How People Learn

How People Learn

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2000-08-11

Total Pages: 384

ISBN-13: 0309131979

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First released in the Spring of 1999, How People Learn has been expanded to show how the theories and insights from the original book can translate into actions and practice, now making a real connection between classroom activities and learning behavior. This edition includes far-reaching suggestions for research that could increase the impact that classroom teaching has on actual learning. Like the original edition, this book offers exciting new research about the mind and the brain that provides answers to a number of compelling questions. When do infants begin to learn? How do experts learn and how is this different from non-experts? What can teachers and schools do-with curricula, classroom settings, and teaching methods--to help children learn most effectively? New evidence from many branches of science has significantly added to our understanding of what it means to know, from the neural processes that occur during learning to the influence of culture on what people see and absorb. How People Learn examines these findings and their implications for what we teach, how we teach it, and how we assess what our children learn. The book uses exemplary teaching to illustrate how approaches based on what we now know result in in-depth learning. This new knowledge calls into question concepts and practices firmly entrenched in our current education system. Topics include: How learning actually changes the physical structure of the brain. How existing knowledge affects what people notice and how they learn. What the thought processes of experts tell us about how to teach. The amazing learning potential of infants. The relationship of classroom learning and everyday settings of community and workplace. Learning needs and opportunities for teachers. A realistic look at the role of technology in education.


Book Synopsis How People Learn by : National Research Council

Download or read book How People Learn written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2000-08-11 with total page 384 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: First released in the Spring of 1999, How People Learn has been expanded to show how the theories and insights from the original book can translate into actions and practice, now making a real connection between classroom activities and learning behavior. This edition includes far-reaching suggestions for research that could increase the impact that classroom teaching has on actual learning. Like the original edition, this book offers exciting new research about the mind and the brain that provides answers to a number of compelling questions. When do infants begin to learn? How do experts learn and how is this different from non-experts? What can teachers and schools do-with curricula, classroom settings, and teaching methods--to help children learn most effectively? New evidence from many branches of science has significantly added to our understanding of what it means to know, from the neural processes that occur during learning to the influence of culture on what people see and absorb. How People Learn examines these findings and their implications for what we teach, how we teach it, and how we assess what our children learn. The book uses exemplary teaching to illustrate how approaches based on what we now know result in in-depth learning. This new knowledge calls into question concepts and practices firmly entrenched in our current education system. Topics include: How learning actually changes the physical structure of the brain. How existing knowledge affects what people notice and how they learn. What the thought processes of experts tell us about how to teach. The amazing learning potential of infants. The relationship of classroom learning and everyday settings of community and workplace. Learning needs and opportunities for teachers. A realistic look at the role of technology in education.

How People Learn II

How People Learn II

Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2018-09-27

Total Pages: 347

ISBN-13: 0309459672

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There are many reasons to be curious about the way people learn, and the past several decades have seen an explosion of research that has important implications for individual learning, schooling, workforce training, and policy. In 2000, How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School: Expanded Edition was published and its influence has been wide and deep. The report summarized insights on the nature of learning in school-aged children; described principles for the design of effective learning environments; and provided examples of how that could be implemented in the classroom. Since then, researchers have continued to investigate the nature of learning and have generated new findings related to the neurological processes involved in learning, individual and cultural variability related to learning, and educational technologies. In addition to expanding scientific understanding of the mechanisms of learning and how the brain adapts throughout the lifespan, there have been important discoveries about influences on learning, particularly sociocultural factors and the structure of learning environments. How People Learn II: Learners, Contexts, and Cultures provides a much-needed update incorporating insights gained from this research over the past decade. The book expands on the foundation laid out in the 2000 report and takes an in-depth look at the constellation of influences that affect individual learning. How People Learn II will become an indispensable resource to understand learning throughout the lifespan for educators of students and adults.


