We could all use a learning tune up from time to time. Surprisingly, current assumptions about how we learn are wrapped in myths and supported by outdated study methods that work against the latest neuroscientific research. Learning is really core in increasing your abilities. For career or academic commitments we all have to learn and we should be learning from life expeirnces, especially from failure.
If you’re in school or a lifelong learner I offer my recommendation on the five best books about learning how to learn.
Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning
by Peter C. Brown , Roediger III, Henry L., et al. | Apr 14, 2014
For me this book is the gold standard. I have gone back to this book almost weekly during my research.
“To most of us, learning something “the hard way” implies wasted time and effort. Good teaching, we believe, should be creatively tailored to the different learning styles of students and should use strategies that make learning easier. Make It Stick turns fashionable ideas like these on their head. Drawing on recent discoveries in cognitive psychology and other disciplines, the authors offer concrete techniques for becoming more productive learners.”
“To most of us, learning something “the hard way” implies wasted time and effort. Good teaching, we believe, should be creatively tailored to the different learning styles of students and should use strategies that make learning easier. Make It Stick turns fashionable ideas like these on their head. Drawing on recent discoveries in cognitive psychology and other disciplines, the authors offer concrete techniques for becoming more productive learners.”
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
by Carol S. Dweck | Dec 26, 2007
While this book is applied generally for achievement, Dweck discovered mindset principles within academic settings. Often overlooked, there are some key elements about the power learning goals in relationship to achievement goals in Mindset.
“After decades of research, world-renowned Stanford University psychologist Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D., discovered a simple but groundbreaking idea: the power of mindset. In this brilliant book, she shows how success in school, work, sports, the arts, and almost every area of human endeavor can be dramatically influenced by how we think about our talents and abilities. People with a fixed mindset—those who believe that abilities are fixed—are less likely to flourish than those with a growth mindset—those who believe that abilities can be developed. Mindset reveals how great parents, teachers, managers, and athletes can put this idea to use to foster outstanding accomplishment.”
“After decades of research, world-renowned Stanford University psychologist Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D., discovered a simple but groundbreaking idea: the power of mindset. In this brilliant book, she shows how success in school, work, sports, the arts, and almost every area of human endeavor can be dramatically influenced by how we think about our talents and abilities. People with a fixed mindset—those who believe that abilities are fixed—are less likely to flourish than those with a growth mindset—those who believe that abilities can be developed. Mindset reveals how great parents, teachers, managers, and athletes can put this idea to use to foster outstanding accomplishment.”
The Science of Self-Learning: How to Teach Yourself Anything, Learn More in Less Time, and Direct Your Own Education
by Peter Hollins | November 16, 2018
Although this book covers some of the same territory as Make It Stick, the focus on lifelong learners and how to guide yourself in a complex learning world is highly needed. Hollins also offers methods such as speed reading and planning that are very helpful to learners.
“Self-learning is not just about performing better in the classroom or the office. It’s about being able to aim your life in whatever direction you choose and conquering the obstacles in front of you.
The Science of Self-Learning focuses not only on learning, but what it means to direct your own learning. Most people have multiple careers in their lives. Self-learning is how you keep up and adapt.”
“Self-learning is not just about performing better in the classroom or the office. It’s about being able to aim your life in whatever direction you choose and conquering the obstacles in front of you.
The Science of Self-Learning focuses not only on learning, but what it means to direct your own learning. Most people have multiple careers in their lives. Self-learning is how you keep up and adapt.”
Mindshift: Break Through Obstacles to Learning and Discover Your Hidden Potential
by Oakley PhD, Barbara | Apr 18, 2017
If you are like me you learned about Oakley through YouTube. She holds the distinction for creating the largest MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses), which by no coincidence is about Learning How to Learn.
“Mind shift reveals how we can overcome stereotypes and preconceived ideas about what is possible for us to learn and become.
At a time when we are constantly being asked to retrain and reinvent ourselves to adapt to new technologies and changing industries, this book shows us how we can uncover and develop talents we didn’t realize we had—no matter what our age or background. We’re often told to “follow our passions.” But in Mindshift, Dr. Barbara Oakley shows us how we can broaden our passions. Drawing on the latest neuroscientific insights, Dr. Oakley shepherds us past simplistic ideas of “aptitude” and “ability,” which provide only a snapshot of who we are now—with little consideration about how we can change.”
“Mind shift reveals how we can overcome stereotypes and preconceived ideas about what is possible for us to learn and become.
At a time when we are constantly being asked to retrain and reinvent ourselves to adapt to new technologies and changing industries, this book shows us how we can uncover and develop talents we didn’t realize we had—no matter what our age or background. We’re often told to “follow our passions.” But in Mindshift, Dr. Barbara Oakley shows us how we can broaden our passions. Drawing on the latest neuroscientific insights, Dr. Oakley shepherds us past simplistic ideas of “aptitude” and “ability,” which provide only a snapshot of who we are now—with little consideration about how we can change.”
The Learning Maze: A New Framework For Personalized Learning
by Shane Lester | October 2, 2019
Can you learn your way to success?
Successful people learn knowledge, skills and attitudes in unconventional ways that help them target and structure relevant information to maximize their energy while they learn from their failures, moving rapidly toward their goals. In other words, successful people are not only good learners, but perceptive and deliberate learners. The Learning Maze identifies the framework that successful and agile learners use.
Successful people learn knowledge, skills and attitudes in unconventional ways that help them target and structure relevant information to maximize their energy while they learn from their failures, moving rapidly toward their goals. In other words, successful people are not only good learners, but perceptive and deliberate learners. The Learning Maze identifies the framework that successful and agile learners use.
A new framework for learning
Based upon neuroscience and instructional design principles the Learning Maze will introduce Learning Frames. Like all frameworks it can be applied in many different ways and upon different subject matter. Once you master the learning framework you will see that this unspoken framework is the structure that most successful people use to learn how to do something. If you replicate the structure you can replicate their results at any pace or scale that works for you.
Based upon neuroscience and instructional design principles the Learning Maze will introduce Learning Frames. Like all frameworks it can be applied in many different ways and upon different subject matter. Once you master the learning framework you will see that this unspoken framework is the structure that most successful people use to learn how to do something. If you replicate the structure you can replicate their results at any pace or scale that works for you.
Increase your mindset for learning
- Some things you learned about yourself in school are not true. You actually can change, and your mind can embrace new knowledge.
- There is no one-size-fits-all approach to learning. There is no recipe for learning.
- A framework for learning is more powerful than a prescribed method or style of learning.
- Learning Frames is a systematic approach to change your learning behavior and mindset, helping you learn your way to success.
You can navigate the maze of self-directed learning
Self-directed learning describes a process in which individuals diagnose their learning needs, formulating learning goals, and implement appropriate learning strategies. Learning Frames is a fundamental way to change your learning behavior, which changes your brain and rewires it for learning. Every topic, every subject, every need to know more, can be placed within a Learning Frame. Learing Frames empowers you to personalize, target and structure relevant information to maximize your energy, as you learn from your failures, moving rapidly toward your goals.
Self-directed learning describes a process in which individuals diagnose their learning needs, formulating learning goals, and implement appropriate learning strategies. Learning Frames is a fundamental way to change your learning behavior, which changes your brain and rewires it for learning. Every topic, every subject, every need to know more, can be placed within a Learning Frame. Learing Frames empowers you to personalize, target and structure relevant information to maximize your energy, as you learn from your failures, moving rapidly toward your goals.
Learning Frames 