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The Keys to Learning: Unlocking Your Brain's Potential
From an award-winning teacher comes a life-changing book on learning.
Two events had a major impact on Professor Melloch’s sense of responsibility to the teaching mission. The first was his daughter becoming a student at the university where he teaches. Now when he was looking at his class, he was seeing someone’s son or daughter. The other was becoming Associate Head for Education for his department of over 1,000 undergraduates. These two events sent him on a quest to improve the learning of his students.
He started by looking at what was known about the learning process. He was continuously discovering something new about what worked best for learning. He was also discovering that many things we would not think of—such as sleep, psychology, exercise, meditation, nutrition, and relationships—have a major impact on our learning.
This 15 years of studying what is known about learning, his own experiences when he was a student, and what he has learned teaching for 40 years at the college level resulted in this guide on how to learn and how to optimize your brain for the learning process.
Professor Melloch teaches a course for first year college students based on this book called Keys to Learning. Here is a sampling of comments students in the course “Keys to Learning” have made in his course evaluations:
“Professor Melloch does a great job engaging students and teaching practices that will actually aid students during our academic career. For me, I was very stressed about schoolwork, and when I failed my first exam of the year I was devastated. I didn't understand why I had failed. Ever since Professor Melloch taught us that it was more important to understand the concepts, rather than to just get a good grade, my exam scores in subjects I've struggled with have gradually gone up over time. I think students should definitely take his class, or at least read his book in order to have a better understanding of studying and how to improve your understanding.”
“Communicating to the class that the grade isn't as important as it is to actually learn and understand the material, as understanding the material will help in the long run, as a grade can only go so far.”
“I thought the course was absolutely wonderful and included so many topics that were helpful to me on many different levels.”
“This is a very interesting class that would be beneficial to all students. I would love to see some other teachers incorporating these ideas into their classrooms.”
“This course was amazing, and the instructor was the reason for this. It was obvious that the instructor knew what he was talking about and was able to clearly explain the information he wanted to convey. The instructor was also very active in communicating and was obviously most concerned with the questions we had and the things we did not understand. By taking this course I have been able to utilize the things I have learned for my other current class, and I will be able to use it in the future as well.”
“I really like how the main focus was truly learning the material rather than just memorizing topics for the exam. This focus really helped me learn the material, which has truly changed my life and how I approach school in general.”
Two events had a major impact on Professor Melloch’s sense of responsibility to the teaching mission. The first was his daughter becoming a student at the university where he teaches. Now when he was looking at his class, he was seeing someone’s son or daughter. The other was becoming Associate Head for Education for his department of over 1,000 undergraduates. These two events sent him on a quest to improve the learning of his students.
He started by looking at what was known about the learning process. He was continuously discovering something new about what worked best for learning. He was also discovering that many things we would not think of—such as sleep, psychology, exercise, meditation, nutrition, and relationships—have a major impact on our learning.
This 15 years of studying what is known about learning, his own experiences when he was a student, and what he has learned teaching for 40 years at the college level resulted in this guide on how to learn and how to optimize your brain for the learning process.
Professor Melloch teaches a course for first year college students based on this book called Keys to Learning. Here is a sampling of comments students in the course “Keys to Learning” have made in his course evaluations:
“Professor Melloch does a great job engaging students and teaching practices that will actually aid students during our academic career. For me, I was very stressed about schoolwork, and when I failed my first exam of the year I was devastated. I didn't understand why I had failed. Ever since Professor Melloch taught us that it was more important to understand the concepts, rather than to just get a good grade, my exam scores in subjects I've struggled with have gradually gone up over time. I think students should definitely take his class, or at least read his book in order to have a better understanding of studying and how to improve your understanding.”
“Communicating to the class that the grade isn't as important as it is to actually learn and understand the material, as understanding the material will help in the long run, as a grade can only go so far.”
“I thought the course was absolutely wonderful and included so many topics that were helpful to me on many different levels.”
“This is a very interesting class that would be beneficial to all students. I would love to see some other teachers incorporating these ideas into their classrooms.”