Book Synopsis How People Learn II by : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Download or read book How People Learn II written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2018-09-27 with total page 347 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: There are many reasons to be curious about the way people learn, and the past several decades have seen an explosion of research that has important implications for individual learning, schooling, workforce training, and policy. In 2000, How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School: Expanded Edition was published and its influence has been wide and deep. The report summarized insights on the nature of learning in school-aged children; described principles for the design of effective learning environments; and provided examples of how that could be implemented in the classroom. Since then, researchers have continued to investigate the nature of learning and have generated new findings related to the neurological processes involved in learning, individual and cultural variability related to learning, and educational technologies. In addition to expanding scientific understanding of the mechanisms of learning and how the brain adapts throughout the lifespan, there have been important discoveries about influences on learning, particularly sociocultural factors and the structure of learning environments. How People Learn II: Learners, Contexts, and Cultures provides a much-needed update incorporating insights gained from this research over the past decade. The book expands on the foundation laid out in the 2000 report and takes an in-depth look at the constellation of influences that affect individual learning. How People Learn II will become an indispensable resource to understand learning throughout the lifespan for educators of students and adults.

Design for how People Learn

Design for how People Learn

Author: Julie Dirksen

Publisher: New Riders

Published: 2011

Total Pages: 272

ISBN-13: 0321768434

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Products, technologies, and workplaces change so quickly today that everyone is continually learning. Many of us are also teaching, even when it's not in our job descriptions. Whether it's giving a presentation, writing documentation, or creating a website or blog, we need and want to share our knowledge with other people. But if you've ever fallen asleep over a boring textbook, or fast-forwarded through a tedious e-learning exercise, you know that creating a great learning experience is harder than it seems. In Design For How People Learn, you'll discover how to use the key principles behind learning, memory, and attention to create materials that enable your audience to both gain and retain the knowledge and skills you're sharing. Using accessible visual metaphors and concrete methods and examples, Design For How People Learn will teach you how to leverage the fundamental concepts of instructional design both to improve your own learning and to engage your audience.


Book Synopsis Design for how People Learn by : Julie Dirksen

Download or read book Design for how People Learn written by Julie Dirksen and published by New Riders. This book was released on 2011 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Products, technologies, and workplaces change so quickly today that everyone is continually learning. Many of us are also teaching, even when it's not in our job descriptions. Whether it's giving a presentation, writing documentation, or creating a website or blog, we need and want to share our knowledge with other people. But if you've ever fallen asleep over a boring textbook, or fast-forwarded through a tedious e-learning exercise, you know that creating a great learning experience is harder than it seems. In Design For How People Learn, you'll discover how to use the key principles behind learning, memory, and attention to create materials that enable your audience to both gain and retain the knowledge and skills you're sharing. Using accessible visual metaphors and concrete methods and examples, Design For How People Learn will teach you how to leverage the fundamental concepts of instructional design both to improve your own learning and to engage your audience.

How People Learn

How People Learn

Author: Nick Shackleton-Jones

Publisher: Kogan Page Publishers

Published: 2019-05-03

Total Pages: 265

ISBN-13: 0749484713

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What if we have been wrong about learning? Learning may have more in common with marketing than we thought. Looking at marketing and learning's common root, How People Learn shows L&D professionals a new way of thinking about learning by exploring what happens when we learn. It considers applications from AI, marketing and ethics and is informed by psychology and contemporary neuroscience in order to show L&D professionals how to design training with their employees in mind so that training makes a real difference to skills, capabilities, performance and development, rather than being a waste of time, money and resources. Using the author's '5Di model', How People Learn demonstrates how to define, design and deploy training in a user-centred way so it works both for and with employees. It also includes guidance on what training resources to create when employees are actively searching for learning content. Using this book, L&D practitioners will be able to use pull and push techniques to provide content that people use and experiences that transform their behaviour. From how to use simulations, storytelling and anticipation to the importance of observation and status, this book gives L&D professionals everything they need to build effective training programmes and learning experiences. With a foreword by Dr Roger Schank, the Chairman and CEO of Socratic Arts and Executive Director of Engines for Education, and case studies from companies such as BP and the BBC, this is an urgent read for learning professionals.


