Learning to Think in a New Way by Rewiring the Brain

This course asks you to do less calculating and more thinking, reading, and writing about ideas. Many people find this way of learning statistics difficult at first, but that’s normal and expected. Learning to think in a whole new way is challenging for everyone, and learning to think in a statistical way is exactly what this class is about.

When students find out that the goal of this class is to learn to think statistically, some worry that they will have to work harder in order to pass. And they probably will have to work harder, at least until they learn the right strategies for succeeding in this class. Other students have a different kind of worry. They worry that they won't ever be able to succeed in the class because they're "not a math person."

Fortunately, scientific research shows that the brain literally changes and adapts when we practice new ways of thinking. It shows that everyone can learn to think in new ways and can strengthen their brains. It also reveals some of the specific strategies that you can use in this course.

The Brain Gets Stronger

Everyone knows that when you lift weights, you get stronger. A person who can’t lift 20 pounds can become strong enough to lift 50 pounds after working out regularly. That's because muscles become larger and stronger with exercise. When you stop exercising, your muscles shrink and you get weaker. As the saying goes: "Use it or lose it!"

Most people don't know that when they practice and learn new things, parts of the brain change and become stronger, a lot like muscles do. This is true for babies, teenagers, and adults. Everyone can improve their abilities significantly as long as they practice and use good strategies.

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Intelligence Is about Connections

The outside layer of the brain is made up of billions of nerve cells called neurons. These cells connect to each other in a complex network, and communication between neurons is what enables us to think and solve problems.

When you learn new things, the connections between these neurons actually multiply and get stronger. The more you challenge your mind to learn, the more your brain cells connect to each other and the stronger those connections become.

Therefore, tasks that once seemed hard or even impossible, such as doing statistics or becoming a good writer, become easier. The result is a stronger, smarter brain.

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Content by the Open Learning Initiative and licensed under CC BY.