“This course was amazing, and the instructor was the reason for this. It was obvious that the instructor knew what he was talking about and was able to clearly explain the information he wanted to convey. The instructor was also very active in communicating and was obviously most concerned with the questions we had and the things we did not understand. By taking this course I have been able to utilize the things I have learned for my other current class, and I will be able to use it in the future as well.”
“I really like how the main focus was truly learning the material rather than just memorizing topics for the exam. This focus really helped me learn the material, which has truly changed my life and how I approach school in general.”
260 pages, Paperback
Published May 20, 2024
8 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
Michael Melloch
1 book2 followersMichael R. Melloch is a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Purdue University. He has also served as Assistant Dean for the College of Engineering and Associate Head for Education for the School of Electrical & Computer Engineering. Before joining the faculty at Purdue, he held positions as a design engineer at Intel Corporation and as a member of the technical staff in the Central Research Laboratories of Texas Instruments, Inc. At Intel in the 1970s he was a design engineer on some of the first microcomputers.
Prof. Melloch has published more than 300 scientific articles. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the American Physical Society, the American Vacuum Society, and the Optical Society of America. He has received every teaching award at the school, college, and university level at Purdue University. The Keys to Learning: Unlocking Your Brain’s Potential is his first book.
Prof. Melloch has published more than 300 scientific articles. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the American Physical Society, the American Vacuum Society, and the Optical Society of America. He has received every teaching award at the school, college, and university level at Purdue University. The Keys to Learning: Unlocking Your Brain’s Potential is his first book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
December 7, 2023
This book is incredibly insightful and has truly changed the way I approach learning and school. Especially as a college student, reading this book and learning about how the brain works has unlocked a multitude of skills and practices that I now utilize everyday, which has also dramatically improved my studying and success in school. Learning about incubation, interleaving, purposeful practice, memory, nutrition, sleep, relationships, senses, mindsets, and so much more, along with the connections between each of these topics, has made my studying more efficient and effective. I used to always cram my studying in the night before an exam, often just looking over the notes I've taken throughout the class. However, I now know that this isn't an effective way to study and learn the material. I now utilize skills I've learned throughout the course, such as alternating the classes I'm studying rather than focusing on a single one, varying up where I study, studying to learn the material rather than memorizing it, and much more, which has proved to be much more effective.
I had the privilege of taking a class with Professor Melloch based on the contents of this book. Being able to learn from him and is approach to learning was truly amazing to experience. All of the topics we cover in class are expanded upon within the book, which gives readers a deeper dive into why each of these practices work and how people can use them to their advantage. Everybody has something to learn by reading this incredible book. And, I highly recommend that anybody at Purdue University take this amazing course!
I had the privilege of taking a class with Professor Melloch based on the contents of this book. Being able to learn from him and is approach to learning was truly amazing to experience. All of the topics we cover in class are expanded upon within the book, which gives readers a deeper dive into why each of these practices work and how people can use them to their advantage. Everybody has something to learn by reading this incredible book. And, I highly recommend that anybody at Purdue University take this amazing course!
December 4, 2023
This book has brought different concepts of basic study to mind in a facinating and entertaining way. The author finds way to directly target readers by including specific information that may benefit students in general, no matter what topic they are studying. Prior to reding this book, I remember blowing it past me that reading it would be crucial to becoming an engineer here at Purdue. I have been saldy mistaken, as i can confidently say this is one of the most informative resources i have had access to so far. This book has opened my eyes to new practices of life, implimenting great habits in my everyday routine that has genuinely made me a happier person. The study habits portrayed have also made a differencce in my academic classes, as far as either passing or failing a class. Not only does the author state what precautions should and should not be taken when it comes to studying, but backs his statements up with evidence and facts, proving how these habits actulally work. Throught this structure, he convinces readers to actually consider these tactics. As i was easily convinced by this writing style, it has helped me in great measures and contributed greatly to my success as a student. Having Micheal Melloch as my professor has shown me first hand his passion for this topic, just proving why this book is outstanding for students and people in general, trying to stay on track.
December 11, 2023
This book has transformed my approach to learning, significantly improving my study habits and overall success in college. Covering topics like incubation, interleaving, and purposeful practice, it not only explores these facets individually but also establishes connections between them. These insights have streamlined my study methods, making them more efficient.
