Learn How to Learn

Three key strategies to boost your learn-ability.

Learning Strategy for any Knowledge Field

Learning is a natural human behavior. We are the only animals
that passed on learning experiences in a systematic manner.
We developed and still continue to develop various tools and
ways to increase knowledge attainment and creation.
We, the humans, also enjoy playing sports. We play in fields
and set strategies to win. Strategies are not a foreign idea to
us. We use them also in business, politics and diplomacy,
writing, and even in presenting ideas!
We came to find that wins without strategies are usually
accidental. Teams that plan to win a league or a cup are always
keen to employ a strategy.
Sometimes, at first goals are not scored, but if the strategies
set by the coach are effective, the team gradually improves.

The Soccer Coach Learning Style

The following slides will introduce to you three learning
strategies that can boost your performance in studying
any given subject.
The ideas introduced are metaphorically illustrated. They
are presented in alignment with soccer coaching
strategies. Analogies from the examples provided can be
easily concluded, even if you are not a soccer fan!
The picture on the right uses a metaphor and analogy.
These business executives are racing to the finish lines
achievement and success. Competitors race in business as
runners race in the Olympics tracks! I am sure you got it

Focused vs. Diffused / Set Pieces vs. Free Dribble

Set Piece

If you ever attend a soccer training, most likely you will get to watch two
kinds of drills that players go through: Set Pieces & Free Dribble.

In a Set Pieces drill, the coach train the players to handle a given game
scenario whether in attack or defense. These drills stress on the position
of players, their alertness and attention to details, i.e. in case of defense,
the number of attackers from the opposing team.

Free Dribble

On the other hand in the Free Dribble drills, the coach allows the players
to dribble the ball around the field in various sporadic directions. These
drills increase the players ball-sensitivity and get them in the mood for
the forthcoming focused drills like: Set Pieces.
So, how does this relate to learning?

Focused vs. Diffused / Set Pieces vs. Free Dribble

Set Piece

Free Dribble

Focused Mode

Diffused Mode

Focused vs. Diffused / Set Pieces vs. Free Dribble

The Set Pieces drill in soccer are very much similar to the focused
learning time. You prepare the requirements (i.e. textbooks and
calculator), choose a suitable place (similar to players positioning)
and you gather all of your attention to the exercise or concept you
are trying to solve or grasp.
Again, how does this help in learning? Well, as you might see in a
soccer training Set Pieces drills dont go forever, they are not
replicated in the same way forever, and players get to have a Free
Dribble drill every other while.
You ought to do the same in learning. In your Focused Mode, you
switch from one exercise to another. You dont repeat the same type
of exercise for three hours straight! And you get some free-time to
browse other textbooks, surf the net to check for resources, get
yourself a cup of coffee, go for a walk, settle yourself to study in a
different area and so on.

Focused
Mode

Diffused
Mode

Focused vs. Diffused / Set Pieces vs. Free Dribble

Researches have found that our brain has two attentional networks that
work like a seesaw.

One network is for the focused mode and the other is for the
diffused mode. The first is activated when your mind is attentive and
actively engaged in tasks and the second is activated when you are
carrying out daily habits that doesnt require any mind-working and
lets your mind wander.
The connections between the neurons in your brain during the
focused mode are structured. Similarly, the players in Set Piece drills.
On the other hand, during the diffused mode the connections flow
among disparate ideas allowing your brain to find creative and novel
solutions for problems.

Focused vs. Diffused / Set Pieces vs. Free Dribble

How can you apply the Focused & Diffused modes practically?
Just like the soccer coach organizes her/his players drills. They set
times for each drill. The times are limited and without extension. Once
the time for the drill is finished, they whistle! Announcing the switch
to the next.
The drills are not long to allow variation. So for your next learning
session: You ought to break it down into smaller drills. Lets say 30
minutes each. You can use a timer or set an alarm on any electronic
device. By the way, the alarm sound could be the sound of a whistle! So
you can always remember the aim of this setup.
Next, well talk about how the coach sets the teams formation, or in
other words, how you can breakdown your study material into chunks!

