Explanation of Richard Feynman Learning Technique | The Great Explainer's Technique

Richard Feynman Introduction

Richard Feynman is one of the most brilliant minds this planet has ever seen. Richard Feynman is an American physicist, scientist, and one of the greatest teacher/ explainer. He is mostly known for his Nobel prize-winning achievement in 1965 for quantum electrodynamics. Richard Feynman is well known for his contribution to quantum electrodynamics. Except for being the scientist/physicist, he is also one of the great teachers and the great explainer. For his great explaining ability, he was nicknamed as "The Great Explainer".

He said, "The first principle is that you must not fool yourself and you re the easiest person to fool." So, the key concept here is you must first learn enough to explain it to someone else who has got no knowledge on that topic or concept. You might fool someone by saying the wrong thing but in the end, you need to know what it is to explain it in the right way. 

Richard Feynman Learning Technique is the way of learning which based on the fact that if you want to learn something explain it to someone else. That's it, it is the main concept and there are few steps on this principle that would make it more efficient.

Richard Feynman Learning Technique

As I have already told Richard Feynman Learning technique is based on the fact that if you want to learn something explain it to someone else. Actually, it is like "Study less but Study smart" types of concepts. 

The application of this technique will help to increase your understanding in any area. No matter the subject or the concept, this technique will be helpful to learn the new concept. Regardless of the subject like physics, maths, engineering, history, etc. proper application of this technique will help to increase the understanding in the respective field.

There are four main steps in this technique. They are:

Before any step, first, the learner who is willing to learn needs to read the concept by himself and know about the subject matter inside it and after reading it we move on to the steps.

Step 1: Take a piece of paper and write the concept on it

What we do in this step is we just write down the concept in the paper. Writing everything on the piece of paper will let the learner know or revise the concept that they have already read. Writing the exact same concept will make them memorize the things they have read.

Step 2: Explain the concept using simple language

This is where the key concept of this learning technique is applied. The learner must explain the concept to someone who has got no knowledge on that topic. This will make the learner understand each and every concept in detail before explaining to the listener or student.

The key concept here is to using simple language rather than using complex language. Do it in such a way that the listener would understand it. Also giving an example would be better for the learner to understand the concept easily.

It would be better if you try to explain it to the kids because the kids have a tendency to ask the question "Why?"

Step 3: Identify any area where you have got a problem and then go back to review/ revision

Once you've explained it to the listener/student who has no idea about the topic, now you'll have a clear idea about the area where you've got the problem. Now work on only those topics where you've got problem. Reading the only things that you've problem will let you get repeatedly work on the topic which you are weak at.

Step 4: Return to the topic to understand it better and simplify it

Once you have identified your problem you can work on that area and solve the problem you've got. And also you can work on the topic you've got problem and simplify the language to make the listener understand the topic.

Advantage of Richard Feynman Learning Technique

There are 2 major advantages of applying this technique of learning. 

1. This technique will help to overview the concept 
2. This technique will let you know where you are weak and will let you know where to work on.