Book Synopsis How People Learn by : Nick Shackleton-Jones

Download or read book How People Learn written by Nick Shackleton-Jones and published by Kogan Page Publishers. This book was released on 2019-05-03 with total page 265 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What if we have been wrong about learning? Learning may have more in common with marketing than we thought. Looking at marketing and learning's common root, How People Learn shows L&D professionals a new way of thinking about learning by exploring what happens when we learn. It considers applications from AI, marketing and ethics and is informed by psychology and contemporary neuroscience in order to show L&D professionals how to design training with their employees in mind so that training makes a real difference to skills, capabilities, performance and development, rather than being a waste of time, money and resources. Using the author's '5Di model', How People Learn demonstrates how to define, design and deploy training in a user-centred way so it works both for and with employees. It also includes guidance on what training resources to create when employees are actively searching for learning content. Using this book, L&D practitioners will be able to use pull and push techniques to provide content that people use and experiences that transform their behaviour. From how to use simulations, storytelling and anticipation to the importance of observation and status, this book gives L&D professionals everything they need to build effective training programmes and learning experiences. With a foreword by Dr Roger Schank, the Chairman and CEO of Socratic Arts and Executive Director of Engines for Education, and case studies from companies such as BP and the BBC, this is an urgent read for learning professionals.

How People Learn

How People Learn

Author: Committee on Learning Research and Educational Practice

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 1999-06-15

Total Pages: 88

ISBN-13: 0309519462

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How People Learn: Bridging Research and Practice provides a broad overview of research on learners and learning and on teachers and teaching. It expands on the 1999 National Research Council publication How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School, Expanded Edition that analyzed the science of learning in infants, educators, experts, and more. In How People Learn: Bridging Research and Practice, the Committee on Learning Research and Educational Practice asks how the insights from research can be incorporated into classroom practice and suggests a research and development agenda that would inform and stimulate the required change. The committee identifies teachers, or classroom practitioners, as the key to change, while acknowledging that change at the classroom level is significantly impacted by overarching public policies. How People Learn: Bridging Research and Practice highlights three key findings about how students gain and retain knowledge and discusses the implications of these findings for teaching and teacher preparation. The highlighted principles of learning are applicable to teacher education and professional development programs as well as to K-12 education. The research-based messages found in this book are clear and directly relevant to classroom practice. It is a useful guide for teachers, administrators, researchers, curriculum specialists, and educational policy makers.


Book Synopsis How People Learn by : Committee on Learning Research and Educational Practice

Download or read book How People Learn written by Committee on Learning Research and Educational Practice and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 1999-06-15 with total page 88 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How People Learn: Bridging Research and Practice provides a broad overview of research on learners and learning and on teachers and teaching. It expands on the 1999 National Research Council publication How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School, Expanded Edition that analyzed the science of learning in infants, educators, experts, and more. In How People Learn: Bridging Research and Practice, the Committee on Learning Research and Educational Practice asks how the insights from research can be incorporated into classroom practice and suggests a research and development agenda that would inform and stimulate the required change. The committee identifies teachers, or classroom practitioners, as the key to change, while acknowledging that change at the classroom level is significantly impacted by overarching public policies. How People Learn: Bridging Research and Practice highlights three key findings about how students gain and retain knowledge and discusses the implications of these findings for teaching and teacher preparation. The highlighted principles of learning are applicable to teacher education and professional development programs as well as to K-12 education. The research-based messages found in this book are clear and directly relevant to classroom practice. It is a useful guide for teachers, administrators, researchers, curriculum specialists, and educational policy makers.

