The Feynman Learning Technique
The Feynman learning technique is a way to learn new concepts thoroughly by teaching them to others or at least pretending to. Here’s how it works:
- Choose a concept or topic you want to learn. This can be a specific term, definition, or a more complex idea or theory.
- Write down the concept or topic in a clear, concise sentence; This will help you focus your thoughts and understand the key idea.
- Explain the term or topic in your own words, as if you were explaining it to someone without any idea. Instead, use simple language and try to make connections to other ideas or concepts you already know. (interdisciplinary approach — essential)
- Identify areas where your explanation falls short or you need help explaining the concept. This will help you identify areas where you need to learn more.
- Review the original material and fill in any gaps in your understanding.
- Repeat steps 3 through 5 until you can explain the concept or topic clearly and concisely.
The Feynman learning technique is named after physicist Richard Feynman, known for his ability to explain complex concepts in simple terms. The idea behind this technique is that when you teach a concept to another person, you gain a deeper understanding. In addition, identifying areas where you need help explaining the concept can help you identify areas where you need to learn more.
Overall, the Feynman learning technique is a great way to improve your understanding of complex topics and solidify your knowledge to retain it long-term.
The purpose of teaching
The goal of teaching should not be to help the students learn how to memorize and spit out information under academic pressure.
The purpose of teaching is to inspire the desire for learning in them and make them able to think, understand, and question.
~ Richard P. Feynman
Murat
Author of the books “MINDFUL AI — Reflections on Artificial Intelligence” and “A Primer to the 42 Most commonly used Machine Learning Algorithms (With Code Samples)”
