内容简介
The companion book to COURSERA?'s wildly popular massive open online course "Learning How to Learn"Whether you are a student struggling to fulfill a math or science requirement, or you are embarking on a career change that requires a new skill set,
A Mind for Numbers offers the tools you need to get a better grasp of that intimidating material. Engineering professor Barbara Oakley knows firsthand how it feels to struggle with math. She flunked her way through high school math and science courses, before enlisting in the army immediately after graduation. When she saw how her lack of mathematical and technical savvy severely limited her options—both to rise in the military and to explore other careers—she returned to school with a newfound determination to re-tool her brain to master the very subjects that had given her so much trouble throughout her entire life.
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In
A Mind for Numbers, Dr. Oakley lets us in on the secrets to learning effectively—secrets that even dedicated and successful students wish they’d known earlier. Contrary to popular belief, math requires creative, as well as analytical, thinking. Most people think that there’s only one way to do a problem, when in actuality, there are often a number of different solutions—you just need the creativity to see them. For example, there are more than three hundred different known proofs of the Pythagorean Theorem. In short, studying a problem in a laser-focused way until you reach a solution is not an effective way to learn. Rather, it involves taking the time to step away from a problem and allow the more relaxed and creative part of the brain to take over. The learning strategies in this book apply not only to math and science, but to any subject in which we struggle. We all have what it takes to excel in areas that don't seem to come naturally to us at first, and learning them does not have to be as painful as we might think!
作者简介
Barbara Oakley is a professor of engineering at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. She has received many awards for her teaching, including the coveted National Science Foundation New Century Scholar Award.
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精彩书评
“A good teacher will leave you educated. But a great teacher will leave you curious. Well, Barbara Oakley is a great teacher. Not only does she have a mind for numbers, she has a way with words, and she makes every one of them count.”
—Mike Rowe, creator and host of Discovery Channel’s "Dirty Jobs" and CEO of mikeroweWORKS“If you struggled through math and slept through science, there’s hope. In
A Mind for Numbers, polymath Barbara Oakley reveals how to unlock the analytic powers of our brains so we can learn how to learn. This book should be required reading for students—and for my mother.”
—Adam Grant, New York Times-bestselling author of Give and Take"Superb not only for those who are struggling or who are expert at math, but for readers who wish to think and comprehend more efficiently."
—Library Journal“An ingeniously accessible introduction to the science of human cognition—along with practical advice on how to think better.”
—James Taranto, The Wall Street Journal?
“In my book?
The Math Instinct, I described how we have known since the early 1990s that all ordinary people can do mathematics, and in?
The Math Gene, I explained why the capacity for mathematical thinking is both a natural consequence of evolution and yet requires effort to unleash it. What I did not do is show
how to tap in to that innate ability. Professor Oakley does just that.”
—Keith Devlin, NPR?Weekend Edition’s “Math Guy”“A wonderful book! How do you come to
love math and science, and how do you come to
learn math and science? Read
A Mind for Numbers. Barbara Oakley is the magician who will help you do both.”
—Francisco J. Ayala, University Professor and Donald Bren Professor of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, and former President and Chairman of the Board, American Association for the Advancement of Science“Being good at science and mathematics isn’t just something you
are; it’s something you
become. This users’ guide to the brain unmasks the mystery around achieving success in mathematics and science. I have seen far too many students opt out when they hit a rough patch. But now that learners have a handy guide for ‘knowing better’ they will also be able to ‘do better.’”
—Shirley Malcom, Head of Education and Human Resources Programs, American Association for the Advancement of Science?
“
A Mind for Numbers?is an excellent book about how to approach mathematics, science, or any realm where problem solving plays a prominent role.”?
—J. Michael Shaughnessy, Past President of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics?
“I have not been this excited about a book in a long time. Giving students deep knowledge on
how to learn will lead to higher retention and student success in every field. It is a gift that will last them a lifetime.”
—Robert R Gamache, Ph.D., Associate Vice President, Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and International Relations, University of Massachusetts, Lowell?
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A Mind for Numbers helps put students in the driver’s seat—empowering them to learn more deeply and easily. This outstanding book is also a useful resource for instructional leaders. Given the urgent need for America to improve its science and math education so it can stay competitive,
A Mind for Numbers is a welcome find.”
—Geoffrey Canada, President, Harlem Children's Zone?
"It's easy to say 'work smarter, not harder,' but Barbara Oakley actually shows you how to do just that, in a fast-paced and accessible book that collects tips based on experience and sound science. ?In fact, I'm going to incorporate some of these tips into my own teaching." ?
—Glenn Harlan Reynolds, Beauchamp Brogan Distinguished Professor of Law, The University of Tennessee?
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A Mind for Numbers is a splendid resource for how to approach mathematics learning and in fact learning in any area. Barbara Oakley’s authoritative guide is based on the latest research in the cognitive sciences, and provides a clear, concise, and entertaining roadmap for how to get the most out of learning. This is a must-read for anyone who has struggled with mathematics and anyone interested in enhancing their learning experience.”
—David C. Geary, Curators’ Professor of Psychological Sciences and Interdisciplinary Neuroscience, University of Missouri
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“For students afraid of math and science and for those who love the subjects, this engaging book provides guidance in establishing study habits that take advantage of how the brain works.”
