A powerful way to learn anything: The Feynman Technique.
I will show you a highly effective technique to learn anything. And I will share a FREE tool to help you with this!
Today at a glance:
The Feynman Technique is a powerful framework to learn anything.
The best creators, entrepreneurs, and thinkers have leveraged this technique to achieve success. Sometimes even unconsciously!
The key steps:
Identify the topic: Research! Go down the rabbit hole to expand your knowledge on the topic.
ELI5 (Explain It To Me Like I'm 5): The key here is simplicity – explain the concept using simple language and avoiding complex jargon.
Study to fill in the gaps: If a child would struggle to understand step 2, you've found a knowledge gap
Simplify: Go back to your notes and rewrite your explanation of the topic in simpler terms.
A Framework
When we try to learn something new it is easy to convince ourselves we understand everything clearly.
But, is this true? Have we understood the concept or simply memorize a few sentences? Be honest! We´ve all been there…
We also try to intimidate everyone and proof our knowledge by overcomplicating, using complexity and jargon to mask a lack of deep understanding.
“If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough" - Albert Einstein
Richard Feynman was a physicist that pioneered the field of quantum electrodynamics, re-invented our understanding of particle physics through a visual representation of subatomic particles, and won the 1965 Nobel Prize in physics.
He was a key figure in the Manhattan Project and wrote a detailed report on the causes of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster…
So yes, you could say that Richard Feynman was intelligent…
However, Feynman's true intelligence was in his ability to explain extremely complex ideas in simple ways.
This ability was so effective that we even use it now as a learning method. And, it is called 'The Feynman Technique.
Identify the topic and research
The first step is to choose a topic you would like to test your knowledge and understanding. This can literally be any topic you want.
And then, research! Go down the rabbit hole to expand your knowledge on the topic.
ELI5 ("Explain It To Me Like I'm 5")
Pretend you are teaching and explaining the topic to a small child or someone who's never come across the topic before.
The key here is simplicity – explain the concept using simple language.
Identify knowledge gaps
Here, you need to identify the areas you found difficult to explain during step 2.
If a 5-year-old would struggle to understand you, you've found a knowledge gap that needs to be filled and simplified in the next step.
Simplify
Finally, rewrite your explanation of the topic in simpler terms. This often involves re-organizing your thoughts so the explanation flows more simply.
And that is it! This is one of the most effective techniques out there!
The technique enables you to quickly overview a concept and identify areas that are weaker. It requires active learning.
It also removes memorization from the equation, expecting you to prove your understanding of a given topic.
If you want to learn more effectively and deepen your understanding of a topic, there's really no better method than the Feynman technique.
You can now be a better learner. Use the Feynman Technique!
A Notion tool
Alongside the Feynman technique, there are a bunch of other well-kept secrets on how to learn better and learn faster.
I can not explain how this stuff is never taught in school!
Fortunately, I did some research and collected all of my findings into a Notion-based tool that you should check out if you're interested to become a better learner.
It is a compilation of the most effective note-taking methods out there such as the Cornell Method, Feynman Technique, Outline Method, Boxing Method, and more…
The best of all is the FREE version now includes the Feynman Technique with full instructions and a ready-to-use template. So try it now!
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