Learning How to Learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects

Barbara Oakley, PhD, PE is a Professor of Engineering at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan; the RamAn y Cajal Distinguished Scholar of Global Digital Learning at McMaster University; and Coursera's inaugural "Innovation Instructor." Her work focuses on the complex relationship between neuroscience and social behavior. Dr. Oakley's research has been described as "revolutionary" in the Wall Street Journal-she has published in outlets as varied as the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times. She has won numerous teaching awards, including the American Society of Engineering Education's Chester F. Carlson Award for technical innovation in engineering education. Together with Terrence Sejnowski, the Francis Crick Professor at the Salk Institute, she co-teaches Coursera - UC San Diego's "Learning How to Learn," the world's most popular massive open online course. Her books include A Mind for Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science (Even If You Flunked Algebra), (Penguin, 2014); Mindshift: Break Through Obstacles to Learning and Discover Your Hidden Potential (Penguin, 2017); and Learning How to Learn: How to Succeed in School Without Spending All Your Time Studying; A Guide for Kids and Teens (Penguin, 2018). Dr. Oakley has adventured widely through her lifetime. She rose from the ranks of Private to Captain in the U.S. Army, during which time she was recognized as a Distinguished Military Scholar. She also worked a