Become a Learning Machine

Discover brain basics and how its organization affects learning, helping you study better. Enjoy a non-linear course path with access to modules and bonus lectures.

Learn brain basics—from neuron structure, soma and axon to myelin and 100 trillion connections, plus neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin that shape thought across the four lobes.

Explore how the information processing model moves sensory memory to working memory and then to long-term memory, encoding, rehearsing, and retrieving information for learning.

Explore memory by mapping brain regions like the neocortex, hippocampus, and amygdala, and understand sensory, short-term, long-term memory, plus episodic, semantic, and visual memories, and encoding.

Recognize your brain is lazy and seeks shortcuts, saving energy while resisting hard tasks; push through learning new techniques with interleaving and elaborative interrogation, and take control through consistent practice.

Forgetting is essential for learning; the brain uses forgetting to free space in short-term memory, strengthening long-term connections through practice, anchors, and visual cues.

Environmental factors shape mood, focus, and behavior that influence learning, including weather, noises, smells, distractions, and interactions with people or objects.

Discover the basics of learning in module 2, exploring how brain energy (about 20 percent of daily energy) and patterns influence focus, procrastination, and effort to master new skills.

Become an A student by adopting a growth mindset, staying persistent, staying organized, and using techniques like retrieval practice, connecting concepts, asking questions, and teaching others.

Discover how intrinsic and extrinsic motivation shape behavior. It shows that high-interest tasks require little reward, while low-interest tasks demand larger rewards, and offers self-reward strategies to finish homework.

discover why you cannot multitask, contrasting system one autopilot with system two thinking, and learn to focus on one task at a time to improve learning.

Procrastination hinders learning; this lecture defines it and offers six steps: organize, break tasks into small steps, take breaks, do hard tasks first, surround yourself with focused peers, eliminate distractions.

Master time management by identifying time killers like email, web surfing, tv, meetings, and social media, and reclaim focus with planned checks and productive travel time.

Master time management by decluttering your space, planning your day with to-do lists, prioritizing important tasks, finishing each task, delegating when needed, and blocking distractions.

Identify whether you have a fixed or growth mindset and learn how embracing a growth mindset can accelerate learning, adapt to challenges, and unlock your potential.

Explore how the 10000 hour rule and the 20 hour rule explain mastery through focused practice, dedication, and passion, with examples from chess, music, and sports.

Break bad habits by identifying triggers and rewiring neural paths to form better study routines. Change your study habits to reduce procrastination and become a more effective learner.

Learn why starting with hard tasks beats procrastination, as the brain saves energy; divide complex tasks into small steps to reward progress and finish easier tasks later.

use the pomodoro technique by working 25 minutes, then taking a 5-minute break to refresh, repeat cycles, and fight procrastination with focused, distraction-free study.

Your health is highly correlated with success and your ability to learn; balance stress, sleep, food, and exercise to maximize your learning potential.

Sleep is essential for learning; it consolidates memories and clears brain toxins. A 26-minute nap can boost performance by 34%, while sleep deprivation harms cognition, mood, and health.

Engage in aerobic exercise to boost brain blood flow, nutrient uptake, and neuroplasticity for stronger learning. Increase regular activity; a 20-minute daily walk reduces Alzheimer's risk for seniors.

Learn how stress alters learning by hormones like cortisol, adrenaline, and noradrenaline, triggers a modern sleep–stress loop, and threatens memory, sleep, and health.

Explore how diets affect brain and body health by examining carbs, fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals, and learn to limit sugar while choosing omega-3/6 fats.

Learn how lean proteins and plant sources supply amino acids that shape brain chemistry, and how a balanced plate—vegetables, carbohydrates, and protein—supports focus, mood, and learning.

Explore how omega-3 and omega-6 fats, amino acids, and micronutrients influence brain function, mood, and attention, while glycaemic foods affect glucose and sustained mental performance.

Practice testing proves to be the most effective, while highlighting is the least, in a Psychological Science study led by Jonathan Lawsky and Daniel Willingham, with notes on combining techniques.

Apply spaced practice by interleaving short, time-spaced study sessions to boost recall, review material after breaks, and revisit topics weekly and monthly to prepare for exams.

Engage in retrieval practice by recalling information from memory, create your own tests or flashcards, and write everything you know, then compare with notes to identify gaps.

Apply elaboration by asking questions, connecting ideas, and comparing topics to create anchor points that aid retrieval. Relate concepts to personal experiences and verify accuracy with the material.

