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Learning How to Learn Week 1 Focused/Diffuse Modes, Procrastination & Memory & Sleep

Source: My personal notes from Learning How to Learn Coursera course

Focused and Diffuse Modes

Section titled “Focused and Diffuse Modes”
focused vs diffuse modes
  • Focused: Intense concentration, regular thought patterns
  • Diffuse: open, new patterns can be formed, associated with rest states (sleep, shower)

Using the Focused and Diffuse Modes–Or, a Little Dali will do You

Section titled “Using the Focused and Diffuse Modes–Or, a Little Dali will do You”
  • Focused - concentrations on a task, familiar previous thought patterns, tight thinking, detailed
  • Diffuse - relaxed thinking, open thinking, big picture, new neural connections Can only use one thinking mode at a time
focused mode

Analogies of thinking modes. Neurons linked are patterns

Salvadore Dali & Thomas Edison

  • Both started with a diffuse mode entry (person was sitting, wandering, hold keys/ball bearings and letting them fall in diffuse mode while relaxing with mind free, then followed by a focused mode).
  1. Weightlifter analogy - Like sports and building strength, need to build neural structure over time, not all at once. “Bit by bit, every day”.
  2. Learning something difficult takes time
  3. When learning, you need to use both modes.

What is Learning?

Section titled “What is Learning?”

Pasted from <https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn/lecture/7iJVR/what-is-learning>

About the brain, new synapses (connections) are created and recede all the time. Creation happens over time and sleep. There are a million billion synapses in the brain.

A Procrastination Preview

Section titled “A Procrastination Preview”

Pasted from <https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn/lecture/Dci3o/a-procrastination-preview>

What happens during procrastination

procrastination

See something you don’t want to do, activates pain like feelings in brain

Pomodoro technique

Section titled “Pomodoro technique”

Do work in 25 minute segments with focus, followed by a rest & reward to change focus, then back.

Practice Makes Permanent

Section titled “Practice Makes Permanent”

Pasted from <https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn/lecture/3YLAF/practice-makes-permanent>

Difficulties in math & science? Difficulty in making analogies to abstract concepts without a visual/physical reference.

practice

The more difficult and abstract the ideas, the more you have to practice to make the connections real in your brain. The neural connections are real

brick wall with solid foundation

Introduction to Memory

Section titled “Introduction to Memory”

Pasted from <https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn/lecture/X7E9r/introduction-to-memory>

Long term memory

Like storage warehouse, can be difficult to find info and need practice in “retrieval” to get items effectively. Repeat retrieval and it becomes accessible

Working memory (can come from long term)

  1. Usually works in chunks ~ 4 slots
  2. Like a blackboard
  3. Prefrontal cortex of brain

Spaced repetition

Section titled “Spaced repetition”

Space out something you are trying to learn, e.g. over several days like Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, rest, Saturday, reset

How to Integrate a Flashcard Retrieval Practice System into This Course

Section titled “How to Integrate a Flashcard Retrieval Practice System into This Course”
  1. Initial Learning
  2. Pick out key points, add as notes
  3. Add key points to spaced repetition flash cards and source material
  4. Use flash cards retrieval practice until you can retrieve easily

Services to use:

The Importance of Sleep in Learning

Section titled “The Importance of Sleep in Learning”

Pasted from <https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn/lecture/AsWfx/the-importance-of-sleep-in-learning>

Sleep is like unblocking a stream, allowing blood to flow in the brain well and wash away toxins that have accumulated during the day.

connection building

If you want to dream about something, such as a learning, review it before sleeping and think about wanting to dream about it!

Interview with Dr. Terrence Sejnowski

Section titled “Interview with Dr. Terrence Sejnowski”

Pasted from <https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn/lecture/8IUbH/interview-with-dr-terrence-sejnowski>

Terry’s research is in neural networks

How do you learn?

  • Get involved, learn by doing. Experiment

How do you keep from getting bored?

  • Ask questions from your perspective - use active engagement

Diffuse mode thinking?

  • Exercise gets the mind on a different track, stimulates new ideas.

Multi-task or not?

  • It cannot be avoided. Have uninterrupted time for yourself.
  • Multi-task can be context switching instead of doing two tasks at the same time

Applied neuroscience to learning?

  • Apply in the lab - we found enriched environments help with brain neuron development (new ones in the hippocampus). Exercise also do that.
  • Being a creative environment enhances your own creativity.

Test taking?

Like any other skill, you can learn it. Let hard questions to go, answer may come later.

How do you stay creative? And do well

  • Surrounding yourself with different and young people. See things from another perspective
  • Success = passion + persistence

Optional Interview with “Benny the Irish Polyglot” about Learning Languages

Section titled “Optional Interview with “Benny the Irish Polyglot” about Learning Languages”

Pasted from <https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn/lecture/L4yKh/optional-interview-with-benny-the-irish-polyglot-about-learning-languages>

  • What are the wrong reasons to learn languages?
    • To show off or pass a course.
  • Instead you should have a passion for that language. Talk to native speakers.
  • Children’s advantage in language?
    • They don’t mind mistakes, play games. Be OK to make mistakes.

Interview with Writing Coach Daphne Gray-Grant on Writer’s Block

Section titled “Interview with Writing Coach Daphne Gray-Grant on Writer’s Block”

Daphne’s site: https://www.publicationcoach.com/ - She works as a journalist and non-fiction writer

Addressing Writer’s Block

Section titled “Addressing Writer’s Block”
  • Pretend they are 2 different people and only one can be driving
    • Focused mode = editing
      • Spelling, grammar
      • Edit after writing first, not at same time
    • Diffuse mode = writing
      • Mind mapping aka clustering
        • Most important parts will come up naturally using your memory
        • Memorization can help your understand something like poetry, literature
      • Write all ideas, no boundaries
      • An approach is turn off your monitor while typing, write without reading it, timing yourself
                      how to do it  comments about approach -- what works, what doesn't
                                \   /
                                 \ /
   Good for all use cases ---  Mind map
   /                         /       \
Metaphor                    /         \
                        no boundaries  \
                                     landscrape orientation on paper