—Deborah Schifter, Principal Research Scientist, Science and Mathematics Programs, Education Development Center, Inc.“A Mind for Numbers explains the process of learning in a fascinating and utterly memorable way. This book is a classic, not only for learners of all ages, but for teachers of all kinds.”
—Frances R. Spielhagen, Ph.D., Director, Center for Adolescent Research and Development, Mount Saint Mary College 前言/序言
好的,这是一本关于如何掌握复杂概念和提升学习效率的实用指南。 《精进:深入理解与高效学习的艺术》 图书简介 在这个信息爆炸、知识更新速度日益加快的时代,仅仅“知道”信息已不足以应对挑战,真正的竞争力在于“理解”和“应用”复杂概念的能力。本书《精进:深入理解与高效学习的艺术》并非一本关于特定学科知识的教科书,而是一本全面革新的学习方法论工具箱。它旨在打破传统填鸭式、被动接受的学习模式,引导读者构建一套系统、高效、持久的知识获取与内化体系。 本书的核心洞察在于:学习的本质并非记忆容量的比拼,而是心智模型的构建与连接能力。我们的大脑更擅长处理图像、故事和结构化的信息,而不是孤立的、抽象的公式或术语。因此,本书从认知科学、心理学的前沿研究中汲取灵感,提炼出了一套经过实践检验的、适用于任何领域(无论是人文艺术、商业管理,还是复杂的技术学科)的精深学习策略。 第一部分:打破思维的桎梏——重塑你的学习认知 学习的起点,往往是思维定势的瓦解。很多人在面对难题时,本能地认为是自己“不够聪明”或“没有天赋”。本书首先挑战了这种根深蒂固的“固定型思维”。我们深入探讨了“成长型思维”的实际操作层面,阐明了“能力是可以被训练和塑造的”这一核心信念如何驱动学习的动力。 我们将剖析“心智模式”(Mental Models)的构建过程。心智模式是组织我们理解世界的基本框架。本书会详细介绍如何从海量的输入中,提炼出学科的“骨架”和“核心逻辑”。例如,在金融领域,理解复利和机会成本的思维模型,远比背诵一百个财务术语来得重要。我们提供了一套流程,指导读者识别学科中的基础原理,并建立起一个可以承载后续所有知识的稳固结构。 此外,我们还讨论了“刻意练习”与“舒适区”的微妙关系。真正的进步发生在略微超出当前能力范围的区域,但过度挑战会导致挫败感。本书提供量化指标和自我评估工具,帮助读者精准定位到这个“学习的甜蜜点”(The Learning Sweet Spot),确保每一次努力都指向有效增长。 第二部分:深度吸收——从被动输入到主动构建 传统的阅读和听课常常是低效的,因为它们是单向的信息倾泻。本书强调,深度学习必须是主动的、参与式的过程。 主动回忆与提取练习(Active Recall and Retrieval Practice): 这是本书最为推崇的关键技巧。我们详细阐述了大脑如何通过“提取”而非“重新阅读”来巩固记忆。书中提供了从卡片系统到思维导图的多种提取练习方法,教会读者如何设计有效的“自测”情境,让大脑在努力回忆的过程中,加深神经连接。 交错学习(Interleaving): 为什么我们不能一次性学完某一主题的所有内容?本书解释了交错学习的认知优势——将不同但相关的主题穿插学习,能迫使大脑不断区分、比较和切换策略,从而形成更灵活、更不易混淆的知识网络。我们提供了在不同学科中应用交错学习的实际范例。 费曼技巧的实战应用: 学习的最高境界是能够向一个完全不懂的人清晰解释复杂概念。本书将费曼技巧分解为可执行的步骤:选择概念、教授给“五岁小孩”、识别知识盲区、以及回顾和简化。这不仅是检验理解程度的试金石,也是强迫自己从“熟悉”走向“精通”的必经之路。 第三部分:知识的融合与创新——构建你的知识“操作系统” 知识孤岛是低效学习的标志。真正的创新和解决问题的能力,来自于跨领域知识的融合。 类比思维与跨界映射: 本书探讨了如何利用已掌握领域的原理,去类比和理解全新的领域。例如,利用生物学中的“生态系统”概念来分析商业竞争格局。我们提供了识别有效类比和避免错误类比的准则,帮助读者建立起一张宏大的知识地图。 构建个人知识库(Personal Knowledge Management, PKM): 在数字化时代,管理信息比获取信息更具挑战性。本书详细介绍了一套系统化的个人知识管理框架,侧重于如何将零散的笔记、阅读摘要、会议记录转化为相互关联、可供检索和再创造的“资产”。这包括工具的选择(从传统笔记本到数字笔记软件)以及信息的组织哲学,确保知识可以“随取随用”。 系统化地应对遗忘曲线: 遗忘是自然规律,但我们可以科学地管理它。本书结合间隔重复(Spaced Repetition)原理,指导读者如何定制个性化的复习计划,确保关键知识点在最可能被遗忘的临界点得到巩固,从而将短期记忆高效地转化为长期、稳固的知识储备。 总结 《精进:深入理解与高效学习的艺术》是一本关于如何“学习如何学习”的深度指南。它不提供快速通关的秘籍,而是提供一套扎实的、基于科学的工具和哲学,帮助任何渴望精通任何复杂技能的读者,从根本上提升认知效率,最终实现对知识的深度掌控和创造性运用。翻开本书,你将开启的,是一场关于心智潜能的探索之旅。