Learn to study smarter by interleaving: switch between math, history, and biology in short, focused sessions. Ensure understanding before moving on, and study each topic for about 20–30 minutes.

Learn through countless concrete examples that link ideas to relatable illustrations, build vivid imagery, and empower you to explain, share, and teach concepts as a whole.

use dual coding by joining verbal and visual information to boost memory, comparing visuals with words and creating visuals from reading.

Close the book and recall what you learned to verify understanding, then say it aloud, write it, sketch a mind map, or teach it, and repeat over time.

Chunking divides information into three pieces or recognizable patterns, helping the brain move data from short-term memory into long-term memory.

Use rereading, summarization, and highlighting as low-end learning techniques; pair them with more powerful methods like interleaving, space practice, and elaborative interrogation.

Embrace learning by doing by actively applying techniques rather than just reading about them, using mind maps to plan and practice skills like piano, sports, or communication.

Teach others to reinforce recall and long-term memory by explaining concepts to friends or peers, strengthening understanding, communication skills, and self-confidence in presenting.

Master mnemonics, a memory technique using emotional imagery to link items to vivid stories, boosting recall with lists like bread, milk, cereal, and salt.

Learn the memory palace technique, a centuries-old method of loci, linking items to familiar locations and subrooms, then walk through to recall large lists.

Explore mind maps as a powerful graphic technique that unlocks your brain through word imagery, number logic, rhythm, color, and spatial awareness to boost learning and creativity.

Learn the basics of mind maps for time management by centering a topic, building colored branches, and using imagery and keywords to enhance memory and recall.

Learn to create a health mind map that organizes stress, exercise, diet, and sleep with branches, tips, and visuals, while boosting memory through active drawing.

Learn to interpret a health-focused mind map by tracing from the center through branches like stress, exercise, diet, and sleep to one-word sub-branches, read clockwise, and add notes.

Assess the book’s purpose for speed reading by reading back cover and table of contents. Skim chapter titles and subheadings to identify main ideas and key points, then skip fluff.

Become a Learning Machine teaches practical speed reading techniques that balance fast word-per-minute gains with high comprehension, using a web-based test and comprehension questions to track progress.

learn when to speed read versus slow, prioritize comprehension, and set a clear purpose. use pre-reading, skim techniques, note-taking, and finger guidance to absorb knowledge efficiently.

Learn how the brain works and how speed reading and reading can train your brain for success, covering basics, memory, sleep, procrastination, biases, empathy, relationships, and happiness.

Master speed reading by guiding eye jumps between focal points, using lines to skim, and aiming for 300–350 words per minute, with breaks and chapter summaries to extract core ideas.

Speed read with spreeder.com by pasting text, adjust pace from 200 to 1000 wpm, and train eye focus; track progress with the app, but practice, not rely solely.

Practice speed reading with the provided workbook, which introduces speed reading strategies and retention concepts. Use the practice passages and questions to assess comprehension and download it for ongoing practice.

Discover how book summary services save time by delivering concise 5–10 page overviews that capture a book's core concepts, enabling rapid understanding without full reading.

Celebrate completing the course as you become a learning machine, earning a certificate and mastering a new skill, while applying techniques daily and sharing a video testimonial.

Gather materials, fuel your brain with snacks, and remove distractions as you follow a 10-day plan with spaced practice and recall. On exam day, skim questions and answer items first.

Master mental multiplication techniques to do numbers in your head, saving time and impressing others. The lecture contrasts head methods with traditional approaches using examples like 123×222 and 31×15.

Discover 25 practical tips to boost learning and memory, from focus and breaks to teaching others and mnemonics. Learn to optimize study habits, environment, sleep, exercise, and emotion-linked recall.

Discover how brain health influences productivity and apply 25 practical tips—from reducing distractions and taking breaks to prioritizing tasks and rewarding progress—to boost focus and efficiency.

Cultivate a growth mindset by viewing problems as learning opportunities and practicing to develop abilities. Leaders, teachers, and parents should celebrate effort and encourage skill development.

Chunking breaks information into smaller chunks, easing short-term memory's limit of four chunks and moving chunks into long-term memory through deliberate practice, with context and the big picture first.

Deliberate practice is a mindful, structured learning method that relies on planned drills, slow, accurate repetition, and reflection to build mastery. Seek coaching to guide focused progress.

Engage multiple topics at once to strengthen learning by increasing brain effort; interleaving rivers, droughts, and pollution builds durable neural pathways, despite short-term difficulty.