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McMaster University / UC San Diego · on Coursera

Learning How to Learn

4.8(92,000)·3.8M enrolled
Beginner 15 hours English Course Certificate Certificate
Editor's Pick
The meta-skill course — 3.8 million learners took it because better learning makes every other course work better.

About this course

Learning How to Learn is the most enrolled Coursera course ever made and one of the most enrolled MOOCs in history with nearly four million learners. Barbara Oakley and Terrence Sejnowski translate neuroscience research into practical study techniques: the diffuse vs. focused thinking modes, how memory consolidation works during sleep, spaced repetition and retrieval practice, the Pomodoro technique, and how to overcome procrastination using an understanding of how the brain works.

The techniques here are meta-skills that make every other course in this catalog more effective — relevant for anyone who is studying technical material intensively. It's especially valuable for career changers who are re-learning how to learn after years away from structured study, and for technical learners who aren't getting the retention they expect from courses.

What you'll learn

Apply focused and diffuse thinking modes strategically
Use spaced repetition and retrieval practice to improve long-term retention
Understand how sleep consolidates memory and design study schedules accordingly
Apply the Pomodoro technique to manage procrastination
Understand and avoid illusions of competence in learning

This course includes

15h
On-demand video
Yes
Certificate
Yes
Mobile access
English
Language
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Instructor

BO
Barbara Oakley / Terrence Sejnowski
Coursera instructor
3.8M+ learners4 courses4.8 instructor rating

Taught by Barbara Oakley, Professor of Engineering at Oakland University and author of 'A Mind for Numbers,' and Terrence Sejnowski, Francis Crick Professor at the Salk Institute — combining cognitive neuroscience and practical learning research.

Requirements

  • None — fully accessible to any learner

Who this course is for

  • Anyone learning intensively who wants better retention and less frustration
  • Career changers re-adjusting to structured learning after years of work
  • Students and professionals who feel their study time isn't translating to knowledge

About this provider

CO
Coursera
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Frequently asked questions

Yes — Oakley and Sejnowski draw on memory consolidation research, spaced repetition studies, and cognitive load research, translating findings from peer-reviewed neuroscience into practical techniques.
About 15 hours across four weeks, self-paced. Many learners complete it in a weekend.
Paid
Free to audit, paid certificate
Enroll now