Previously relying on last-minute cramming, I now employ strategies learned from the book, such as alternating subjects, varying study locations, and focusing on understanding material. These changes have proven remarkably effective in my learning journey.
Taking a class with Professor Melloch, aligned with the book's contents, was inspiring. The book not only mirrors class topics but also delves deeper into underlying principles, providing a profound understanding of effective learning practices.
In essence, this book offers valuable knowledge applicable to everyone, making it a highly recommended read for those seeking to enhance their learning experience. For Purdue University students, Professor Melloch's course complements the book's teachings, offering a hands-on application of transformative principles.
Previously relying on last-minute cramming, I now employ strategies learned from the book, such as alternating subjects, varying study locations, and focusing on understanding material. These changes have proven remarkably effective in my learning journey.
Taking a class with Professor Melloch, aligned with the book's contents, was inspiring. The book not only mirrors class topics but also delves deeper into underlying principles, providing a profound understanding of effective learning practices.
In essence, this book offers valuable knowledge applicable to everyone, making it a highly recommended read for those seeking to enhance their learning experience. For Purdue University students, Professor Melloch's course complements the book's teachings, offering a hands-on application of transformative principles.
December 14, 2023
Michael Melloch's book, 'The Keys to Learning: Unlocking Your Brain's Potential,' is a great find for anyone wanting to get better at studying or learning new stuff. It's written in a way that's easy to get, even if you're not big into psychology or science. The book is full of cool tips and tricks about how to study better, like spacing out your study sessions and mixing up different subjects to keep things fresh.
What I really liked about this book is that it's not just throwing facts at you. It's super practical. There are real things you can start doing right away, like studying in different places and taking breaks to let your brain chill and absorb the info. Also, it talks about staying motivated and having the right mindset, which is super important.
Melloch makes these brainy concepts seem simple and useful for everyday studying. As a student, I found the advice really helpful for handling my courses. It's a cool book that makes learning easier and more fun. Definitely recommend it to other students, or really anyone who wants to learn better.
What I really liked about this book is that it's not just throwing facts at you. It's super practical. There are real things you can start doing right away, like studying in different places and taking breaks to let your brain chill and absorb the info. Also, it talks about staying motivated and having the right mindset, which is super important.
Melloch makes these brainy concepts seem simple and useful for everyday studying. As a student, I found the advice really helpful for handling my courses. It's a cool book that makes learning easier and more fun. Definitely recommend it to other students, or really anyone who wants to learn better.
April 2, 2024
When I first signed up for Prof. Melloch's course, I was looking for tips and tricks to study and improve myself. His book, The Keys to Learning, provides much more than just that. The book not only goes over what to do to better yourself and learn but teaches you what your brain does and how to use this information to learn and better yourself. There are many studies to back up and support everything that is discussed. The best takeaway from it is understanding what is going on inside our brains and why we are doing the things we do. Learning about all this reasoning leads to the different strategies we can impose on ourselves to do better in the studying and learning aspects of one’s life. I find that, knowing what is going on and understanding why the strategies we impose work, helps exponentially with developing the discipline to stick with these strategies. I would recommend this book to everyone, not just students, since the content goes so much further than just ‘learning how to study.’ Everything lesson that is taught is applicable to everyone, no matter what stage of life they are in which they are living.
December 5, 2023
Great book for understanding the fundamentals of learning and improvement.
I sincerely believe that this course and this book has been extremely beneficial in my success as a college student. The book covers a variety and multitude of topics relating to learning and tips to find success as a student or someone interested in learning. The book has enabled myself to change my outlook on my mindset, routines, and overall way of studying. The book has been an extremely valuable source toward finding success in the classroom, but it also pertains toward different aspects of life where I can implement different learnings to find success. Many great tips and tricks are provided within this book toward learning and the book remains detailed and very precise. Overall, it is a great book with regards to learning, studying and overall improving yourself.
I sincerely believe that this course and this book has been extremely beneficial in my success as a college student. The book covers a variety and multitude of topics relating to learning and tips to find success as a student or someone interested in learning. The book has enabled myself to change my outlook on my mindset, routines, and overall way of studying. The book has been an extremely valuable source toward finding success in the classroom, but it also pertains toward different aspects of life where I can implement different learnings to find success. Many great tips and tricks are provided within this book toward learning and the book remains detailed and very precise. Overall, it is a great book with regards to learning, studying and overall improving yourself.