How People Learn

How People Learn

Author: Olimpia Mesa

Publisher:

Published: 2019-08-07

Total Pages: 159

ISBN-13: 9781084111332

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Whether you''re a parent, grandparent, teacher, therapist or other significant caregiver, I''ve written this book for you and the children you care for. My goal is to help children understand how people learn, enabling you all to view learning and studying in a whole new way. Many of the concerns related to a child''s academic results, cognitive skills and wellbeing in school will fade away once complex brain processes are better understood and managed. After reading this book together, both children and adults will have the confidence and information required to discuss topics like What happens when you learn?, Why does your brain ignore boring things?, How can we organise learning for better thinking?, and How can we stop the process of forgetting? I hope you enjoy the book! - Olimpia Mesa Through neuroscience stories, Olimpia Mesa, an expert learning designer and mother, unravels how a human brain learns and what to do about it to help your children become smarter, better and happier learners. The book draws on ideas from brain science without being academic about it. It is written in a way that will engage and interest children between the ages of 6 and 12, inviting them on a journey that they will find constantly fascinating. Olimpia Mesa is a leading expert and consultant on brain-based learning design. She is the president of Instructional Design Ltd., a company behind hundreds of successful corporate and educational programs. In addition to consulting with Fortune 500 organisations on learning projects, Olimpia is the founder of Book to Courses(tm) Online School whose main goal is to teach authors how to transform a nonfictional book into online academies or apps. "Well done on an excellent guide to help children use their brains more effectively and also giving parents and teachers a way of working and supporting children''s learning. I loved the lay-out and the visuals. I thought the series of exercises and challenges were very age appropriate and accessible. The way it ends with the brain-challenges is great and gives children and real programme to follow and challenging questions at every stage.Well done on a very clever and thought provoking piece of work!" -Dr. Martin Fitzgerald, Lecturer in Education and Human Development, LIT, Ireland "This book is an important reminder of the basics of human behavior and learning while educating children for a better world. It succeeds in capturing many important aspects of developing brains in processing information and everyday experiences from the very early years of childhood. The parents are supposed to act as mentors all along. In fact without the support of adults the great potential laid out in the book is not completely met. I highly recommend this book for all families who aspire to inspire children to learn to learn and to maintain and develop their inborn skills to be curious and creative." -Jukka Kangaslahti, PhD in educational Sciences, Senior Advisor at European Parliament, Finland "Children will discover activities that challenge them to go outside the book and actually build the concepts they are reading about. Learning challenges will allow them to take the lessons from the book back into their homes and classrooms and notice how their life changes as they experience learning differently. Thus the book itself comes alive and becomes a gateway - bridging new insights with practical application, all in a fun, engaging way."-Alis Anagnostakis, Executive Coach (PCC), Australia "We all learn every day, but how learning happens is often a mystery. The book takes us on an adventure to uncover the secrets of learning. In a manner that is accessible to both children and adults alike, it invites us to explore the magnificent human brain and how to ensure it works effectively...What I like most of all is the accessibility to complex information - a simplicity that is very powerful."-Davin Willows, Director of Admissions and Advancement, ISB, Belgium


