Barbara Oakley

Barbara Oakley is an American educator, writer, and engineer known for her work in the field of learning and education. Born on November 24, 1955, she initially pursued a career in engineering, earning a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Washington. Oakley later obtained a Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Oakland University and a Ph.D. in Systems Engineering from the University of Michigan. Her career has spanned various roles, including serving as a professor of engineering at Oakland University. Oakley gained significant recognition for her work on the popular online course "Learning How to Learn," which she co-created with Terrence Sejnowski. The course, offered through Coursera, has reached millions of learners worldwide. In addition to her teaching, Oakley has authored several books, including "A Mind for Numbers" and "Mindshift," which explore effective learning strategies. Her work emphasizes the importance of understanding how the brain learns and applying scientific principles to improve educational outcomes.