Coursera’s Learning How To Learn (Week 2 Part 1) – Flashcards
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
Chunking
answer
is the mental leap that helps you unit bits of information together through meaning.
question
"Octopus of Attention"
answer
A metaphor involving an octopus slipping it's tentacles through your working memory slots and making connections throughout your brain with what you already know. (in FOCUSED mode)
question
Memory Traces
answer
Familiar mental loop in which neurons fire and are wired in memory.
question
Chunk means a network of neurons that
answer
Are used to firing together so you can think smoothly or perform an activity.
question
How are chunks created?
answer
Focused practice, repetition, and the creation of strong memory traces.
question
The BEST chunks
answer
so well engrained that you don't have to think about connecting the neural patterns together.
question
What is the first step in forming a chunk?
answer
Focus your undivided attention on the material you want to chunk.
question
What is the second step in forming a chunk?
answer
Understand the basic idea of what you're trying to learn. Synthesize the main ideas.
question
While you can create a chunk with material you do not understand
answer
It is often useless and will not relate to your other material.
question
Simple understanding
answer
Will not necessarily form a chunk that can be easily called to mind later.
question
An effective method for self-testing?
answer
Close book at attempt to recall what you've read.
question
What is step 3 in forming a chunk?
answer
Gain context to learn now just HOW but also WHEN to use that chunk, and also when NOT to.
question
What role does PRACTICE play?
answer
Practice helps broaden networks of neurons connected to the chunk, making it firm and accessible.
question
Learning takes places which 2 ways?
answer
Top down (big picture) and bottom up. (chunking)
question
Both top down and bottom up processes
answer
Are vital to gaining true mastery.
question
bottom up learning
answer
Practice and repetition help you build and strengthen each chunk for ease of access whenever material is needed.
question
top down learning
answer
You can see what your learning and where it fits into the big picture.
question
Context
answer
where top down and bottom up learning meet.
question
Context allows you
answer
to know when to use one particular chunk instead of other ones.
question
What are two ways to see the big picture?
answer
1. Two-minute picture walk through of text 2.Listening to an organized lecture
question
Context also helps you understand how chunks
answer
Relate to each other and where to put them.
question
Learn key concepts first
answer
As these are often the most important parts of a text or lecture.
question
After synthesizing the main idea
answer
Fill in the details.
question
Chunks are best built with
answer
Focused attention, understanding, and practice.
question
Illusion of competence
answer
People often believe that they will perform better than they actually do.
question
Recall is more effective than both
answer
Rereading and passive reading.
question
The only time rereading a text is effective
answer
Is when an elapsed amount of time has passed making it spaced repetition.
question
Recall
answer
Mental retrieval of ideas.
question
A not yet mastered concept can
answer
Take up all slots of working memory.
question
A chunked concept
answer
Becomes one smooth idea that only takes up one slot in working memory.
question
Glancing at a solution and think you know it is
answer
One common illusion of competence.
question
Without working a problem yourself
answer
You have done almost nothing to knit the neural pathways required for understanding.
question
Highlighting and underlining
answer
Should be done sparingly.
question
Using your hand to actually highlight and underline material can
answer
Fool you into think you have actually mastered the material.
question
Maximum amount of highlighting should be
answer
No more than one sentence or less per paragraph.
question
An effective alternative to highlighting
answer
Words and notes in a margin that synthesize key ideas.
question
A desire to learn the material and spending time on the material
answer
Does not necessarily guarantee mastery.
question
One very effective way to ensure actual competence vs. illusions of competence.
answer
Testing yourself.
question
Allows you to make repairs in your thinking flaws and help correct thinking for better learning.
answer
Mistakes made in self-testing.
question
Recalling material in various physical locations
answer
Makes you independent of your enviornent.
question
Acetylchlorine
answer
Affects focused learning and attention.
question
Dopamine
answer
Signals in relation to unexpected rewards.
question
Serotonin
answer
Affects social behavior and risk taking.
