Art & Science of Learning

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

One of the markers of a successful Notre Dame student will be the study and learning habits they develop in their first year. Students in this seminar will engage with research on how the brain learns, and discover ways to apply it to their academic careers. The course will unfold as a tour of the learning brain, with each week focused on a specific brain region that impacts how and why we learn. Each day will incorporate discussion, activities, and short lectures; course materials will be drawn from a range of disciplines and genres, including both primary scientific research and experiential narratives. Course assignments will ask students to demonstrate their understanding of course topics and, more importantly, use that knowledge to analyze their past learning habits and develop new ones for their first year and beyond. For the final course project, students will work with the instructors to create resources for themselves and their peers.