Book Synopsis How People Learn by : Olimpia Mesa

Download or read book How People Learn written by Olimpia Mesa and published by . This book was released on 2019-08-07 with total page 159 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Whether you''re a parent, grandparent, teacher, therapist or other significant caregiver, I''ve written this book for you and the children you care for. My goal is to help children understand how people learn, enabling you all to view learning and studying in a whole new way. Many of the concerns related to a child''s academic results, cognitive skills and wellbeing in school will fade away once complex brain processes are better understood and managed. After reading this book together, both children and adults will have the confidence and information required to discuss topics like What happens when you learn?, Why does your brain ignore boring things?, How can we organise learning for better thinking?, and How can we stop the process of forgetting? I hope you enjoy the book! - Olimpia Mesa Through neuroscience stories, Olimpia Mesa, an expert learning designer and mother, unravels how a human brain learns and what to do about it to help your children become smarter, better and happier learners. The book draws on ideas from brain science without being academic about it. It is written in a way that will engage and interest children between the ages of 6 and 12, inviting them on a journey that they will find constantly fascinating. Olimpia Mesa is a leading expert and consultant on brain-based learning design. She is the president of Instructional Design Ltd., a company behind hundreds of successful corporate and educational programs. In addition to consulting with Fortune 500 organisations on learning projects, Olimpia is the founder of Book to Courses(tm) Online School whose main goal is to teach authors how to transform a nonfictional book into online academies or apps. "Well done on an excellent guide to help children use their brains more effectively and also giving parents and teachers a way of working and supporting children''s learning. I loved the lay-out and the visuals. I thought the series of exercises and challenges were very age appropriate and accessible. The way it ends with the brain-challenges is great and gives children and real programme to follow and challenging questions at every stage.Well done on a very clever and thought provoking piece of work!" -Dr. Martin Fitzgerald, Lecturer in Education and Human Development, LIT, Ireland "This book is an important reminder of the basics of human behavior and learning while educating children for a better world. It succeeds in capturing many important aspects of developing brains in processing information and everyday experiences from the very early years of childhood. The parents are supposed to act as mentors all along. In fact without the support of adults the great potential laid out in the book is not completely met. I highly recommend this book for all families who aspire to inspire children to learn to learn and to maintain and develop their inborn skills to be curious and creative." -Jukka Kangaslahti, PhD in educational Sciences, Senior Advisor at European Parliament, Finland "Children will discover activities that challenge them to go outside the book and actually build the concepts they are reading about. Learning challenges will allow them to take the lessons from the book back into their homes and classrooms and notice how their life changes as they experience learning differently. Thus the book itself comes alive and becomes a gateway - bridging new insights with practical application, all in a fun, engaging way."-Alis Anagnostakis, Executive Coach (PCC), Australia "We all learn every day, but how learning happens is often a mystery. The book takes us on an adventure to uncover the secrets of learning. In a manner that is accessible to both children and adults alike, it invites us to explore the magnificent human brain and how to ensure it works effectively...What I like most of all is the accessibility to complex information - a simplicity that is very powerful."-Davin Willows, Director of Admissions and Advancement, ISB, Belgium

Learning How to Learn

Learning How to Learn

Author: Barbara Oakley, PhD

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2018-08-07

Total Pages: 256

ISBN-13: 052550446X

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A surprisingly simple way for students to master any subject--based on one of the world's most popular online courses and the bestselling book A Mind for Numbers A Mind for Numbers and its wildly popular online companion course "Learning How to Learn" have empowered more than two million learners of all ages from around the world to master subjects that they once struggled with. Fans often wish they'd discovered these learning strategies earlier and ask how they can help their kids master these skills as well. Now in this new book for kids and teens, the authors reveal how to make the most of time spent studying. 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. This book 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 • Why having a poor memory can be a good thing • The value of metaphors in developing understanding • A simple, yet powerful, way to stop procrastinating Filled with illustrations, application questions, and exercises, this book makes learning easy and fun.


Book Synopsis Learning How to Learn by : Barbara Oakley, PhD

Download or read book Learning How to Learn written by Barbara Oakley, PhD and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2018-08-07 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A surprisingly simple way for students to master any subject--based on one of the world's most popular online courses and the bestselling book A Mind for Numbers A Mind for Numbers and its wildly popular online companion course "Learning How to Learn" have empowered more than two million learners of all ages from around the world to master subjects that they once struggled with. Fans often wish they'd discovered these learning strategies earlier and ask how they can help their kids master these skills as well. Now in this new book for kids and teens, the authors reveal how to make the most of time spent studying. 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. This book 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 • Why having a poor memory can be a good thing • The value of metaphors in developing understanding • A simple, yet powerful, way to stop procrastinating Filled with illustrations, application questions, and exercises, this book makes learning easy and fun.

