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Learn Like a Pro: Science-Based Tools to Become Better at Anything

via edX

Overview

Do you spend too much time learning with disappointing results? Do you find it difficult to remember what you read? Do you put off studying because it’s boring and you’re easily distracted? This course is for you!

Dr. Barbara Oakley—instructor of some of the most popular online courses of all time—and her co-instructor Olav Schewe, educational coach extraordinaire, have struggled in the past with their learning. But they’ve found ways to succeed—Barb has gone from a math-phobic failure in high school to become an engineering professor, and Olav has gone from a mediocre, muddling student to become a standout in his graduate studies at Oxford. In Learn Like a Pro , Olav and Barb lay out techniques based on easy-to-understand but cutting-edge neuroscientific research that can also help you master any material.

Learn Like a Pro is like no other course on learning—it weaves late-breaking insights from neuroscience into Barb and Olav’s previous research and teaching to show unexpected, yet practical, new approaches. You’ll learn why note-taking isn’t always beneficial and why speed-reading techniques don’t work (they speed up only your eyes, not your brain—but there is something better you can do instead). You’ll also learn why the best strategies for learning a new language as an adult are inevitably different from the approaches you used as a child. And guess what? The same techniques you might use to boogie-down with dance or sink a basketball share can, with clever retooling, also help you gradually become an expert coder or master at chess.

Think you aren’t so smart? Learn why your slower way of learning can help you see the faulty assumptions and discover deeper truths that even geniuses can miss. In fact, you’ll learn how applying useful learning techniques to your slow-learning approach can help you to sometimes perform better than mental superstars. Are you already a great learner? Learn Like a Pro will give you useful tools to become even more powerful in your learning. (Pro tip—what you’ve previously been taught about how to learn successfully is often the opposite of what neuroscience tells us about how to learn most successfully.) This inspirational course will also teach you how to boost your motivation and creatively handle frustration—no matter what you’re learning. You’ll find new pathways to triumph, and you’ll have a lot of fun while you’re at it. Join us at Learn Like a Pro and boost your learning success today!

Taught by

Olav Schewe and Barbara Oakley

Reviews

4.9 rating, based on 260 Class Central reviews

4.5 rating at edX based on 6 ratings

Start your review of Learn Like a Pro: Science-Based Tools to Become Better at Anything

  • A compact course packed with information and techniques to help you learn more quickly and effectively. While some information is the same as in Barbara Oakley's Learning How to Learn, it introduces new material and explains the "Why" behind the strategies presented. Also includes some interactive activities and encourages effective participation in the discussion forums. A well-made course!
  • Yet another top course from Barbara Oakly, building further on previous successes, improving the material and adding new concepts. This is a short course full of tips & tricks to improve your learning, backed by scientific research. The animation…
  • The best course about how to learn. I became a much better student and more motivate to do everything I need to do. I recommend a lot.
  • This was an informative course presented in compact learning modules. The instructors did a great job presenting information on the topic in easy-to-digest ways. I appreciated their inclusion of both visual and auditory learning modalities.
  • It has very clear videos and good exercises to practice. Great tools recommended. The two people that teach are very good to explaining the concepts.
  • Anonymous
    It was a very interesting course. I learned many new methods, techniques and information. And unknowingly, I realized that I use some of these in my daily life for my learning process, and after this lesson, I applied some of the techniques I learned from this lesson, such as the pomadora technique. A really effective method for my university that helps me focus on my subjects, projects, articles.
  • Anonymous
    The instructors explained techniques that were applied immediately and the results were instantaneous. I especially enjoyed the visual description which gave me a picture of what they were talking about and exactly how to apply it.

    Previously, I heard about the concept of a mind palace in the series "Sherlock" and thought it was something only geniuses like Sherlock can use, now I am convinced otherwise and will apply the skills learned in this course to improve my learning of finance.
  • Excellent introduction to the process and to smart methods of learning. The teachers are engaging and fun; the course is short and well structured.
  • Anonymous
    A brief overview of the science of learning with usable examples that was overall well done. I think there could have been more time and detail focused on the practical application of the theories, but in relation to the length of the course, the content was well balanced.

