Introduction
Learning something new can often be difficult but
enthusiasm towards challenges can often assist you to overcome it. I came across intriguing insights provided in a
course I found in coursera.org about learning Learning How to Learn: Powerful
mental tools to help you master tough subjects. I got inspired to change my
life before it’s too late, I started the course learn how to learn offered by
the University of California, San Diego via coursera. Through juggling my life with
different activities which I will talk about in my blog post and using techniques of learning and methods that
are familiar to you or novel approaches, moreover, evidence of different methods working with scientific research performed.
EXERCISE
AND PRACTICE
Practice makes
perfect or rather practice make you better ever right? According to
recent research its been proven and the
more you practise will allow you to gain expertise (Keetch KM et al, 2005). So I
went out and tried using this and a method called chunking to learn a new
skateboarding trick. Chunking means
pieces of information bound by use or meaning which involves these steps focused
attention, understanding and practice. I looked for a quite place at my friends backyard and began doing the
trick—I choose here since there were minimal distractions this boosted my
concentration on the task being learning a new trick. At the back of my mind I
had watched a video on how to do the trick by breaking it down in small steps
before attempting the whole trick. There is an instructional video for it how to heelflip. While I
attempted doing the trick called the 'heelflip', it was so difficult before watching the video severally since I didn’t
know the right movements and foot positioning also, seeing another person do it
doesn’t mean you can do it . But when I practiced the small steps (chunking) as
demonstrated the video I realised when I was practicing that it was my foot positioning and timing was
wrong. Furthermore, as I practiced I found myself placing my feet another way a
bit similar to the instructional video (understood). Once I figured it out well
check out. In short, learning by bits is often very beneficial in everything
that you do-math,science,business. Even in swimming it’s the same thing. On the other hand, physical activity is also
important since Judy Cameron- a neuroscientist University of Pittsburgh put
monkeys on a running regimen similar to middle aged adult human beings and those in it
actually learned faster and she postulates that it could be as result of
increased blood flow to the brain. This leads to faster oxygen delivery and
other important nutrients can reach nerve cells as result exercising is
important. You can read more here Physical
exercise beefs up your brain.
READING EFFECTIVELY
What comes in mind when I say Mycobacterium tuberculosis?Someone having a questionable cough that lasts for a long period of time? A microorganism? I got a degree in medical microbiology. However, I think I would have done better if I stopped doing the re-reading information and spending along time with one particular reading methodology leading to a blocking effect also known as ‘Einstellung’. Thus, reduces creativity. Its similar a car being stuck in the mud; Where you are entrenched with a specific way of approaching a problem that new methods will be unavailable to you like as observed in expert chess players (Bilalic, M et al, 2008).
Using different methods of study has proven to be more effective via testing and recall what you’ve learned according to (Karpicke, J. D, et al 2011), I have tried a few and they are pretty powerful. A habit can be divided in four CURRB like a curb in a street meaning Cue, Routine, Reward and the belief. So whenever I recall i use elaborate retrieval systems for instance this can be a mnemonics. can mix up a bit like remember the periodic table in Chemistry.i got a simple way to remember all 20 elements, yes 20. Its a memory grouping technique as well as a memory palace;refers to creating images in familiar places, this activates the visual memory system. Here it goes, Hey-Hydrogen, Helem-Helium, Listen-Lithium, B-Beryllium to B-Boron,C-Carbon, News-Nitrogen, On-Oxygen Friday-Fluorine,Night-Nitrogen,Sudanese-Sodium Minister-Magnesium, Alfred-Aluminium, Saved-Silicon,People-Phosphorus,Suspected-Sulphur Chasing-Chlorine A-Argon Police-Potassium Car-Calcium. Did i get them right?
Awesome! Also, imagining the minister actually doing that in your neighborhood could augment your memory via use of your brain right hemisphere which has been corelated with visuospatial areas enhancing memory (
 |
| Periodic table of elements from sciencenotes.org |
Nonetheless, if nothing is making sense anymore studying at night retiring to sleep time may assist you. The brain is working in the side lines to assist you to understand the big picture as well as what you were trying to study and dreaming about what you have learned will enhance memory consolidation (Warmsley E.J. et al. 2010). German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus studied that repeated presentation of material and tested the benefits of resting periods also known as spaced effect—now there is evidence that this process is involved in increased synthesis of cellular proteins which ultimately ramp up these proteins. More at best way students retain information.
Procrastination
can also be an obstacle to study a particular subject for instance Immunology.
Immunology requires a patient mind and often extra time to master the material
for me that is. Unfortunately, I really procrastinate but I’ve found that the Pomodoro
technique is quite effective. It involves placing a timer for 25 minutes,
focusing on the task in this case reading a chapter of cells of the immune
system, removing all distractions—they are inevitable letting it slide is often
the best way to handle them—ignorance is bliss and a reward motivates to study some
more since some rewiring will take place that will allow you to create new
habits; according to the book a mind of numbers by Barbara Oakley.
