Be a Learning Machine
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Be a Learning Machine
About the Book
The purpose of this book is to teach a truly effective method to help you learn what you want, at the depth you need.
You will find practical examples of building learning plans, primarily related to the field of software engineering, but not only. Unlike traditional books and courses on learning, which address important aspects but fail to show how to apply them, this book offers entirely actionable content.
The author draws inspiration from the training processes of athletes and three additional theories from cognitive psychology to deliver a learning journey method built around five key elements, enabling you to acquire new knowledge systematically.
About the Author
Table of Contents
- Introduction: Why Be a Learning Machine?
- My Learning Journey
- Applying The Method In Different Areas Of Life
- What You Will Learn In This Book
- Shall We Begin?
- Theories that Inspire this Book
- Goal Setting Theory
- Self-Efficacy Theory
- Cognitive Load Theory
- Deliberate Practice Theory
- Conclusion
- The Importance of Studying Effectively
- Why Reflect on Your Study Mechanisms?
- The Learning Journey
- The Applicability of the Method
- 5 Essential Elements for Effective Learning
- 1. Definition of Learning Objective
- 2. Expectation Alignment
- 3. The Role of Theory
- 4. The Importance of Retrieval Practices
- 5. Feedback for Course Correction
- Final Considerations
- Defining Good Learning Objectives
- Introduction
- Examples of Very Generic Objectives
- Refining Objectives
- The Importance of Good Objectives
- Conclusion
- Self-Efficacy Theory
- What do you want to be able to do?
- Examples of Self-Efficacy Theory
- Importance of Self-Efficacy in Learning Goals
- How to Develop Self-Efficacy
- Awareness of the Influence of Self-Efficacy
- Incorporating Self-Efficacy into Learning Goals Definition
- Making Goals More Specific
- Defining the Desired Capability Level
- Other Examples
- Exercise
- Bloom’s Taxonomy: A Path to Define Levels of Cognitive Demand
- Introduction
- Bloom’s Taxonomy
- Applying the Taxonomy to Learning Objectives
- Adding Bloom’s Taxonomy to the Learning Objective
- Recap
- Levels of Cognitive Demand
- Practical Examples
- Application in Different Contexts
- Conclusion
- Adding what tools are necessary in the learning objective
- Introduction
- Tools
- Examples beyond technology
- Conclusion
- Adding Context to Learning Objectives
- Introduction
- The Importance of Context
- Applying Context to Your Objectives
- Other Context Examples
- Conclusion
- Incorporating Validation Criteria
- Example: A learning goal with an incorporated validation criterion
- The Evolution of a Learning Goal
- Using Generative AI Assistant to Refine Learning Objectives
- Introduction
- Building study plans with ChatGPT
- Level of Help We Get When Using a Basic Goal
- Level of Help We Get When Using a Well Defined Goal
- Evaluating Quality of Learning Objectives
- Introduction
- Evaluating Objectives with ChatGPT
- Analyzing a Poorly Defined Goal
- Analyzing a Well-Defined Goal
- Conclusion
- Breaking Objectives into Smaller Parts
- Decomposing the Learning Objective for Better Planning
- Keeping the Essential Elements
- Practical Example: HTTP APIs Development with Java
- Flexibility in Planning
- Monitoring Progress
- Aligning Expectations to Achieve Learning Goals
- Introduction
- Evaluating Your Current Ability
- Goal Setting Theory
- Self-Efficacy Theory
- Task Complexity
- Reflection Before Starting
- Practical Examples
- Conclusion
- Practical Example of the Effects of Low Self-Efficacy
- Introduction
- Defining a Learning Objective
- Evaluating Your Self-Efficacy
- Low Self-Efficacy and Simpler Tasks
- Low Self-Efficacy and More Complex Tasks
- Strategies to Deal with Low Self-Efficacy
- Conclusion
- Practical Example of High Self-Efficacy Effects
- Setting a Tangible Goal related to something we have prior knowledge of
- Learning Transfer
- Aligning Expectations Once Again
- Conclusion
- Selecting Theoretical Sources for Effective Learning
- Introduction
- Why consume theories?
- The Impact of Theory When Practicing Something
- Example: Query Optimization in Databases
- Conclusion
- Structuring Theories for Effective Learning
- Introduction
- Reliability and Ease of Consumption
- Scale to Rank Reliability and Ease of Consumption
- Seeking the Ideal Balance
- Conclusion
- Selecting Theoretical Sources for Learning Technologies
- Introduction
- Writing Books as a Result of Learning
- Learning Blockchain and Other Technologies
- Validating Acquired Knowledge
- Reliable Sources for Technology Learning
- How to Select Sources for Learning More Open Topics
- What is the Best Sequence to Read the Theoretical Sources?
- Conclusion
- Tip to Facilitate Understanding: The Three Readings Technique
- Introduction
- Controversy: Does the Three Reading Rule Really Help?