    This is probably my personal issue, but I would suggest, especially to the younger presenter, to consider less hand movements as they talk. Mannerisms that are probably fine in the front of a college lecture hall are magnified when translated to a computer screen where they become disproportionately exaggerated, creating, what was for me, a continuous distraction that took away from my ability to concentrate on the message.
  • Anonymous
    I have found this course to be hugely helpful, insightful and inspiring. I find it to be very useful from a practical perspective. I have confidence in the tools and ideas taught in this course as they are based in science and research. I also find that it made me feel a great deal better about problems I have encountered with learning new things in the past, it explained why things may not have gone so well and has given me ways to address that. I can also see that I can apply the techniques to a number of areas of my life - not just formal study. Highly recommend. Thanks Barb and Olav.
  • Anonymous
    I only audited the course. I took a similar course/audited on Coursera about a year or two ago. This is a much better, improved, simpler, and shorter course-while very effective. I recommend the course to parents of school-age children as well. I…
  • Profile image for Shohjakhon Abdusattarov
    Shohjakhon Abdusattarov
    best for the lazy people to change their lives, I used to procrastinate a lot but after taking this course my focus level now skyrocket like at least 4 to 5 hours of focused work on a daily basis
  • Carol Burke
    I have found this course to be hugely helpful, insightful and inspiring. I find it to be very useful from a practical perspective. I have confidence in the tools and ideas taught in this course as they are based in science and research. I also find that it made me feel a great deal better about problems I have encountered with learning new things in the past, it explained why things may not have gone so well and has given me ways to address that. I can also see that I can apply the techniques to a number of areas of my life - not just formal study. Highly recommend. Thanks Barb and Olav.
  • Anonymous
    I have found this course to be hugely helpful, insightful and inspiring. I find it to be very useful from a practical perspective. I have confidence in the tools and ideas taught in this course as they are based in science and research. I also find that it made me feel a great deal better about problems I have encountered with learning new things in the past, it explained why things may not have gone so well and has given me ways to address that. I can also see that I can apply the techniques to a number of areas of my life - not just formal study. Highly recommend. Thanks Barb and Olav.
  • Profile image for Alexis LaFleur
    Alexis LaFleur
    This course is great for anyone just starting out learning or anyone wishing to improve their learning abilities. The instructors not only give excellent tools and methods to help you learn better, but also give scientific explanations of WHY they could work (and why we may be struggling in the first place!) It's an enlightening course and, even as a "seasoned" learner, I found this course to be very beneficial to those who take it.
  • Anonymous
    The course was really amazing and those short videos helped a lot. The practical illustrations and basic quiz helped to retain whatever was taught in class. I liked the concept explained here that online learning is effective as compared to other types of learning and i had a doubt regarding motivation for online learning which was resolved at a later stage of course. I would definitely recommend the course to others who want to learn like a pro.
  • Anonymous
    A great course put together very well by Barb Oakley and Olaf Shewe. The techniques and tools were presented very effectively via engaging videos as well as the important points highlighted following the videos were most helpful. A very useful course that I enjoyed thoroughly and was very glad to have completed it.
  • Profile image for Lory Moore
    Lory Moore
    A fascinating journey through the science and art of learning. Clearly both instructors are fluent in the evidence-based methods for improving cognition and retention, and they have developed a cohesive, entertaining and stimulating presentation to deliver complex topics, such as metacognition. I will be following their guidelines in reviewing the material, to more deeply embed the concepts in my own brain, and to be able to share them with my students.
  • Anonymous
    A very useful course that explains how the brain operates when learning and highlights what can make differences between learners.
    It offers tools that can improve learning efficency especially when adapted with learner capacities.
    Highly recommended for all levels of learners
  • Anonymous
    Really great way to start thinking about yoru learning practices. We all know these tricks as kids but overtime we start mismanaging our nature given learning instincts due to a bad environment or negative experiences which have traumatised us. It was a relief to relearn and know by name what I have always almost done by instinct.It will help mebe more mindful of my learning in the future. Surely take this course!

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