Also, focusing on process (the way you spend your
time) than product (what you want to accomplish) focusing on the product is
what triggers the pain that causes you to procrastinate. The brain will
register that that is what is causing you to feel uncomfortable as pain in the insular
cortex. Thus, your attention will be turned to something more pleasurable like
texting your friends—this can be done as a reward of the pomodoro. Another tip
to avoid procrastination is to have a to-do list since it will keep your
working memory (analogous to a chalkboard) open for problem solving than being
overwhelmed by so many things to do then you just end-up putting them aside for
example there are some comics my friend gave me last year and I have never got
to read them.Now I’ve finished a couple due to this technique. Also, there are
some cues that will often stimulate you to procrastinate like a friend just
pops out of nowhere without telling you that they are coming in advance. What
do you do? Have a backup plan in case of that situation. Breaks are also important to keep you motivated and focused (
Interleaving
Refers to practicing by doing problems that require
different strategies to solve; (Rohrer, D, et al. 2014), found out that
students who were taught using the interleaving got higher mean scores in
addition, the students knew when and how to use the problem solving
methodologies. I propose that going beyond what your given to find my own statistical
problems as an example—currently my weakness along and juggling them from one topic
to another will be crucial in my and your understanding. Furthermore, coming up with my
own questions and working with a group of colleagues will further boost learning by confirming which areas i don't get well by explaining. Even in sports I usually interleave since they is a particular layout
when it comes to learning for instance, skateboarding tricks. In Skateboarding
made simple the instructor Aaron Kyro-a professional skateboarder emphasizes that
you should follow his guide on learning skateboard tricks since it introduces
the least amount of variation between the tricks. That’s no fun interleaving is
what I’ve been doing though my main aim is learning all the basic skateboarding
tricks.
INNOVATIVE
WRITING
Mind
mapping
I’m a frequent blogger and I must confess that
Daphne Gray’s advice in publicationcoach.com about writing has proven to be very useful the
method for brainstorming something you intend to write and recall. The mind
mapping technique is where you place paper sideways and let your mind waver.
Whenever a word or expression comes into mind you write it down and draw a
circle around it. Then you link it to the main idea by drawing a line attached
to it. It makes writing easier although I use to test myself if I have mastered
a couple of things when I’ve studied and also when I am planning to write an
article or to start laboratory report as well as preventing writer’s block when
my mind goes blank and I can’t think of anything to write.
Conclusion
Making small changes in your life to deal with
various problems i've discussed will yield good results. To add on this, a
growth mindset must be incorporated as well. Carol Dweck has talked about this
in believing
you can improve as i mentioned in my introduction.
Here is a skate montage feel free to share and
comment. Learning is fun.
Sources
- Keetch KM, Schmidt RA, Lee TD, Young DE. Especial skills: their emergence with massive amounts of practice. Journal of Experimental Psychology. 31(5):970-978 (2005).
- Barbara Oakley, PH.D (2014). A mind for numbers: how to excel at math and science(even if you flunked algebra). Penguin group. Hudson Street, New York United States of America.
- Bilalic, M., McLeod, P., & Gobet, F. (2008). Inflexibility of experts--reality or myth? Quantifying the Einstellung effect in chess masters. Cognitive psychology, 56(2), 73-102. doi: 10.1016/j.cogpsych.2007.02.001.
- Karpicke, J. D., & Blunt, J. R. (2011). Retrieval practice produces more learning than elaborative studying with concept mapping. pubmed, 331(6018):772-5. doi:10.1126/science.1199327.
- Thiebaut de Schotten, M., F. Dell'Acqua, S. J. Forkel, A. Simmons, F. Vergani, D. G. Murphy, and M. Catani. "A Lateralized Brain Network for Visuospatial Attention." Nat Neurosci 14, no. 10 (Oct 2011): 1245-6.
- Logan, Jessica M., Alan D. Castel, Sara Haber, and Emily J. Viehman. "Metacognition and the Spacing Effect: The Role of Repetition, Feedback, and Instruction on Judgments of Learning for Massed and Spaced Rehearsal." Metacognition and Learning 7, no. 3 (2012): 175-95.
- Warmsley E.J. et al. (2010).Dreaming of a learning task is associated with enhanced sleep-dependent memory consolidation.pubmed, 20(9):850-5. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2010.03.027.
- Ariga A.,LIeras A.,(2011).Brief and rare mental ''breaks'' keep you focused:deactivation and reactivation of task goals preempt vigilance decrements.Pubmed,118(3):439-43. The paper emphasizes that breaks are important in a task that involves long hours of sitting down working.
- http://www.brainfacts.org/about-neuroscience/ask-an-expert/articles/2015/what-is-the-best-way-to-help-my-students-retain-information-longer/
- Lecture slides and videos from Learning how to learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects on Coursera.
- www.publicationcoach.com
- http://www.brailleskateboarding.com/product/sms1/
