A Brief History of Intelligence

Why We Have Two Learning Systems: Max Bennett Made This Click

One book that has given me great insight as I dipped into it over these past few months was A Brief History of Intelligence by Max Bennett. What I appreciated most was how clearly it laid out why we have two fundamentally different learning systems—an older, model-free system for fast, automatic behavior, and a newer, model-based system for deliberate planning and simulation. Bennett doesn’t just describe them—he explains their evolutionary logic. The model-free system evolved first because it’s efficient: it repeats what worked before. The model-based system came later, letting us imagine possible futures before acting. What clicked for me was how this distinction maps onto everyday learning. Much of schooling aims at building the slow, deliberative capabilities we prize—things like reasoning, abstraction, or transfer. But when working memory gets overloaded, the brain defaults to the model-free system. That means students may fall into habits or superficial strategies even when we think we’re fostering deep understanding. Bennett’s evolutionary lens helped clarify why that happens—and why guidance and structure matter so much more than we often assume. [Hat tip: Brandon Hendrickson of Science is Weird.] 

Two Late Bloomers Talk About Learning, Struggle, and Second Chances

This week’s YouTube recommendation isn’t just a listen—it’s a reminder that brilliance can come from surprising places. In this conversation with John Mighton, mathematician, playwright, and the quiet force behind JUMP Math, we swap stories of being “hopeless” in math, getting books confiscated in class (twice), and coming to love a subject we once avoided like the plague. This is a great listen if you need inspiration about making changes in your life and career.

John and I share a similar arc—falling off the math train early, then climbing back on much later, one careful step at a time. We talk about what finally turned things around, what makes good math teaching so hard to scale, and why students don’t need to be taught less—they need to be taught better.

There’s some honest reflection here: how fear and learned helplessness can shape an entire life path, and how one good teacher—or one clear explanation—can change everything. It’s also a peek behind the scenes of our new course, Making Math Click, and why we both believe that math is far more accessible (and transformative) than people are led to believe.

You’ll hear a bit about flawed research incentives, air guitar pedagogy (it makes sense, I promise), and the odd story about division, group theory, and Sylvia Plath. But mostly, you’ll hear two educators trying—honestly and earnestly—to figure out how we can do better.

The course is perfect for teachers, parents, students, or anyone who thinks math is for “other people.” (It’s not.)

(The above link to the course is free–be sure to choose the “audit” rather than the “register for free” option.  If you have already gone into the course, go to your profile and remove it and then try the link again, choosing the “audit” link.)

Cheery Friday Spotlight: Bryan Betz and Learning How to Learn for English Language Learners

Looking for creative ways to introduce Learning How to Learn in your classroom—especially with English language learners? Meet Bryan Betz, an inspiring English teacher based in South Korea who’s combining academic language development with brain-based learning strategies. Bryan is running a book club where upper-elementary and middle school ELL students explore the core ideas of Learning How to Learn—from focused and diffuse thinking to chunking and metacognition. His students not only build essential study skills, but they also gain confidence in academic English.

Bryan has created a treasure trove of classroom-friendly materials: word-association puzzles, guided discussion questions, and clever fable pairings (like “The Blind Men and the Elephant” to teach focused vs. diffuse thinking). If you’re an educator hoping to adapt Learning How to Learn for multilingual learners, Bryan is happy to share what he’s doing—and learning—with others.

You can contact him directly at bbetz1985@gmail.com

AI vs. Human: Who’s the Better Writer (or Teacher)?

If you’ve ever wondered whether AI can write as well as a human—or teach like one—Patsy Bowden has been wondering too. In one piece, she revisits an old Coursera assignment to see if today’s readers (and AI detectors) can still tell the difference between authentic human quirks and algorithmic polish. In another, she dives into the strange new world of AI avatars teaching AI itself. Both are thoughtful, gently provocative reads about what it means to write, teach, and learn in an AI-shaped world.

• Do I Write Better Than Gen AI?

• Can an AI Teach AI? Learning From an Avatar

AI Can’t Learn for You (Sorry)

Next week I’ll be giving a talk for the National Science Foundation’s AI-Adult Learning & Online Education group on how we might use AI to support real learning—not replace it with shallow mimicry. I’ll share more thoughts from our recent paper, “The Memory Paradox,” including why memorization is still essential (yes, even now), how over-reliance on tools can quietly erode thinking, and why the popular idea of “just look it up” often undermines understanding. AI is here to stay—but whether it helps or harms learning depends entirely on how we use it.

🔗 Details and registration

Why Listening to Others with Differing Views Builds a Better Brain
In my recent conversation with Drew Perkins on the ThoughtStretchers podcast, we explored a topic that’s both close to my heart and backed by solid neuroscience: how engaging with opposing viewpoints—yes, even the ones that make us uncomfortable—actually strengthens our brain’s ability to think clearly. It’s counterintuitive, but shielding ourselves (and our students) from challenging ideas doesn’t make us safer—it makes us more brittle. If you’ve ever wondered what the inability to talk to others with different ways of thinking may be costing us cognitively (not to mention societally), you’ll want to give this episode a listen. And check out our “Speak Freely, Think Critically” course! (The link is to the free version, but be sure to check the “audit” button once you get in to ensure you’re in the free version.)

That’s all for now. Have a happy month 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!