December 4, 2023
Reading this book has helped me so much in my freshman year of college. As someone who used to not have to study in High School, I definitely struggled at the beginning of the year when I began to face harder content and I received my first 'failing' exam score. I was terrified. Reading Mr. Melloch's book has taught me that the thing you should worry about most, is not the grade, but understanding the concept. That simple fact not only released a lot of anxiety from me but also allowed me to take the time to understand what I was actually doing. I highly recommend reading this book if you're a college student who never had to study in High School as it provides some really useful tips to succeed during your academic career.
December 4, 2023
From high school onwards, I only crammed for exams during the test periods. Fortunately, I managed to get decent grades, but I failed to establish proper study habits. After each semester, I would forget what I had studied, leading to highly inefficient study sessions later on. This book provides highly effective study methods, backed by charts and data. For instance, it emphasizes getting enough sleep and advocates for spaced repetition over last-minute cramming, which proves to be much more efficient. While it may not be as entertaining as some other books, it is a recommended read for anyone looking to learn efficient study habits that contribute to a more effective approach to life.
December 4, 2023
Great Book for College Students
This book is a great read for any college or high school student because it both provides great advice for how to structure your studies and backs up that advice with interesting often shocking studies. Most of the advice in this book is very common advice, but what makes this book unique and valuable is going into the studies behind that advice because for many (myself included) without evidence I won't fully absorb the information. By reading about the studies it showed exactly why this advice works and it makes the information sink in a lot more. Highly recommend this book!
This book is a great read for any college or high school student because it both provides great advice for how to structure your studies and backs up that advice with interesting often shocking studies. Most of the advice in this book is very common advice, but what makes this book unique and valuable is going into the studies behind that advice because for many (myself included) without evidence I won't fully absorb the information. By reading about the studies it showed exactly why this advice works and it makes the information sink in a lot more. Highly recommend this book!
March 30, 2024
This book has completely changed how I study and learn. As a college student, it's given me practical tips on memory, studying techniques, and even how to sleep better. As a college freshman, I was confident in my study skills. But when the first exams arrived, I realized I wasn't grasping the material as thoroughly as I thought. Taking Professor Melloch's class based on this book was a game-changer. No more last-minute cramming for me! I've learned to study smarter, not harder, by alternating subjects and changing up my study environment. It's a must-read for anyone currently in college/university as well as anyone looking to improve their learning strategies.
April 13, 2024
As a Purdue Engineering first-year student, I've found this book very useful. Keys to Learning is accessibly written, without the unnecessary use of big words that puts many people off of semi-technical readings--anyone could pick up this book and read it cover-to-cover and get the point. The writing style is concise, engaging, and has the quiet excitement of an author who truly loves the topic on which he writes, and wants others to share that same love. Moreover, I've found the book useful in my own studies--the approaches to interleaving, incubation, and such have improved the way I learn. I've thoroughly enjoyed this book and class, and continue to use these lessons in the future.
April 22, 2024
This book provides a lot a really helpful information on the most effect ways to learn things. I am an engineering student at Purdue so learning to efficiently study has been a skill that has been extremely helpful. This book has a lot of good information with trustworthy sources to back up the methods of learning. I read this book for a course taught by the author and he is very passionate about the material. You can tell that he practices many of the techniques mentioned in the book in his own life and that it has had positive influences in his life. Micheal Melloch is a great professor and his book is a great substitute for those who are unable to take his course!
December 4, 2023
I bought this book in my freshman year at college for a course that i was taking. Along with what i learned in the course (if you go to purdue i highly reccomend taking keys to leaning) i found the book highly benefical. Ive already reccomended this book to my dad and he loves books like this (atomic habits is one of his favorites) If you are looking for a way to maximize your proformance in classes feel better in genral and promte a healthier life style as well as learn about studys and a bunch of really intreesting information i reccomend this book
December 4, 2023
This book genuinely made me into a better student. Professor Melloch is so knowledgeable about how the brain works, which is likely what makes this book so interesting. I have learned a lot of helpful strategies and tactics that have aided me in my educational journey and provided me with previously unexplored knowledge. Even if you are not enrolled in the course, I genuinely suggest this book to other students.
