Learning How to Learn

I never thought I’d need my small collection of timers – especially the tomato.

I have just completed an intriguing, well planned short MOOC on  Learning How to Learn.   Dr Oakley and Prof. Sejnowsky give clear explanations on how our brain functions while ‘chunking’ information  or tips on preparing for tests.   The course is really worth taking since there is so much basic, practical information we can teach our students about test preparation, completing assignments, memory and procrastination.

Not only are the study techniques helpful to our students, but also to ourselves.  I especially connected to the sections on how to reduce procrastination,  and I was thrilled when I realized that I possessed the low tech tool to help: the veritable pomodoro.

Several big ideas were reiterated:

the necessity for focused and diffused thinking, practice, repetition, sleep, exercise, time, study buddies and using the pen or pencil.

Oakley and Sejnowsky stress the importance of teaching others as one of the best learning strategies.  I now have some concrete, research based answers for one of the big questions students ask: How do we efficiently prepare for tests?

I will be redesigning certain units for my Skills9 course.