The Feynman Technique offers a simple method for studying any topic in depth. It is based on the premise that real learning takes place beyond flipping through a book. Instead, it occurs when we engage with information in a variety of ways and learn how to explain it to ourselves and others. This method enables us to convert information into knowledge we can use whenever we need it.
A quote attributed to Albert Einstein (but may be a historical inaccuracy): “If you can’t explain it to a 6-year-old, you don’t understand it yourself”.
The logic behind the Feynman Technique is explained in this simple and clever sentence.
Richard Feynman, physicist and Nobel Prize winner, was nicknamed “The Great Explainer”. Mr. Feynman had extensive and glorious experience explaining complex ideas to himself and others.
At the age of 15, he taught himself trigonometry, advanced algebra, analytical geometry, and many other subjects that remain a mystery to many of us (including me).
Rather than internal knowledge or extraordinary abilities, Feynman attributes his success to a structured approach through which he learned to characterize everything he didn’t know. He then studied it deeply.
Throughout his life and work, Feynman shared many insights into his thinking and learning processes. These insights eventually became what we now call the Feynman Technique.
How do you apply the Feynman Technique?
How many times have you understood only part of what someone has explained to you in complicated words that you didn’t comprehend?
The Feyman technique is a practical method to deliver information in simple language and a concise thought process. It uses Feynman’s study methods while he was a Princeton student.
Using this method, we can learn new topics quickly. We can reduce gaps in our understanding of existing topics, retain key ideas, and learn more effectively.
For those who find writing difficult, this may be a very successful solution. Many of Feynman’s books and memoirs were written from his lectures.
The Feyman technique involves four steps. There are slight variations, but the basics are the same:
Imagine explaining the idea to a child
Choose a topic. Take a paper and a pen and write everything you know about it. Imagine that you are a middle school teacher explaining the whole concept in simple words. Don’t hide the parts that you find difficult to explain.
When we have to explain things that we usually run over in our minds, our learning is accelerated.
Alternatively, you could place a doll on your desk and explain to her the details of the topic you have chosen. Sounds strange, but it is incredibly effective.
Our tendency is to hide things that we don’t fully understand by using complex words. However, the truth is that if we can’t explain things simply, it means that we don’t really know what we’re talking about.
We tend to imitate and recite the insights of others rather than getting to the bottom of things and understanding ourselves.
Explaining a subject in simple words and images that children can understand forces us to gain a deeper, more thorough understanding.
Fill in the gaps in the explanation you found
It is here that we identify where we got stuck, where we missed critical things, and where we failed to explain the relationship between things adequately. When we fill these holes, we make our knowledge complete.
During this stage, we review our study materials. We refine and simplify the missing knowledge until we can fully explain and teach the subject.
Tell a story about it
Now that the draft has all the notes and explanations, it’s time to organize it as a complete text that has a beginning, middle, and end. The text is read aloud, and if there are any inaccuracies or complexity present, we return to step 2.
Test it on others
In essence, this step is permission, as this method is a simulation that accelerates and improves learning processes. However, wisdom can only be gained through experience. Read your finished story to someone unfamiliar with your topic or present it as a lecture. No matter what you do, the questions you are asked will provide real feedback. This feedback will help you to improve this excellent tool and your learning abilities in the future.
The Feyman technique is an opportunity
We can relate to the Feyman technique as a way for us to learn new things, or for students to study for exams. But in truth, this method can be used as a means of deep work. We can devote a notebook to the ideas and knowledge we gain on pertinent topics as part of our meaningful work.
Using the Feynman method on the topics that most excite you will reveal new layers in your work.
To conclude
Feynman’s method is a simple and effective way to overcome the overload of information available to us. We can then process it into knowledge that we can comprehend and pass on. The more we understand how the world works, the more opportunities open up to us to create, do, and be.
We learned from Feynman that the most effective way to succeed is to keep challenging what we and others around us know and understand, in order to keep improving.