Focused vs. Diffused / Set Pieces vs. Free Dribble

Sources:
Week 1 Videos from Learning How to Learn MOOC developed at University of California, San Diego by
Dr. Barbara Oackley and Dr. Terrence Sejnowski and published on the Coursera learning platform.
Daniel J. Levitin, (August 9, 2014), "Hit the Reset Button in Your Brain," The New York Times.
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/10/opinion/sunday/hit-the-reset-button-in-your-brain.html?_r=0

Chunking Information / Tactical Formation

Defense

Midfield

Offense

Before the soccer season starts, the coach assesses the team
players in order to be prepared for the league. One of the
key assessments is to evaluate each players playing position.
Some players can play in defense, others in the midfield or in
the offense. Certain players have the ability to play in more
than position. According to the number of players available
in each position and their skills (i.e. speed, ball control, etc.)
the coach sets a team formation (see the clipart picture).
The players in the soccer game are positioned in such
formation that the coach sees is the most suitable for them
to beat the opposing team and win the game.
All soccer teams must have a certain alignment of players for
three lines: Defense, Midfield and Offense. We can think of
these lines as groups Chunks. A certain number of
players are grouped in a precise manner to form a line.

Chunk Information / Tactical Formation

Similarly, in order for you to learn best you ought to group information i.e.
ideas and concepts.

Such grouped units of information, we call: Chunks.

What if the 11 soccer players in the field are left to haphazardly run around
without being related in a form of structure?! It might work if they play for
fun, but not to win an official game.
In learning, it is best to breakdown new concepts and ideas into small parts
Chunks in order to better grasp it. It is easier to go about working out
a problem after breaking it down into smaller parts rather than trying to
solve it holistically.
It is easier for a soccer coach to fix the problem in his/her teams defense
when the team has a structured formation and not haphazardly running
around in the field.

Chunking Information / Tactical Formation

In order to using the Chunking strategy in learning, you
ought to consider the following:
Chunking takes place in the Focused mode.
Consider the relation between steps or parts of the ideas. It is
important to understand these relations as they are superglue
that stick the different parts together.
Use the method of Trial & Error to make sure what that you
are grasping the information correctly. In other words, test
yourself on the understanding for information and the
chunks you formed. After all, the soccer coach plays friendly
games to try different players in different positions before the
league starts.
Browse the textbook or study guide, check the table of
contents and such to get an idea of the holistic picture. This
way your Chunking will be meaningful and purposeful.

Chunk Information / Tactical Formation

Sources:
Week 1 Videos from Learning How to Learn MOOC developed at University of California,
San Diego by Dr. Barbara Oackley and Dr. Terrence Sejnowski and published on the Coursera
learning platform.
Fernand Gobet, Peter C.R. Lane, Steve Croker, Peter C-H. Cheng, Gary Jones, Iain Oliver and
Julian M. Pine ( June, 2001), Chunking mechanisms in human learning, TRENDS in
Cognitive Sciences Vol. 5 No. 6.
Link: http://www.brunel.ac.uk/~hsstffg/papers/Chunking-TICS.pdf

Teamwork: Learning/Soccer!
One of the key skills in team sports, such as: soccer, is
teamwork. Players are required to play in unity. If one player
falls short, the other can cover her or his position. A good
soccer coach is the one who can get the players to work
together in harmony they will complete each other!
In learning, teamwork is a valuable advantage. Learning alone
might be easier to ensure a focused mode, but with a good
study group one can reach peak performance.
Like soccer who stand at different positions and see the ball
from different angles, learners who form a study group get to
tackle hard problems from different angles as well. Study
groups act as a coalition to solve problems and share
resources.

Teamwork: Learning/Soccer!
In the midst of studying, unintentionally can develop false
perceptions and wrong understandings. These pitfalls if not
realized early one can create a huge snowball of mistakes in
the end.
So its imperative to study in teams.

Learning collaborations, such as: study groups, can help out to

decrease tests-stress. The learner gets a chance to make
mistakes and receive corrections without any marks
deductions.

Chunk Information / Tactical Formation

Sources:
Week 4 Videos from Learning How to Learn MOOC developed at University of California,
San Diego by Dr. Barbara Oackley and Dr. Terrence Sejnowski and published on the Coursera
learning platform.
Oakley, Barbara, Richard M. Felder, Rebecca Brent, and Imad Elhajj. "Turning Student
Groups into Effective Teams." Journal of Student Centered Learning 2, no. 1 (2003): 9-34.
Link: http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/Papers/Oakley-paper(JSCL).pdf

Images Credits
All images and clipart pictures included in the presentation are retrieved from the Office.com
Clip Art library available online and accessed via Microsoft PowerPoint desktop application.

Thank You!
Created by: Ahmed El Azhary