and Dr. Terrence Sejnowski
  • I really loved how the instructors shortened their Learning how to learn video and made a concise yet perfect video with more self-help pdfs and tips.
    The instructors taught in such a way that even a kid would understand, how I wish I had learnt about it sooner, who ever reads this, do not waste your time anymore and start doing self-help courses, this is beginner friendly and only took 3-4 hours to complete, it took that much time because I wrote precious notes and advices from this course.
    I participated on all the optional feedback surveys too so if anyone joins in, that's be great too.
  • Profile image for Sharifa Hainie Dacula
    Sharifa Hainie Dacula @hdacula
    The course is great! I learned a lot of key concepts that I could apply on my journey of learning. The instructors are fun to listen and the activities will help you retain the information that you learned. Overall, time spent wisely!
  • A must-take for young/primary-secondary school-level learners of any inclinations as well as educators to help their students learn efficiently; to go further, consider taking the main Learning How To Learn course and Mindshift, also from the same instructors.
  • As someone who struggles a lot with studying and suffers from bad study habits, I find this course immensely helpful. This course is filled with tips that can assist me in learning more effectively and efficiently, and I want to give it a 10/10 in terms of content and delivery. All professors were beyond amazing, as they were able to discuss everything in a way that’s easy for everyone to understand. The lectures were also very fun; I really enjoyed the anecdotes that they used to supplement their lessons, as well as the silly little metaphors which really helped me in remembering the topics. I would love to learn from these professors again. Thank you so much!
  • It is a great class modeled after the popular class from the team from ...' Learning how to learn '. This one is more targeted toward school kids. It is a nicely designed class and quite an entertaining and engaging instruction for children. I would recommend this class to all youths in the elementary to the middle school level. Nice if the teacher assigns the class for everyone to join and then everyone discusses and practices their new learning skills. It will be a lot of fun learning by practicing what they learn! Learning is fun with peers! :)
  • Anonymous
    Although I already knew some of the concepts taught in this course, I still gained a lot of insight and new knowledge. This course helped me realize that I can improve on my studies and work. Overall, I had fun and felt more motivated.
  • Anonymous
    This is a great course. I am a high school teacher and have completed the adult version of this course twice. I am recommending this new course to my students. It is certainly pitched at the right level for high school students and is equally intere…
  • Learning mechanics explained, along with suggestions and tips.

    No matter if you are a student or not, this course will give you powerful tools to improve both your professional and personal life.
  • This is not very different from Learning How to Learn. I like this course. I just don't know the reason why this exists as an entirely different course.
  • This course was just about perfect, with an upbeat style aimed at young people that can also be enjoyed by adults of any age. Engaging videos, enjoyable exercises, and thoughtful discussion topics were excellently presented. It introduces young peop…
  • Profile image for Đăng Phạm
    Đăng Phạm
    Hello, i live in Vietnam and i am 30 years old, with me, learning a new thing is very difficult, but throught this course, with the explain clearly and easy understand of those tutors, I can easily to understand , follow and practice by myself. The lectures are fun by using metaphors and vivid images so me or any learner can easily following. This very helpful not for me but also good for each parents who want to teach their children at home.
  • Anonymous
    at first, the subject is imprtant in every person's liffe. it was esay to follow up and not only understanding the concepts but also to have the opportunity to apply them. the way that the videos were showed the illustrations that were used and the simplicity that was taking at precpective of the diversty of the people who take this course, all of that made the course even more fun. the idea of asking for the help of three professors to explain the subject made easier and joyable, and the most important impact is it helped to avoid monotonous during the classes. highly recomended.
  • Anonymous
    I really appreciate your choice of topic, teaching methods, course outline, and the rich materials that you have been provided. In my point of view, this course is helpful for everyone, no matter in which stage or phase of learning journey we are, it is going to be helpful for school students, college students, teachers, mentors, and experts. Further, by consideration of lifelong learning, everyone needs some basic skills which were presented in the current course. Therefore, I strongly recommend the course to everyone whom are passion of learning and teaching, particularly pre-primary and primary school teachers, since the can share and practice the tips and skills with their students in their beginning of learning journeys.
  • Anonymous
    Loved the course and highly recommend it. The way the course is designed is very interesting. All the course materials are available in pdf form and also word form. Course instructors are very interesting in their way of explaining things . All the course materials are well organized and there are lots of new metaphors and images that explains all of the thoughts quite well. I really liked my course instructors way of teaching. They were in jolly face while teaching which attracted my attention more.
    Thank you.
  • Anonymous
    This was a very entertaining, useful and interesting course and it taught me so much in such a short amount of time! It was extremely well put together and flowed well from one topic to the next. A clever use of metaphors ensured I remembered every concept and idea they taught me throughout. It will definitely help me to learn in the future, and now. I learnt so much about how my brain works, and how to ensure I get the best learning experience out of whatever I try. Amazing work guys!!!!
  • Anonymous
    One of the great online courses I took with Coursera, not only the presenters but also the content which is really made with love and passion.

    You will feel like listening to a story or watching an adventure move with all your senses, how it is fun when you take a scientific evidence based information in such a smooth and flexible way!!

    Actually I think words are not enough to describe this experience, you have to stop and have the pleasure to take such an amazing course.
  • Anonymous
    I have been trying to learn Hindi for years, but I do not have the confidence nor ability to learn quickly, and I often just feel overwhelmed. I am still at an Elementary level. Taking this course has helped me tremendously to understand how the brain learns and utilize practical techniques for successful learning. I already implemented simple strategies that have changed my learning experience for the better. This is a well-designed and really helpful course!!!
  • Anonymous
    The course was easy to digest as the course was divided into three modules, each with videos and activities to further augment the concepts being imparted to its students. I personally enjoyed as the videos were not too long and draggy, but still full of information. The discussion boards allowed me to reflect and apply what I have learned into my personal life. The plug-ins and the quizzes were also helpful in testing what the audience has learned from the course.
  • Anonymous
    This is a wonderful course that can actually help everybody who is in their studies and finds it hard to grasp onto facts in class, or learning and memorizing facts. In this course there is something for everyone, whether you are just curious about how your brain works or actually need tips for studying. Some questions also arise in this inspiring course, which is good. Personally I loved this course and it definitely help in many things. Thank you!
  • Anonymous
    Maravilloso, Divertido, Ilustrativo, Imaginativo, Creativo, Profesional, es un Curso estimulante, porque te hace pensar, reflexionar, y a la vez, ver la materia como un reto, un objetivo a alcanzar, bajo los parámetros SMART, merece la pena disfrutarlo poco a poco, creciendo a la vez que lo realizas con él y ponerlo en práctica con tus alumnos, que a su vez, se ve como se divierten.

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