This is my assignment for Coursera's course "Learning : How to Learn"

1. My Learning's From
Coursera Course
LEARNING : HOW TO LEARN
Peer Assignment #2

2. CONTENTS
• Course Introduction
• Basics of Course
• Topic A – Focused &
Diffuse modes of thinking
• Topic B - Procrastination
• Topic C - Sleep
• Image Source
• References

3. COURSE INTRODUCTION

4. Have you seen a mouse going away
from a cat because it fears that the
cat will eat it ? What do you think,
from where did the mouse get to
know that the cats eat mice ? From
its parents ? Or from experience ?
"Learning is a never-ending process of life.“
Whatever be the answer, the main thing to understand here is that
Even A small animal like rat learns from life.

5. Similarly, we too learn
from life. From each
phase of our life, we can
learn something, which
can make our life
simpler.

6. But, when its the case of learning a subject at school or university, we
loose our interest. We start facing problems like procrastination,
forgetting what we learnt, distraction from work etc.
Although, age is not a limitation to learning, but trying to learn
something at an older age or after a long time makes the learning
process a little bit tougher.
This course discusses about the problems faced while learning and the
solutions to overcome those challenges.
Happy learning !!

7. BASICS OF COURSE

8. The course broadly talks about :
 Focused and Diffuse modes of
thinking
 Key techniques proven by
research to help students learn
most efficiently
 Illusions of learning
 Memory
 Chunking
 Sleep
 Metaphor, story, and
visualization in learning
 Transfer of ideas and concepts
from one area to another
 Deliberate practice
 Interleaving
 Procrastination
 Testing
 Mindset
 Working with others in
learning
 Cultural similarities and
differences in learning
 Life-ling learning and
broadening your passions
 Learning independently

9. Although, I will be talking mainly about the following three (which
are my main topics of the assignment).
 Topic A - Focused & diffuse modes of thinking
 Topic B - Procrastination
 Topic C - Sleep

10. FOCUSED & DIFFUSE MODES OF
THINKING
Topic – A

11. A human mind never stops thinking. However, sometimes we don't
know that we are thinking. This gives rise to the modes of
thinking.
Our brain thinks in 2 modes namely:
 Focused mode
 Diffuse mode

12. Focused mode is when we concentrate on doing something with full
attention. Its the time when we try to learn something. Probably when
we are interested in learning.
I relate is to the phrase "eyes wide & ears open". Teachers often say
this during school time because they want our full attention on the
chapter told by them.
Diffuse mode is when even while walking on the street, something goes
in brain. May be the tensions, may be some funny instances..
Have you ever noticed that you get some very good ideas while you are
travelling, or while bathing ?
I have realized that I often find the solutions to my problems while
travelling. During travelling, I find my brain free and lost somewhere.
And, somehow I think about a problem and I get very good ideas on
solving it.

13. In Focused mode,
 Taking one idea in our brain, we are able to think only about it.
 It is hard to connect the dots.
 Preciseness in thinking is there.
In Diffuse mode,
 Taking one idea in our brain, we are able to relate to several other
concepts, which are otherwise not directly connected to it.
 Its easier to connect the dots (i.e. Chunks of wisdom).
 The big picture gets visible.

14. WHICH MODE IS THE BEST FOR LEARNING ?
When you're learning something new, especially something that's a little
more difficult, your mind needs to be able to go back and forth
between the two different learning modes. That's what helps you
learn effectively.

15. PROCRASTINATION
Topic – B

16. It is a situation where we prefer doing less important tasks
leaving behind the work which is of higher priority.

17. REASONS BEHIND PROCRASTINATION[1]
The reasons behind procrastination are :
 Skill Deficits
 Lack of interest
 Lack of motivation
 Fear of Failure
 Fear of Success

18. SKILL DEFICITS
 If you lack the skills to complete certain tasks, it is only natural to
avoid doing them.
 For example, you may be a slow reader. If you have several lengthy
articles to read before you can write a paper, you may postpone the
reading because it is difficult. You may even have trouble admitting
your poor reading skills because you do not want to be seen as seem
"dumb." Thus procrastinating may seem better than facing your
need to improve your reading skills.
 The key to solving skill problems, is to identify what the problems
are. Often a counselor, an instructor, or another professional can
help you to make this determination. When you know the problem,
then you can take action to correct it.

