Free full version of Learning How to Learn

Cheery Friday!

Free full version of Learning How to Learn 

Great news! For those of you—and we know there are thousands!—who are encouraging your students, colleagues, and friends to take Learning How to Learn, there’s now a direct link to a free version of the course (certificate not included).

If you’re an instructor and want to confirm whether a student has taken and passed the course, just ask them to send the “Congratulations” email they receive upon completion—no need to pay a cent. 

(Of course, anyone is welcome to upgrade for a certificate to proudly display on LinkedIn—and maybe even take the leap into more lifelong learning with other Coursera courses. 😊)

Here’s the link to the free version: tinyurl.com/LHTL-free 

Back-to-Back Brainpower: Workshops with Olav Schewe & Barbara Oakley in Singapore!

I’m thrilled to share that my longtime friend and co-author, Dr. Olav Schewe, will be kicking off October with two fantastic workshops in Singapore on October 15th—one on brain-based learning design, and another on building strong research evidence for edtech and e-learning. If you’re looking to boost your instructional chops or edtech credibility, Olav’s sessions are not to be missed. A few free spots are reserved for the Learning How to Learn community on a first-come basis—just write “LHTL” in the signup message field. Register here! 

Then later in the month, I’ll be speaking at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) on October 30th, where we’ll explore how to use AI and brain-based strategies to supercharge learning. My afternoon workshop on neurodiversity is already full (thank you, everyone!), but a few spots for the morning keynote, “The Augmented Educator,” are still available, so don’t wait too long if you’d like to join us.

Between Olav’s evidence-packed workshops and our shared passion for making learning more effective, October’s shaping up to be a very brain-friendly month in Singapore. Hope to see you there!

Cheery Friday Connection: Seeking Sanity in the AI Gold Rush? Connect with Joshua Hook

If you’re someone who’s feeling uneasy about the stampede into generative AI—especially in schools—you’re not alone. Joshua Hook, Principal at Meridian Public Schools, is actively seeking to connect with people who aren’t just cautious, but deeply curious about what we might be overlooking. Drawing on ideas like those in The Memory Paradox: Why Our Brains Need Knowledge in an Age of AI, Joshua is asking the hard, forward-thinking questions: What will we wish we had done now, before the algorithms took over our classrooms and our kids’ cognitive habits? What foundational learning processes are we quietly displacing? If you’re exploring these same questions—or feel you should be—reach out to Joshua at Joshua.Hook@merps.org. He’s building a network of people who want to get this right, not just get it done.

When PD Feels Like a Sales Pitch (and What You Can Do About It)

If you’ve ever sat through teacher training that felt more like a subtle sales pitch than genuine support, you’re not alone. In this sharp and thoughtful piece, Jim Hewitt and Nidhi Sachdeva unpack five persuasive tactics often used in PD—and how to respond with clarity and confidence. A must-read for anyone who believes that teacher learning should be open, honest, and evidence-informed.

A Conversation that Crosses Borders / Един разговор без граници

This past week I had the joy of conversing with educators in Bulgaria about some of the most exciting and practical ideas in learning science—from memory and motivation to artificial intelligence and active recall. The interview is now live on Prepodavame.bg, and it was such a pleasure to share thoughts on how even small shifts in teaching can spark big changes in the classroom. Благодарение на прекрасния екип на Prepodavame.bg, разговорът протече вдъхновяващо и сърдечно. Надявам се да бъде полезен на всички учители, които искат да направят ученето по-ефективно и приятно – както за учениците, така и за самите тях! 

Just Discovered: Anita Archer’s Work on Explicit Instruction

I’m a little late to the party, but I’ve just discovered the work of Dr. Anita Archer—and wow, it’s worth sharing. Her approach to explicit instruction is clear, structured, and wonderfully practical. Whether you’re teaching reading, math, or science, her methods make it easier to teach in a way that’s engaging and effective—especially for students who need the most support.

If you’re looking for a research-informed, teacher-respecting framework (with actual examples and real classroom tools!), take a look at her book Explicit Instruction, her workshops, and the free resources at explicitinstruction.org. I’m just starting to explore, but so far it’s all excellent.

Barb in Mexico City, Chile, and Japan

I’ll be speaking at the Coursera Connect event in Mexico City on October 7th, ResearchEd in Santiago Chile on October 11th. Then, on the flip side of the world, I’ll be in Tokyo on October 18–19, 2025 to give a keynote at the Japan Learning Disabilities Society Conference — details here (in Japanese): JALD 2025 大会プログラム. Then on October 26, 2025, I’ll be speaking at Shirayuri University’s 60th Anniversary Commemorative Lecture. You can see their announcement here: 白百合女子大学 創立60周年記念講演会

That’s all for now. Have a happy week in learning!

Barb Oakley

• Uncommon Sense Teaching—the book and Coursera Specialization!
• Mindshift—the book and MOOC
• Learn Like a Pro—the book and MOOC
• The LHTL recommended text, A Mind for Numbers
• For kids and parents: Learning How to Learn—the book and MOOC. Pro tip—watch the videos and read the book together with your child. Learning how to learn at an early age will change their life!