Barbara Oakley | PhD, Distinguished Prof of Engg, Oakland Univ; Author, A Mind for Numbers

Barbara Oakley | PhD, Distinguished Prof of Engg, Oakland Univ; Author, A Mind for Numbers

  • Dr. Oakley is a distinguished Professor of Engineering at Oakland University. 
  • She is Michigan Distinguished Professor of the year. 

Podcast

Overview

In this captivating episode, Dr. Barbara Oakley, a distinguished professor of Engineering at Oakland University takes us on a journey from her struggles with math to becoming a renowned expert in learning how to learn effectively. She discusses the importance of understanding the brain’s neural mechanisms, the power of chunking and the impact of sleep on memory consolidation. Tune in to this enriching conversation filled with valuable knowledge and inspiration.

[00:37] – About Barbara Oakley

  • Dr. Oakley is a distinguished Professor of Engineering at Oakland University. 
  • She is Michigan Distinguished Professor of the year. 
  • Dr. Oakley is an author of a book titled, “A Mind for Numbers,” which has sold over a million copies worldwide.  
  • She has also been recognized as a distinguished military scholar. 

[04:28] – What are the key concepts you teach in learning “how to learn?”

  • The first is that if you can’t figure something out, it doesn’t mean that you’re untalented.
  • It just means, you need to try and get yourself a little frustrated, then back away, and go do something completely different. 
  • When you do that, you release that task to the positive network that is trying to grab on to the new ideas.
  • You allow your brain to range much more widely in what’s called the default mode network that can knit together the ideas, you need to be able to go back and solve that problem or understand that concept.
  • Another important thing is retrieval practice. 

[10:28] – Please share your views on the future of education, especially in a post pandemic world, where online learning seems to have taken off.

  • There is so much potential in online learning. 
  • There is also a lot of pushback from educators.
  • They are fearful that online learning may take their jobs.
  • Good online teaching can be more powerful and effective in many cases than face-to-face. 

[23:10] –  How can “chunking” help us understand complex ideas more effectively?

  • Chunking means getting little bits at a time. 
  • For example, when learning a song on an instrument, we learn a little piece, practise it and then move forward. 
  • As you put them in your long term memory, you begin to practise them together, and they become bigger chunks that you can pull to mind. 

RESOURCES:

You can connect with Barbara Oakley: LinkedIn 

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  • Dr. Oakley is a distinguished Professor of Engineering at Oakland University. 
  • She is Michigan Distinguished Professor of the year. 
  • Dr. Oakley is an author of a book titled, “A Mind for Numbers,” which has sold over a million copies worldwide.  
  • She has also been recognized as a distinguished military scholar.

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