The Extended Mind by Annie Murphy Paul

The Big Idea: Thinking doesn’t just take place inside the brain; it also takes place outside the brain.

• When your body (emotions/unconscious mind) is telling you something, listen to it; this is called interoception.
• Practice meditation to improve your interoception abilities.
• Regular walks can improve thinking.
• Physical demonstrations helps students learn abstract concepts better.
• Gestures can support understanding and learning.
• Gestures take away cognitive load, so the brain can focus more intently.
• Spending time in nature improves thinking; take a nature walk to help work out problems.
• Working in a room with a view improves thinking.
• Better design (collaborative spaces + quiet spaces, sense of ownership) improves thinking; aka neuroarchitecture.
• The memory palace technique, concept mapping, and physical models all take advantage of the power of spatial thinking.
• Imitating experts (apprenticeships) and coaching improves learning.
• Working in groups improves thinking.
• Teaching others (eg cascading mentorship) helps you master concepts.
• Debate and Socratic Method are great tools for teaching and learning.
• Storytelling is a powerful tool for understanding and remembering.
• Group mind (collective intelligence) can sometimes be more powerful than individual minds.
• Synchronized exercise or activity improves cooperation and emotional bonds between individuals.
• Membership in a group can be a potent form of motivation.
• Eating meals together improves group cohesion and cooperation.