Barbara Oakley: Learning how to learn

• Diffuse mode: let your mind wander and explore. You often end up with ideas that are a little bit more outside the box

  • Broad
  • Conceptual
  • Wandering
  • Strategic

  e.g. Free-flow journaling, mind mapping, doodling...

• Focused mode: solve problems in a very specific and given problem space

  • Narrow
  • Targeted
  • Methodical
  • Tactical

  e.g. Solving an equation, applying a specific creative framework...

You need to alternate between the two modes of thinking to be as creative as possible.