Focused+versus+Diffuse+Thinking

= [|Learning How to Learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects] = = b y Dr. Barbara Oakley, Dr. Terrence Sejnowski =


 * Procrastination preview**
 * 1) If you look something you really would not - you activate the areas of your brain associated with pain - brain wants to stop the negative stimulation by switching the attention to something else - this means procrastination.
 * 2) Pomodoro = timer -> set timer 25 minutes, turn off all interruptions, **focus -** after reward! = allow your brain to enjoyable change its focus.


 * Practice makes permanent**
 * 1) Why is math challenging? Because it is abstract? Mathematical ideas have no analogous thing you can point to.
 * 2) Love, hope and zest are also abstract, but they are feelings, you can feel them in your body.
 * 3) You have to practice mathematical concepts - to enhance and strengthen the neural connections you make during the learning process. Even when the ideas are abstract, the neural thought patterns are real and concrete - if you build and strengthen them through practice.
 * 4) Stud hard by focusing intently -> take a break or change your focus to something different = brains diffuse mode has a chance to work away in the background and help you out with your conceptual understanding.


 * Introduction to memory **


 * 1) **Long term memory** = different kinds of long term memories are stored in different regions of the brain - immense
 * 2) When you put something into long term memory, you have revisit it at least a few times to increase the changes to find it later
 * 3) Here you store the fundamental concepts and techniques involved into that thing you are learning about
 * 4) **Working memory** = inefficient mental blackboard - immediately and consciously processing in the mind, prefrontal cortex, hold about four junks of information
 * 5) We automatically group memory items into chunks - you need to repeat things so it stays in the working memory
 * 6) **Spaced repetition =**


 * The importance of sleep in Learning **
 * 1) Plain being awake creates toxic products in the brain - in sleep the brain cells shrink, the space between brain cells increases and fluid washes the toxins out
 * 2) During the sleep the brain tidies up ideas and concepts you are thinking about - erases the less important parts of memories and strengthen areas you need or want to remember.
 * 3) During the sleep brain rehearses some of the tougher parts you want to learn.
 * 4) Sleep helps to figure out difficult problems and to understand what you are trying to learn


 * Interview with Dr. **Terrence Sejnowski - keywords
 * 1) Learning by doing - active engagement - notebook - multitasking - exercise - the importance of stimulative and creative environment
 * 2) test taking - do not hung up, if you can not answer the question
 * 3) passion and persistance


 * summary of the week**

affiliated **(with)** - sidoksissa avid (**at**) - innokas belligerent - sotaisa dissipating - vaimentava evaporate - haihtua intently - keskittyneesti juggle - pallotella persistence - sitkeys procrastination - viivyttely tidy = siivota, siistiä trajectory = kehityskaari, elämänkaari zest - great enthusiasm and energy.
 * SANASTOA **