Simplify To Clarify - The Feynman Technique Explained
The Feynman Technique is designed to help you learn by teaching. It's counting on your ability to explain complex topics in simple terms. Once you can do that, you know for sure you’ve truly mastered the concept.
When he came up with this learning method, Nobel Prize winner physicist Richard Feynman outlined 4 steps:
Choose a concept.
Teach the concept.
Identify gaps in knowledge.
Review and simplify.
You can apply these steps when you want to learn anything. All learning involves at least a little bit of teaching. Even when you are on your own. Sometimes you learn, sometimes you teach (yourself).
It is based on the idea that to teach a subject you need a thorough understanding of it.
You break down complex information into digestible portions. Then you explain them as straightforwardly as possible. Realize you can’t explain the concept as well as you’d want? Go back and study again.
This forces you to confront your level of knowledge and fill in gaps in your understanding.
““I would rather have questions that can’t be answered than answers that can’t be questioned.””
— Richard Feynman
→ This process helps both understanding and long term retention of the material.
Why It Works
The Feynman Technique works for 2 reasons: 1. it’s simple and 2. it implies hands-on learning & verifying what you learn.
Using it, you get rid of the illusion of learning. Studying isn’t a process in which you can just go through the motions and get the result you want.
Which is what many of us do.
And then we complain.
I studied and failed.
I’m losing my scholarship.
It’s the teacher’s fault.
💡Breaking hard stuff into easier parts helps you get it.
What If You Don’t Have Someone To Teach?
The Feynman technique is doable alone. There are so many ways to verify your knowledge and to try and teach it that you shouldn’t at all be worried if you have no study partner.
Here are a few ideas: Record yourself explaining the concept. Pretend you’re teaching a virtual audience. This allows you to assess and correct with physical proof of your performance.
And you already have all you need to get started. If you can read this blog, you can record yourself on your phone too. Speaking of that, if you’re good with words and likes, you can also write a blog post on it.
Or just jot it down in a word processing software. Or if you have a knack for those things go ahead and prepare a study plan. Whatever works for you.
The Feynman Technique Can Change Your Study Routine For The Better
Even without a physical audience, the act of teaching can improve your understanding of a concept - any concept.
The key is to simulate the teaching process to the best of your ability.