The Feynman Technique 🤷🏽‍♂️ : Master 🎓the art of learning 📝

 You might have heard of the Pomodoro method, active recall, or even spaced repetition but have you heard of the Feynman Technique? 

The Feynman Technique is named after the great Richard Feynman, who is not only a Nobel Laureate in Physics but is also a master of demystifying complex topics. 

His key learning insight is that 

“Complexity and jargon often lead to a lack of understanding” 

Feynman’s learning technique comprises 4 key steps

1. Select a concept to learn

2. Teach it to a child 

3. Review and redefine your thoughts and understanding 

4. Review and simplify your notes and revisit them regularly 

Let’s dive deeper into these 4 key steps: 

Feynman’s secret lies in understanding the true essence of the concept rather than merely knowing the name and this learning technique can be applied universally irrespective of the subject. 

1. Select a concept to learn 

What topic are you curious about?

• Take out a blank sheet of paper. Write out everything you already know about the subject you want to understand deeper. As you learn more about the topic, add it to your sheet. If you use a different color pen as you learn new things, you can watch your knowledge grow. 

Once you understand the topic well enough, move on to step 2.

Step 2: Teach it to a child 

• Can you explain your chosen concept to a 12-year-old? Test your understanding by simplifying your notes. Banish jargon and complexity, using only words a child would comprehend. Use simple language and clear explanations. This step helps you identify gaps in your understanding and clarify your thoughts.  

Step 3: Identify Gaps and Go Back to the source 

• After attempting to teach the concept, identify areas where you struggled or couldn’t explain well. Go back to the source material-textbooks, notes, lectures- to review and fill in the gaps in your gaps in your understanding. 

Step 4: Review and Simplify 

• Review your explanation and simplify further if needed. Use analogies, examples, and connections to other concepts to deepen the understanding

The Feynman Technique is effective because it forces you to articulate what you know in simple terms, exposes gaps in your understanding, and reinforces learning through active recall and explanation. It's widely used not only in physics and academia but also in various fields where understanding complex concepts is crucial.