Learning how to learn

Hi all,

I recently found this very good MOOC: "Learning how to learn" on Coursera.

This class is quite short (about 10 hours in total), but it is very interesting as it teaches us how the brain learns, and more importantly how to use this knowledge to learn more efficiently.

I'm only at the half of it right now but it explains many things, for example why regular practice is much more efficient than cramming (neural pathways are strengthened much more efficiently this way) and how to use spatial repetition to learn more efficiently. How sleeps helps us learn (by staying awake, the brain releases toxins, sleeping allows us to get rid of them), how exercise strengthens memory and creativity (they did science stuff to prove it), how procrastination works and how to use the different states of our brain to be more creative.

I found it funny that they interviewed a polyglot who gave many advices on how to learn a new language, and that the tricks he gave are the one I'm using for learning mandarin (try to speak when you can even if you make a lot of mistake, use spatial repetitions with apps such as Anki or memrise).

Overall this class is really interesting and I believe quite useful for life long students (if you are not one, you should consider becoming one).

Cheers,
Felix