Learning to Learn: You, Too, Can Rewire Your Brain

Sometimes the best time to learn or relearn how to learn is during a period of transition in your life be it changing jobs or some other change.

 Here is a great New York Times Article and Coursera course that will help you learn or relearn how to learn:

 "The studio for what is arguably the world’s most successful online course is tucked into a corner of Barb and Phil Oakley’s basement, a converted TV room that smells faintly of cat urine. (At the end of every video session, the Oakleys pin up the green fabric that serves as the backdrop so Fluffy doesn’t ruin it.)

This is where they put together “Learning How to Learn,” taken by more than 1.8 million students from 200 countries, the most ever on Coursera. The course provides practical advice on tackling daunting subjects and on beating procrastination, and the lessons engagingly blend neuroscience and common sense.

Dr. Oakley, an engineering professor at Oakland University in Rochester, Mich., created the class with Terrence Sejnowski, a neuroscientist at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, and with the University of California, San Diego.

Prestigious universities have spent millions and employ hundreds of professionally trained videographers, editors and producers to create their massive open online courses, known as MOOCs. The Oakleys put together their studio with equipment that cost $5,000. They figured out what to buy by Googling “how to set up a green screen studio” and “how to set up studio lighting.” Mr. Oakley runs the camera and teleprompter. She does most of the editing. The course is free ($49 for a certificate of completion — Coursera won’t divulge how many finish)." click here to read the rest of the article

Umair Haque - Another Coach's Perspective

Umair Haque a personal coach notes on his website: "So the best way to teach and learn them is the most ancient way. Direct, one-on-one instruction, through conversation, guidance, awareness, insight. That differs for each person. And is grounded in each student and teacher’s lived realities, not just impersonal abstract ideas.

Some coaching practices are about getting organized, inspired, encouraged. Mine’s a little different. I use leadership, psychotherapy, philosophy, and a little bit of economics to help people develop and grow at the great arts of living.

So my practice is about living a life that matters.

Recently he wrote an interesting post on the times we live in: 
"Nobody seems to know: should we believe them, or not? Should we take authoritarians literally, but not seriously — or vice versa? But if we can’t get the answer right, this state of affairs will only get worse.

So: having had the displeasure of living under an authoritarian regime or two, let me share how to listen to them without losing your mind.  Authoritarians tell the truth about the future.  "(click here to read the full post.)