Learn Better

Learn Better

Author: Ulrich Boser

Publisher: Rodale Books

Published: 2019-09-03

Total Pages: 306

ISBN-13: 0593135318

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For centuries, experts have argued that learning was about memorizing information: You're supposed to study facts, dates, and details; burn them into your memory; and then apply that knowledge at opportune times. But this approach to learning isn’t nearly enough for the world that we live in today, and in Learn Better journalist and education researcher Ulrich Boser demonstrates that how we learn can matter just as much as what we learn. In this brilliantly researched book, Boser maps out the new science of learning, showing how simple techniques like comprehension check-ins and making material personally relatable can help people gain expertise in dramatically better ways. He covers six key steps to help you “learn how to learn,” all illuminated with fascinating stories like how Jackson Pollock developed his unique painting style and why an ancient Japanese counting device allows kids to do math at superhuman speeds. Boser’s witty, engaging writing makes this book feel like a guilty pleasure, not homework. Learn Better will revolutionize the way students and society alike approach learning and makes the case that being smart is not an innate ability—learning is a skill everyone can master. With Boser as your guide, you will be able to fully capitalize on your brain’s remarkable ability to gain new skills and open up a whole new world of possibilities.


Book Synopsis Learn Better by : Ulrich Boser

Download or read book Learn Better written by Ulrich Boser and published by Rodale Books. This book was released on 2019-09-03 with total page 306 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For centuries, experts have argued that learning was about memorizing information: You're supposed to study facts, dates, and details; burn them into your memory; and then apply that knowledge at opportune times. But this approach to learning isn’t nearly enough for the world that we live in today, and in Learn Better journalist and education researcher Ulrich Boser demonstrates that how we learn can matter just as much as what we learn. In this brilliantly researched book, Boser maps out the new science of learning, showing how simple techniques like comprehension check-ins and making material personally relatable can help people gain expertise in dramatically better ways. He covers six key steps to help you “learn how to learn,” all illuminated with fascinating stories like how Jackson Pollock developed his unique painting style and why an ancient Japanese counting device allows kids to do math at superhuman speeds. Boser’s witty, engaging writing makes this book feel like a guilty pleasure, not homework. Learn Better will revolutionize the way students and society alike approach learning and makes the case that being smart is not an innate ability—learning is a skill everyone can master. With Boser as your guide, you will be able to fully capitalize on your brain’s remarkable ability to gain new skills and open up a whole new world of possibilities.

Achieving High Educational Standards for All

Achieving High Educational Standards for All

Author: Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education

Publisher:

Published: 2002-04-15

Total Pages: 314

ISBN-13:

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The Council, with help from the US Department of Education, held the Millennium Convention in Washington, DC in September 2000. It gathered educators, researchers, and policy makers at the national, state, and local levels to assess success and failure in educating minority and disadvantaged students since the Brown vs, Board of Education decision nearly a half century before, report on research into the causes of the successes and failures, and review strategies and practices that hold promise for continuing improvements. There is no index. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR


Book Synopsis Achieving High Educational Standards for All by : Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education

Download or read book Achieving High Educational Standards for All written by Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education and published by . This book was released on 2002-04-15 with total page 314 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Council, with help from the US Department of Education, held the Millennium Convention in Washington, DC in September 2000. It gathered educators, researchers, and policy makers at the national, state, and local levels to assess success and failure in educating minority and disadvantaged students since the Brown vs, Board of Education decision nearly a half century before, report on research into the causes of the successes and failures, and review strategies and practices that hold promise for continuing improvements. There is no index. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

