College Success CG 100
Adopting Lifelong Learning

A.	How the human brain learns

The human brain weighs about three pounds, is composed of trillions of cells. About 100 billion of them are neurons. Learning takes place in our neurons.

Becoming an Active Learner:

To excel as a learner, one must create as many strong neural networks(connections) in your brain as possible.

In order to create these strong neural networks (connections) in your brain you have to actively participate in the learning process.

         Becoming an Active Learner:

According to David Sousa, author of ‘How the Brain Learns’, “Eventually, repeated firing of the pattern that binds neurons together so that if one fires, they all fire, ultimately forming a new memory trace.”  If you want learning to stick, you need to create networks of neurons that fire together. In this way, learning literally changes the structure of your brain. (See picture on p.13)

Brain research reveals that when you connect what you are learning now to previously stored information, you learn the information or skill deeply.

Note:  The human brains learn best when learning efforts are done in frequent sessions distributed overtime using a variety of deep processing strategies.

When struggling students study a subject for many hours but don’t learn the subject well, it is likely they were not using deep processing techniques.

 Deep Processing- entails asking important questions, creating graphic organizers, summarizing information in your own words. Successful learners employ these strategies in their studies. It helps learning to stick for months, years, and even a lifetime. Memorization and/or cramming is not efficient.

Three Principles of Deep and Lasting Learning

1.	 Prior Learning - Past learning successes enhances present learning– past success increases your expectation of present success – so  your achievement motivation stays high.

2.  Quality of Processing- How you study affects the strength of your neural networks and, therefore the quality of your learning.- Deep Processing enhances learning and retention of information.

3. Quantity of Processing - The quality of your learning is significantly    affected by how often and how long you engage in varied deep  processing. 

The most effective approach is called “distributed practice.” – in other words  the  human brain learns best when learning efforts are distributed over time.

Varied deep processing strategies: 
1. Underline or highlight key ideas
2. Create a concept map or outline of this information
3. Make a list of ten favorite deep-processing strategies from Chps. 2-7
4. Discuss the info with a classmate

The CORE Learning System ( See p. 17 _ of your ON COURSE text.

Your Preferred Learning Style
Our preferred learning style reveals several ways we can learn new information or a skill.

Knowing our preferred learning style suggests the kind of deep processing strategies that might be best for us in creating strong neural networks in our brain.

Changing our script requires self-awareness and courage- before we can make course correction we need to be aware that we are off course.

Change and Lifelong Learning

Before we can make a course correction, we need to be aware that we are off course. If we may no heed to feedback, it knocks us 

When we make a course correction, we hope the change improves the quality of our lives. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn’t, but change always presents an opportunity for learning. (read p.195 deeper)