- Personal Example: Studying Blockchain
- Persistence in Reading
- Technique Successfully Tested
- Final Considerations
- The Myth of Learning Styles
- Introduction
- Lack of Evidence
- The Risks of Believing in the Myth
- Keep an Open Mind
- Conclusion
- Cognitive Load Theory and Information Processing Limitation
- The Magic Number Seven
- The Connection with Reality
- The Evolution to Cognitive Load Theory
- Intrinsic and Extrinsic Complexity
- Measured Complexity Vs Perceived Complexity
- Working Memory and Long-Term Memory
- The Power of Information Retrieval Practices
- Precautions When Consuming Online Content
- Conclusion
- The Link Hell
- Introduction
- Working Memory and Content Consumption
- The Link Trap
- Tactics to Avoid Overload
- Reinforcing the Role of Reflection in Learning
- Conclusion
- Strategies to Optimize Information Processing
- Introduction
- The Reading and Reflection Process Combined with the Three-Reading Tip
- Analogy with the Process of Watching a Movie
- Conclusion
- Identifying the Reliability of Theoretical Sources
- Introduction
- Mechanisms for Reliability Evaluation
- Practical Example of Evaluation
- Conclusion
- The Importance of Having a Guide in the Learning Process
- Introduction
- Why Does a Guide Make a Difference?
- Is Having a Guide Essential?
- Conclusion
- Knowledge Retrieval Practices as a Fundamental Element to be a Learning Machine
- Introduction
- Importance of Multiple Ways of Exercising Knowledge
- Types of Retrieval Practice
- Inspiration for so-called Support Practices
- Conclusion
- The Importance of Deliberate Practice in Learning
- The Science Behind Retrieval Practices
- The Mental GPS
- Deliberate Practice
- Deliberate Practice as a Path to Increase Self-Efficacy
- The Process of Cognitive Simplification
- Examples of Supplemental Recovery Practices
- Introduction
- Learning Objective
- Detailing the Combination of Practice Types
- Conclusion
- Part-task Practice: Super Specific Recovery Practice
- What is a Part-task Practice?
- Application Examples
- Benefits of Part-task Practice
- Conclusion
- Progression of Difficulty and Variability for Priority Recovery Practices
- Introduction
- Reminding Our Definition of Priority Recovery Practice
- Progression of Difficulty
- Variability
- Conclusion
- Building an Exercise Matrix with Progression of Difficulty and Variability
- Defining the Learning Objective
- Using a Generative-Artificial Intelligence-based Assistant to Suggest Exercises Considering Progression and Variability
- Creating an Exercise Matrix
- Conclusion
- The Power to Control Your Learning Journey
- Introduction
- Taking Control of Your Learning
- Some Examples of Advance Preparation
- Conclusion
- The Fifth Element - Feedback
- Introduction
- The Role of Feedback
- Maximizing Chances of Getting Feedback
- Conclusion
- What is Important in Feedback and When to Seek It
- The Best Time to Seek Feedback
- The Benefits of Early Feedback
- Analogy with GPS Navigation
- Key Elements of Good Feedback
- How To Find Good Sources of Feedback
- Introduction
- Finding Mentors at Work
- Seeking External Experts
- Leveraging Social Networks
- Using Generative AI for Feedback
- Conclusion
- Self-Regulation
- The Importance of Self-Regulation
- How to Practice Self-Regulation
- The Exercise of Reflection
- Changing the Perception of Complexity: The Importance of Mental Schemes
- Introduction
- Working Memory vs. Long-term Memory
- Mental Schemes and Cognitive Effort
- Practical Examples from Everyday Life
- Example in the Context of Software Development
- Conclusion
- Mental Schemas in Practice
- Introduction
- Example in the Context of Web Application Development
- Mathematical Examples
- Conclusion
- Hands-on: Building a Learning Plan for Something We Have a Lot of Background
- Introduction
- Adapting an Existing Plan
- Feedback Mechanisms
- Expectation Alignment
- Theory Matrix
- Deliberate Practice
- The Five Elements of a Combined Learning Plan
- Conclusion
- Hands-On: Building a Learning Plan from Scratch
- Awareness Phase
- Validating the Knowledge Acquired in the Awareness Phase
- Defining the Theory Matrix
- Retrieval Practices
- Defining Feedback Mechanisms
- Conclusion
- Hands-On: Building a Learning Plan for a Topic with No Defined Source of Truth
- And When We Don’t Have a Source of Maximum Reliability?
- Searching for a Mentor
- Defining the Learning Objective
- Building the Theory Matrix
- Defining Knowledge Recovery Practices
- Conclusion
- Four Learning Saboteurs and How to Avoid Them
- Saboteur 1: Lack of Expectation Alignment
- Saboteur 2: Comparison with Others
- Saboteur 3: Excessive Time
- Saboteur 4: Lack of a Specific Goal
- Conclusion
- Learning Journey Accelerators
- The power of consistency
- Routine and predictability
- Start now
- Now It’s Up to You
- Education is Your Primary Vector for Growth
- Introduction: Why Be a Learning Machine?
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