How We Learn

How We Learn

Author: Benedict Carey

Publisher: Random House

Published: 2014-09-09

Total Pages: 274

ISBN-13: 0812993896

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In the tradition of The Power of Habit and Thinking, Fast and Slow comes a practical, playful, and endlessly fascinating guide to what we really know about learning and memory today—and how we can apply it to our own lives. From an early age, it is drilled into our heads: Restlessness, distraction, and ignorance are the enemies of success. We’re told that learning is all self-discipline, that we must confine ourselves to designated study areas, turn off the music, and maintain a strict ritual if we want to ace that test, memorize that presentation, or nail that piano recital. But what if almost everything we were told about learning is wrong? And what if there was a way to achieve more with less effort? In How We Learn, award-winning science reporter Benedict Carey sifts through decades of education research and landmark studies to uncover the truth about how our brains absorb and retain information. What he discovers is that, from the moment we are born, we are all learning quickly, efficiently, and automatically; but in our zeal to systematize the process we have ignored valuable, naturally enjoyable learning tools like forgetting, sleeping, and daydreaming. Is a dedicated desk in a quiet room really the best way to study? Can altering your routine improve your recall? Are there times when distraction is good? Is repetition necessary? Carey’s search for answers to these questions yields a wealth of strategies that make learning more a part of our everyday lives—and less of a chore. By road testing many of the counterintuitive techniques described in this book, Carey shows how we can flex the neural muscles that make deep learning possible. Along the way he reveals why teachers should give final exams on the first day of class, why it’s wise to interleave subjects and concepts when learning any new skill, and when it’s smarter to stay up late prepping for that presentation than to rise early for one last cram session. And if this requires some suspension of disbelief, that’s because the research defies what we’ve been told, throughout our lives, about how best to learn. The brain is not like a muscle, at least not in any straightforward sense. It is something else altogether, sensitive to mood, to timing, to circadian rhythms, as well as to location and environment. It doesn’t take orders well, to put it mildly. If the brain is a learning machine, then it is an eccentric one. In How We Learn, Benedict Carey shows us how to exploit its quirks to our advantage.


Book Synopsis How We Learn by : Benedict Carey

Download or read book How We Learn written by Benedict Carey and published by Random House. This book was released on 2014-09-09 with total page 274 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the tradition of The Power of Habit and Thinking, Fast and Slow comes a practical, playful, and endlessly fascinating guide to what we really know about learning and memory today—and how we can apply it to our own lives. From an early age, it is drilled into our heads: Restlessness, distraction, and ignorance are the enemies of success. We’re told that learning is all self-discipline, that we must confine ourselves to designated study areas, turn off the music, and maintain a strict ritual if we want to ace that test, memorize that presentation, or nail that piano recital. But what if almost everything we were told about learning is wrong? And what if there was a way to achieve more with less effort? In How We Learn, award-winning science reporter Benedict Carey sifts through decades of education research and landmark studies to uncover the truth about how our brains absorb and retain information. What he discovers is that, from the moment we are born, we are all learning quickly, efficiently, and automatically; but in our zeal to systematize the process we have ignored valuable, naturally enjoyable learning tools like forgetting, sleeping, and daydreaming. Is a dedicated desk in a quiet room really the best way to study? Can altering your routine improve your recall? Are there times when distraction is good? Is repetition necessary? Carey’s search for answers to these questions yields a wealth of strategies that make learning more a part of our everyday lives—and less of a chore. By road testing many of the counterintuitive techniques described in this book, Carey shows how we can flex the neural muscles that make deep learning possible. Along the way he reveals why teachers should give final exams on the first day of class, why it’s wise to interleave subjects and concepts when learning any new skill, and when it’s smarter to stay up late prepping for that presentation than to rise early for one last cram session. And if this requires some suspension of disbelief, that’s because the research defies what we’ve been told, throughout our lives, about how best to learn. The brain is not like a muscle, at least not in any straightforward sense. It is something else altogether, sensitive to mood, to timing, to circadian rhythms, as well as to location and environment. It doesn’t take orders well, to put it mildly. If the brain is a learning machine, then it is an eccentric one. In How We Learn, Benedict Carey shows us how to exploit its quirks to our advantage.