Learning How to Learn

Agenda

  • Motivation
  • How the Brain learns
  • Learning Techniques

Motivation

“Learning how to learn is life's most important skill”
- Tony Buzan (Mind Mapping)
  • everybody: walk, talk, read, write, cycling
  • programmers: new languages

Motiviation

“The more you learn, the more you earn.”
- Warren Buffet

Brain Structure

Neuroplasticity

  • learning is a brain activity
  • forming synapses between neurons

Learning Modes

Famous People using Diffuse Mode

Working Memory

  • Short-Term Memory
  • Prefrontal Cortex
  • 4 items
  • Easy to distract
  • Used in Focus Mode

Long-Term Memory

  • Neocortex
  • Unlimited space
  • Hard to find items
  • encoding
    • properly store/index items to find them
    • learning techniques

Chunking

“Once you chunk an idea or concept, you don't need to remember all the little underlying details; you've got the main idea -the chunk- and that's enough.”
- Barbara Oakley
Chunks are build during Focus Mode
chunk test
aeeaee,toth n lndoGh ild. euepo yntle eroanwoo.Dm lt SIachalhme cek snm rHelang ig icp rragDu
Hello, I am Daniel Gerlach. Some people call me Danger and you are doing the chunk test right now.
Learning Techniques

Pomodoro Technique

switch between Focus Mode and Diffuse Mode

self-testing/recall

retrieval strenthens memory

re-reading material causes illusion of competence

interleaving

spaced repetition
teach others
“When one teaches, two learn”
- Robert Heinlein

Mnemonic Techniques

  • Memory Palace
  • Classic Mnemonics
My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas
sleep
spaced repetion

References