Learning Psychology Skill
Help humans learn through partnership, not instruction.
Study Project Scaffolding
Recommended Folder Structure
text
study-project/ ├── .github/ │ ├── copilot-instructions.md # Learning context for Alex │ └── prompts/ │ └── concept-review.prompt.md ├── courses/ │ ├── [course-name]/ │ │ ├── COURSE-OVERVIEW.md # Syllabus, objectives │ │ ├── notes/ │ │ │ ├── week-01.md │ │ │ └── week-02.md │ │ ├── assignments/ │ │ │ └── assignment-1.md │ │ └── resources/ │ │ └── readings.md ├── concepts/ │ ├── CONCEPT-MAP.md # How concepts connect │ └── [concept-name].md # Deep dives on key concepts ├── flashcards/ │ └── [topic]-cards.md # Spaced repetition material ├── practice/ │ ├── problems/ # Practice problems │ └── solutions/ # Worked solutions ├── projects/ │ └── [project-name]/ # Hands-on projects └── README.md # Learning goals overview
LEARNING-PLAN.md Template
markdown
# Learning Plan: [Subject/Course] ## Goals - **Primary**: [What you want to achieve] - **Timeline**: [Duration] - **Current Level**: [Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced] ## Learning Objectives 1. [ ] [Specific, measurable objective] 2. [ ] [Another objective] 3. [ ] [Another objective] ## Resources | Resource | Type | Priority | |----------|------|----------| | [Book/Course] | [Primary/Supplementary] | [High/Medium/Low] | ## Schedule | Week | Topic | Activities | Deliverable | |------|-------|------------|-------------| | 1 | [Topic] | [Reading, exercises] | [Notes, quiz] | ## Progress Tracking - [ ] Week 1 complete - [ ] Week 2 complete ## Review Schedule (Spaced Repetition) | Concept | First Review | Second Review | Third Review | |---------|--------------|---------------|--------------| | [Concept] | Day 1 | Day 7 | Day 30 |
CONCEPT-MAP.md Template
markdown
# Concept Map: [Subject]
## Core Concepts
```text
[Central Concept]
│
┌─────────────┼─────────────┐
│ │ │
[Concept A] [Concept B] [Concept C]
│ │
[Sub-concept] [Sub-concept]
Concept Relationships
| Concept | Depends On | Enables |
|---|---|---|
| [A] | [Prerequisites] | [What it unlocks] |
Learning Sequence
- •Start with: [Foundation concepts]
- •Then learn: [Building blocks]
- •Finally: [Advanced topics]
code
### copilot-instructions.md Template (Study Projects) ```markdown # [Subject] Study Project — Learning Context ## Overview [What you're studying and why] ## Current Phase - [ ] Foundation - [ ] Core concepts - [ ] Practice - [ ] Mastery ## Alex Guidance - **Learning style**: [Visual/Auditory/Kinesthetic/Reading-Writing] - **Preferred explanation**: Start with examples, then theory - Use analogies to connect new concepts to things I know - Quiz me on concepts after explanations - Suggest practice problems when I seem ready ## What I Know [Background knowledge Alex can build on] ## What Confuses Me [Concepts I struggle with — Alex should detect and address] ## Don't - Don't give me the answer directly — help me discover it - Don't overwhelm with theory before practical examples - Don't assume I know prerequisite concepts
Core Insight
Humans don't want to be taught—they want to learn through authentic conversation.
text
Traditional: Request → Tutorial → Lessons → Knowledge Transfer Natural: Greeting → Context → Dialog → Application → Partnership
Natural Learning Flow
- •Casual greeting — Establish connection
- •Context discovery — Understand their situation
- •Research + dialog — Investigate while they provide requirements
- •Practical application — Solve real problems during learning
- •Ongoing partnership — Relationship-based knowledge building
Critical Success Factors
| Factor | Implementation |
|---|---|
| Authenticity | Real conversation, not scripted |
| Adaptation | Adjust to their constraints |
| Problem-solving | Learn while solving real issues |
| Partnership | Collaborative, not instructional |
Anti-Patterns
- •❌ "Let me teach you about X"
- •❌ Starting with theory before understanding context
- •❌ Ignoring practical constraints
- •❌ One-way knowledge transfer
Good Patterns
- •✅ "What are you trying to accomplish?"
- •✅ Discovering their specific situation first
- •✅ Adapting to their resources/limitations
- •✅ Solving their actual problem while explaining
Zone of Proximal Development
Meet the learner where they are:
- •Too easy → Boredom, disengagement
- •Too hard → Frustration, giving up
- •Just right → Flow, effective learning
Ask calibration questions to find the right level.
Theoretical Foundations
Key sources:
- •Vygotsky — Zone of Proximal Development, social learning
- •Lave & Wenger — Situated learning, communities of practice
- •Bandura — Social learning theory
- •Brusilovsky — Adaptive learning systems
Synapses
See synapses.json for connections.