March 20, 2024
Professor Melloch's book is highly informative and very practical. The majority of this book is filled with facts about the art of learning and ways to improve it, with science to back it up every step of the way. Professor Melloch always digs deep to provide sources for his arguments and never makes comments on things that he is not entirely certain about. That is why I have been following the practices described in his book, and am already seeing great results as an engineering student!
March 30, 2024
This is an incredibly useful book. As someone who had some bad study habits, reading this book helped me not only break them, but also learn how to study better.
I've been told time and again about various topics like time management, sleep schedules, etc however in this book, these topics are accompanied when various scientific studies and evidence. This really helps understand where you may be going wrong.
I would recommend this book to every student I know
I've been told time and again about various topics like time management, sleep schedules, etc however in this book, these topics are accompanied when various scientific studies and evidence. This really helps understand where you may be going wrong.
I would recommend this book to every student I know
April 17, 2024
I would say that reading this book side by side with Professor Melloch's Keys to Learning course has been very beneficial to my education overall, as well as my general understanding of the learning process. Professor Melloch provides an extensive amount of evidence and research as a reason to change a habit. Even after this course ends, I will be sure to refer back to this book throughout my career. Thank you Professor Melloch!
November 14, 2024
I have absolutely enjoyed reading this book. It is full of very fascinating facts, but more importantly, it is full of really good advice that will actually help you. This book as taught me the importance of sleep and better ways for me to study. I have noticed a difference in the way that I take exams and I have seen better results with my exams after applying the advice from this book. Highly recommended.
December 5, 2023
This book has given me a new understanding of how to apply the things that I have learned in a effective way so that I effectively retain the material that I studied. In addition to this I also discovered all of the components that play a role in actually creating an environment that help you optimize your learning.
December 6, 2023
I would highly recommend this book. Something that was very interesting to me is how almost every chapter pointed out someone I could change for the better. I have changed so many habits and this class truly helped me learn how to study properly. I will be using these tips as I study for my finals.
December 16, 2023
I read this book while taking a class and this is one of the first books I enjoyed reading for a class. It had valuable information about study habits and human biology with science supported evidence. It was able to give me a lot more information about my study habits and overall performance inside and outside the class.
April 3, 2024
I thought that this book was a very insightful perspective on Human Psychological Performance presented in a manner with which someone without an extensive STEM background could understand. Especially as an Engineering student, the content of this read exposed a lot of flaws in my learning strategies that I can now look to fix!
April 15, 2024
It's a very interesting book and an easy read. I'll likely be coming back to reread it in the future. If you're a student at Purdue I'd recommend taking the Keys to Learning course that Professor Melloch offers. It's one of the few classes where I've genuinely enjoyed going to each lecture; you'll learn something new and interesting each time.
April 16, 2024
I thought that this book taught and opened my eyes to how the brain works for learning. Also, I feel like this book helped me optimize my learning habits, which is excellent as I am currently a college student. However, Ifeel like I can use this knowledge for the rest of my life and in the industry.
December 8, 2023
I took the course on this book at Purdue, and I believe that it can help you a lot no matter where you are in life in terms of creating study habits, bettering your sleep schedule, keeping your body healthy, and much more. Overall I would highly recommend this book.
November 19, 2024
Read this book for a class in college, it was super helpful in improving the way I learned! There are so many helpful concepts here and they are supported by studies, statistics, and research. I feel much more prepared for future classes after reading this book.
March 30, 2024
This book helps guide the studying strategies and your approach to understanding "study" itself.
April 4, 2024
Well written and easy to follow! Lots of applicable methods that are presented.
May 5, 2024
The book is great and has helped me a lot to improve my learning capabilities.
December 11, 2023
This book was introduced to me in a class at Purdue. It has given me new ideas and ways to study more efficiently. The class which is based on the book is a informative class that will also help you understand how our brains work. I highly recommend this book to anyone no matter the time or age of your life.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews