A Mind for Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science (Even If You Flunked Algebra)

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People who are good at maths and science realise there is actually a 2 part process in solving problems. The first is the Focused mode and the second is to let your mind wander, be creative or what Neuroscientists call the diffuse mode - a relaxed resting state the brain goes into when learning. Deep understanding helps with transfer. Transfer is when you’ve learned something in one context but can apply it to another context. It’s frequently easier to learn a second foreign language once you’ve already learned one. This is because when you were learning the first language, you also learned generally language-learning skills and potentially new words and grammatical structures that transfer to learning the second language. [This matches my experience. When I was learning a foreign language, a lot of time was spent learning how to learn – discovering what methods worked for me, finding good language-learning resources.]

Neuroscientists found that our brain switches frequently between 2 sets of thought processes: focused thinking and diffused thinking. To learn effectively, improve your memory and how you transfer information from the short-term to long-term memory. Learning Strategies, Concepts and Ingredients Procrastination is really harmful because it reduces the amount of time your brain has to switch between focused and diffuse modes. Some tips to overcome procrastination include:

Merely glancing at the solution to a problem and thinking you truly know it yourself is one of the most common illusions of competence in learning. Questo libro prova a svelare alcuni segreti e il metodo di studio che rendono l'apprendimento delle discipline scientifiche possibile con uno sforzo adeguato. Non promette miracoli, ma mantiene quello che promette. È un condensato di molti princìpi generali dello studente ligio al dovere e che vuole raggiungere traguardi, anche ambiziosi, non sprecando il proprio tempo. Dopo averlo letto si dovrebbe avere una idea di massima su come procedere se si vuole acquisire una conoscenza duratura e diventare degli esperti in una disciplina (non solo scientifica). There is a useful chapter on how to prepare for tests, and how to take tests. The advice is not always intuitive, but it is all common sense. Study groups are often beneficial. There are some situations, where they may be a waste of time. Extremely smart people are more likely to procrastinate than people of normal intelligence. Because procrastinating always worked when they were growing up. This means they are less likely to learn critical life skills early on.

I have not been this excited about a book in a long time. Giving students deep knowledge on how to learn will lead to higher retention and student success in every field. It is a gift that will last them a lifetime.” Ultimately, your brain and mental capacity are not fixed. You can change your brain by changing how you think. The more you practice something, the more chunks and neural highways you build, and the easier it is to learn and solve problems. By applying the strategies and techniques in this book, you can learn more deeply and enjoy guilt-free rest and play! A Mind for Numbersis an excellent book about how to approach mathematics, science, or any realm where problem solving plays a prominent role.”Happy to see the late Seth Roberts show up. He went too far and dogmatic, but his impulse towards self-experiments is great. The book also helps you become a deeper learner, someone more in love with education. It does so by:

Use the focused mode to first start grappling with concepts and problems in math and science. After you’ve done your first hard-focused work, allow the diffuse mode to takeover. Relax and do something different.A Mind for Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science (Even If You Flunked Algebra) by Barbara Oakley Several recent studies have shown that regular exercise can make a substantive improvement in your memory and learning ability. Learning to Appreciate Your Talent Sometimes it’s helpful to take limiting cases where one variable or another goes to zero or infinity. That may help you understand what the equation is saying. Understanding often arises as a consequence of attempting to explain something to others, rather than the explanation arising out of your previous understanding.