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Deep Teaching Solutions

Learning How to Learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects

This course gives you easy access to the invaluable learning techniques used by experts in art, music, literature, math, science, sports, and many other disciplines. We’ll learn about how the brain uses two very different learning modes and how it encapsulates (“chunks”) information. We’ll also cover illusions of learning, memory techniques, dealing with procrastination, and best practices shown by research to be most effective in helping you master tough subjects. Using these approaches, no matter what your skill levels in topics you would like to master, you can change your thinking and change your life. If you’re already an expert, this peep under the mental hood will give you ideas for turbocharging successful learning, including counter-intuitive test-taking tips and insights that will help you make the best use of your time on homework and problem sets. If you’re struggling, you’ll see a structured treasure trove of practical techniques that walk you through what you need to do to get on track. If you’ve ever wanted to become better at anything, this course will help serve as your guide. This course can be taken independent of, concurrent with, or prior to, its companion course, Mindshift. (Learning How to Learn is more learning-focused, and Mindshift is more career-focused.) A related course by the same instructors is Uncommon Sense Teaching. To join the fully translated Portuguese version of the course, visit: https://www.coursera.org/learn/aprender To join the fully translated Spanish version of the course, visit: https://www.coursera.org/learn/aprendiendo-a-aprender To join the fully translated Chinese version of the course, visit: https://www.coursera.org/learn/ruhe-xuexi To join the fully translated French version of the course, visit : http://www.coursera.org/learn/apprendre-comment-apprendre

Status: Adaptability
Status: Learning Strategies
BeginnerCourse16 hours

Featured reviews

BH

5.0Reviewed Nov 13, 2015

I found this course to be incredibly helpful. I am 33 and wish that I would have been taught a more efficient way of learning many years ago. There are definitely some great takeaways from this class.

SR

5.0Reviewed Jan 31, 2016

Inspriational! Well presented, interesting and useful. Everybody should take this course. Thank you to all those involved in developing this course. I'm already putting the teaching into practice.

MT

5.0Reviewed Apr 12, 2026

This has helped me to formulate lessons for my students so that they can remember better, by using techniques such as metaphors and analogies, chunking using mnemonics, spaced repetition, and quizzes.

CS

5.0Reviewed Jan 1, 2020

This class feels basic, but it hold deep truths about how to be a better learner and it provides great research you can go deeper into on your own. Excellent instruction, you get out what you put in.

CJ

5.0Reviewed Apr 28, 2020

One of the best course in Coursera. Explained in very simple manner to understand how to learn. Very powerful explanation and tricks. Recommended to all those who really want to explore their skills.

AM

5.0Reviewed Oct 4, 2016

This is an amazing course. I would recommend that you take this course before doing any others in Coursera, it will give you a great foundation to take into any other subjects that you want to learn.

VG

5.0Reviewed Aug 20, 2017

I highly recommend everyone to take this course. The course makes so much of sense and it reasons why someone learns the way they learn and it debunks a lot of misconceptions and myths around memory.

GY

5.0Reviewed Jul 14, 2022

A very helpful course, with good content and good presenation. Well worth the time spent working through the lessions. Thanks for spending the time and effort to create the course, Barabara and Terry!

CD

5.0Reviewed Aug 1, 2020

This course accumulates a clear and valuable set of thoughts that structure knowledge about learning principles and tactics. Also, it was interesting to know some new things about how the brain works.

R

5.0Reviewed Jul 17, 2020

This is my first course at coursera platform and I enjoyed it. I've had the best experience of moocs learning and I loved the recall testing strategy which I found most helpful throughout the course.

EJ

5.0Reviewed Aug 25, 2023

This is course is so helpful it will debunk all the false beliefs and the wrong thing that you're doing in your life. It will also help you to understand your brain, that will make you a good learner.

BA

5.0Reviewed Nov 5, 2016

Amazing course, I learned a lot of new techniques for self motivation, and effecient learning. Now, I feel more confident to take further steps in improving and developing myself. Thank you so much :)

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Patrick McGee
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Reviewed Aug 20, 2017
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