005: The Science of Learning with Dr. Barbara Oakley (Part 1)

What you'll learn

  • Why it can be difficult to learn, and how to optimize your learning process
  • The power of reframing negative situations in a positive light
  • How being “scatterbrained” (or scientifically-speaking, having low working memory) can work to your benefit
  • Programming languages are really for human beings
  • Simple hacks to help remind you of your long-term goals

Tweetables

  • 3:00  Barb talks about her own mindshift from self-described “mathphobe” to Professor of Engineering
  • 8:20  Learn how (and why it’s important) to reframe negative situations as positively as possible—as a brain hack, not just a lifestyle
  • 12:40  Barb offers her experience with simple hacks to remind you of your long-term goals
  • 15:40  Learn about poor working (short-term) memory, and why it can be a wonderful advantage
  • 24:20  Barb talks about why it’s taken so long to examine and draw attention to the learning process from a student perspective
  • 31:00  Barb and Nicole talk about the (very minor) differences in how older people learn, and how they can best direct their learning
  • 38:13  Udemy’s Learn Fest is going on, with $10 web development and design courses—check out my bestseller list here!

In this two-part discussion, we welcome special guest Dr. Barbara Oakley, Professor of Engineering at Oakland University, to discuss her new book Mindshift: Break Through Obstacles to Learning and Discover Your Hidden Potential, and adapt some key topics from her record-setting Learning How to Learn and Mindshift Coursera courses for self-taught web development students.

Barbara Oakley’s Coursera course, Learning How to Learn, is currently the world’s largest Massive Open Online Course (MOOC).

It is here that students may have their very first exposure to the inner workings of the brain. And, if you’re a new coder, you know that our brains are very good at pushing back against our attempts to teach it complex new information.

When you learn how to learn this information, your coding experience will change completely. Things will become easier. You’ll be able to move along faster, and with less frustration. I think that’s everyone’s ultimate goal!

This episode is packed with so much information, you’re going to want to start from the beginning. Please be sure to check out Part 1 of the two-part interview, if you haven’t heard it yet.

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Barb’s Plugs

BrainHQ: Barb’s recommended brain exercise platform

ClassCentral: Find top online courses

Barb’s Courses & Books

Learning How to Learn: Powerful Mental Tools to Help You Master Tough Subjects [course] on Coursera

Mindshift: Break Through Obstacles to Learning and Discover Your Hidden Potential [course] on Coursera

Mindshift: Break Through Obstacles to Learning and Unlock Your Hidden Potential [book] on Amazon

Question of the Episode

What are the main LEARNING-based challenges you’ve encountered learning to code?

I’d love to hear your answers in the comments below, or:

On Twitter at @lavie_encode

On the La Vie en Code Facebook page

Or, via my Contact page!

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What you'll learn

  • Why it can be difficult to learn, and how to optimize your learning process
  • The power of reframing negative situations in a positive light
  • How being “scatterbrained” (or scientifically-speaking, having low working memory) can work to your benefit
  • Programming languages are really for human beings
  • Simple hacks to help remind you of your long-term goals

Tweetables

  • 3:00  Barb talks about her own mindshift from self-described “mathphobe” to Professor of Engineering
  • 8:20  Learn how (and why it’s important) to reframe negative situations as positively as possible—as a brain hack, not just a lifestyle
  • 12:40  Barb offers her experience with simple hacks to remind you of your long-term goals
  • 15:40  Learn about poor working (short-term) memory, and why it can be a wonderful advantage
  • 24:20  Barb talks about why it’s taken so long to examine and draw attention to the learning process from a student perspective
  • 31:00  Barb and Nicole talk about the (very minor) differences in how older people learn, and how they can best direct their learning
  • 38:13  Udemy’s Learn Fest is going on, with $10 web development and design courses—check out my bestseller list here!

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