19. LACK OF INTEREST
 If your natural interests are not stimulated by the course content,
one solution to procrastinating may be to "just do it" (i.e., simply
continue to attend class and do the assigned work on time).
 This will give you more "guilt-free" time to do those things that are
more interesting to you. Of course, it won't necessarily make the
class or assignment interesting, but at least you will not cloud the
"good times" with worry. [2]
 This time the solution is to break it down. Take that complex task
and break it down to its bare essential components and then tackle
each one of those components one at a time.

20. LACK OF MOTIVATION
 Most procrastinators believe that something is wrong with them if
they do not feel motivated to begin a task.
 One has to understand that starting a task is the real motivator,
rather than, motivation needing to be present prior to beginning
the task. Often just taking the first step, regardless of how small,
can serve as an inducement and thus a motivator for further action.
 Solution : The basic principle is reframing. If you know the job has
to be done but it’s not emotionally important to you, find a way to
make it important.

21. FEAR OF FAILURE
 It goes something like this: If I really try hard and fail, that is
worse than if I don't try and end up failing. In the former case, I
gave it my best and failed. In the latter, because I really did not try,
I truly did not fail.
 For example, you may postpone studying for a major test and then
pull an "all-nighter." The resulting grade may be poor or mediocre,
but you can say, "I could have done better if I had had more time to
study."
 The payoff for procrastinating is protecting ourselves from the
possibility of perceived "real" failure

22. FEAR OF SUCCESS
 Here you procrastinate because you are fearful of the consequences
of your achievements. Maybe you fear that if you do well, then next
time, even more will be expected of you. Or, perhaps, succeeding
may place you in the spotlight when you prefer the background.
 Procrastination of this kind may indicate an internal identity
conflict. If your self worth is tied to your level of achievement, then
you may constantly question yourself about how much you must do
to be "good enough." Each success only sets you up for the next
bigger challenge. Each success only opens the door to greater
expectations.
 The key to fight it is by thinking that - My current level of skill isn’t
going to increase unless I practice. And I can’t practice until I
implement.

23. SCIENTIFIC TECHNIQUES TO HANDLE
PROCRASTINATION
 Pomodora Technique
 It involves a 25-minute fully focused learning keeping the distractions
away.
 A break has to be taken after a focused session.
 A reward should also be taken as a token of learning something.

24. MORE ABOUT PROCRASTINATION
 Keep a planner journal so you can easily track when you reach your
goals and observe what does and doesn't work.
 Write your planned tasks out the night before so your brain has
time to dwell on your goals and help ensure success.
 Arrange your work into a series of small challenges.
 Always make sure you reward yourself.
 Take a few minutes to savor the feelings of happiness and triumph,
which also gives your brain a chance to temporarily change modes.
 Deliberately delay rewards until you've finished a task.
 Watch for procrastination cues.
 Try putting yourself in new surroundings with few procrastination
cues, such as the quiet section of a library.
 Always do the easiest and the hardest tasks at first.
 Have back up plans for when you still procrastinate.

25. SLEEP
Topic – C

26. Do you know ??
Remaining awake creates toxic wastes in brain .

27.  Sleep removes toxins from brain.
 Lack of sleep can also be associated with all sorts of nasty conditions
including headaches, depression, heart disease, diabetes, and even
death.
 Sleep is an important part of the memory and learning process.
 During sleep, brain tidies up ideas and concepts your thinking
about and learning.

28.  It erases the less important parts of memories and strengthens
areas that we need or want to remember.
 During sleep your brain also rehearses the tougher parts of
whatever we are trying to learn, going over and over neural
patterns to deepen and strengthen them.
 If you're going over what you're learning right before you take a nap
or going to sleep for the evening you have an increased chance of
dreaming about it.

29. IMAGE SOURCE

30.  http://www.gopixpic.com/240/cat-and-mouse-mobile-
wallpaper/http:%7C%7Cwww*mobiletoones*com%7Cdownloads%7
Cwallpapers%7Cfunny_wallpapers%7Cpreview%7C23%7C73629-
cat-and-mouse*jpg/
 http://izquotes.com

31. REFERENCES

32.  http://success.oregonstate.edu/six-reasons-people-procrastinate
 http://www.marcandangel.com/2010/11/22/7-common-causes-and-
proven-cures-for-procrastination/
 Course Material