The Feynman Technique: Your Secret Weapon To Learn Faster and Retaining More

Winner of the Noble Prize for Physics in 1965, Richard Feynman was one of the world's greatest theoretical physicists, but he was also a man who fell and often jumped into adventure. He had a knack for simplifying complex topics.

Feynman often said that complexity and jargon are signs of a lack of understanding of the subject matter. The Feynman technique is the most effective way to develop a deep understanding of any topic. It harnesses the power of teaching as an engine for better learning.

The basic essence of this technique is to take a complex topic & clarify it in your mind by explaining it as if you were talking to a child. The learner is forced to simplify their thoughts & utilize concise & clear language. The more complex concept is then easier to grasp.

The Feynman technique consists of 4 key steps:

1. Select a subject to learn:

To start, write down the exact area in which you want to gain a deeper understanding.

Gather all the information about that topic through reading, taking notes, & form an initial understanding.

2. Pretend to teach it to a child:

Get rid of all the complexity and jargon so that you can explain this concept to a 10-12-year-old kid. Use simple and concise language to demystify the concepts. When you simplify it your own understanding will improve.

This step forces you to be creative, in using your imagination and relevant analogies that only a child can understand. Hence it deepens your knowledge and understanding of the topic.

“If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.” - Albert Einstein

3: Review and find gaps in your understanding:

Review what you've taught and see which parts of the topic you struggled to explain, and which details you missed, and identify those gaps in your understanding. Then go back to the source and refine the complex topic even further.

4: Organize and Review:

Organize your writing & explain it to someone else. A friend, colleague, or spouse. See what questions they asked, and where they got confused, and take feedback on how effective was your explanation. If there is still room for improvement, refine it.

Benefits of the Feynman Technique:

Critical Thinking: When you keep on refining a topic and break it down to its elemental form. It exercises your critical thinking muscles.

Creativity: Coming up with creative ideas, and analogies enhances your creativity as well.

It also helps us identify the gaps in our knowledge and get a deeper understanding of a topic to become truly competent in that subject matter. It is one of the most effective techniques to learn anything faster and also retain complex concepts.