Learning Course
- Lesson One - Pre-readingThe Power of Prereading - Part One
- The Power of Prereading - Part Two
- The Power of Prereading - Part Three
- The Power of Prereading - Part Four
- The Power of Prereading - Part Five
- Lesson Two - Single TaskingSingle Tasking - Part One
- Single Tasking - Part Two
- Single Tasking - Part Three
- Single Tasking - Part Four
- Single Tasking - Part Five
- Lesson Three - Recognition and RecallRecognition and Recall - Part One
- Recognition and Recall - Part Two
- Recognition and Recall - Part Three
- Recognition and Recall - Part Four
- Recognition and Recall - Part Five
- Lesson Four - Question LoggingQuestion Logging - Part One
- Question Logging - Part Two
- Question Logging - Part Three
- Question Logging - Part Five
- Question Logging - Part Four
- Lesson Five - The Testing EffectThe Testing Effect - Part One
- The Testing Effect - Part Two
- The Testing Effect - Part Three
- The Testing Effect - Part Four
- The Testing Effect - Part Five
- Lesson Six - Taking NotesTaking Notes - Part One
- Taking Notes - Part Two
- Taking Notes - Part Three
- Lesson Seven - Foundational LearningFoundational Learning - Part One
- Foundational Learning - Part Two
- Foundational Learning - Part Three
- Foundational Learning - Part Four
- Foundational Learning - Part Five
- Lesson eight - Deep LearningDeep Learning - Part One
- Deep Learning - Part Two
- Deep Learning - Part Three
- Deep Learning - Part Four
- Deep Learning - Part Five
- Lesson nine - High Yield LearningHigh Yield Learning - Part One
- High Yield Learning - Part Two
- High Yield Learning - Part Three
- High Yield Learning - Part Four
- High Yield Learning - Part Five
- Lesson ten - The Testing EffectThe Testing Effect - Part One
- The Testing Effect - Part Two
- The Testing Effect - Part Three
- The Testing Effect - Part Four
- The Testing Effect - Part Five
- Lesson eleven - active and passive learningActive and Passive Learning - Part One
- Active and Passive Learning - Part Two
- Active and Passive Learning - Part Three
- Active and Passive Learning - Part Four
- Active and Passive Learning - Part Five
- Lesson twelve - Study BlockingStudy Blocking - Part One
- Study Blocking - Part Two
- Study Blocking - Part Three
- Study Blocking - Part Four
- Study Blocking - Part Five
- Lesson thirteen - LinkingLinking - Part One
- Linking - Part Two
- Linking - Part Three
- Linking - Part Four
- Linking - Part Five
- Lesson fourteen - InterleavingInterleaving - Part One
- Interleaving - Part Two
- Interleaving - Part Three
- Interleaving - Part Four
- Interleaving - Part Five
- Lessons fifteen - Application QuestioningApplication Questioning - Part One
- Application Questioning - Part Two
- Copy of Application Questioning - Part Three
- Application Questioning - Part Four
- Application Questioning - Part Five
- Lesson Sixteen - Using TablesTables - Part One
- Tables - Part Two
- Tables - Part Three
- Tables - Part Four
- Tables - Part Five
Recap
Deep Learning
Superficial learning – distracted learning. Your focus is divided, whether you are aware of it or not.
Deep learning – Intently focused. Your mind becomes absorbed in your learning.
It’s important not to get confused by the word meaningful. Meaningful learning means: engaging in learning that is worthwhile.
Take an assignment for example. You might spend hours researching for it. As you glean through page after page, soaking up everything you can, you feel accomplished. Yet, the reality is the opposite. Research is the easy part. It’s effortless to scroll through the internet, fuelled by a steady drip of dopamine from every great new article you discover. You trick yourself into thinking that you must keep searching.
Don’t be fooled; It’s a ruse. Before long, your research becomes nothing more than elaborate procrastination.
Despite what you might think or feel, this isn’t meaningful work. What’s the truly meaningful work? Getting the assignment done.
Meaningful learning can only be found in your high-value tasks, the ones that also happen to be the hardest.
The mirage of productivity. Most superficial learning tasks appear – and even feel – as if you are getting a lot of work done.
Think about reading through your textbook. It’s fast. It’s easy. You get a lot done. The reality is, you’ll walk away with barely 5% of what you’ve just learnt.
Deep learning is a lot of work. It can be slow. But at the end of the day, you own your learning. The content is embedded deeply in your brain and your retention of the content will reflect this.
Never use appearance or feelings to judge your productivity. Trust the process.
Complete immersion in your task. It’s an energized focus. You might even lose track of time as you become engrossed in your work or learning.
Every time you find yourself distracted, you leave a fragment of your attention behind with that distraction. Even when you return your attention back to your task, some of it unconsciously remains with your recent distraction.
This phenomenon is called attention residue.
Lesson Cards
Deep Learning
Card 1
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Key Idea
The poor learning progress and continued distraction that accompanies superficial learning is harmful to your brain. It creates cognitive stress.
Card 2
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Key Idea
Appropriate struggle is a good indicator of effective learning.
Card 3
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Key Idea
Don’t let your feelings be the judge of meaningful work – they are always wrong.
Card 4
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Key Idea
“Meaningful learning” means useful, worthwhile and effective learning.
Card 5
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Key Idea
Don’t confuse challenging yourself with frustrating yourself. The difference is capability.
Card 6
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Key Idea
When you aren’t challenged, your focus will wane. Often you are not even conscious of this.