Learning With the Feynman Technique

What is the Feynman Technique?

The Feynman Technique is a method for reviewing and learning a topic or concept quickly by explaining it in simple and plain language. 

The technique was named after Richard Feynman, the Nobel Prize-winning physicist who was not just a brilliant scientist, but who was also nicknamed 'The Great Explainer' due to his ability to relay complex ideas in simple, intuitive ways to others.

The idea behind the Feynman Technique is that trying to explain a particular concept in simple terms will help you figure out where you tend to understand that concept well. 💡 

When using the Feynman Technique to study, your child will be able to identify aspects that have been difficult to grasp. They'll find themselves unable to explain or resort to using complex words and terminology – a tell-tale sign that they don’t understand the topic well enough. 

If your child needs to develop their understanding of a tricky subject, online tutoring may be a great option. Our experienced and friendly tutors are on-hand to help with all classes. 

How to learn faster with the Feynman Technique

The Feynman Technique is often considered a helpful tool for those hoping to learn in a more quick and effective way. 

In addition to helping you identify any problem areas in your understanding of the concept you’re trying to learn, the Feynman Technique provides quick and efficient ways to fill in the gaps using a targeted learning approach. 🎯

The Feynman Technique is a simple 4-step method that allows us to quickly grasp any topic or concept. Now that we have an understanding of what this learning technique is all about, let’s move on to the big question: how do you apply the Feynman Technique?

How to use the Feynman Technique 

The Feynman Technique is versatile, easy to use, and can be done pretty much anywhere, anytime. The basis of the technique is explaining a concept, but this can be adapted depending on the learning situation your child is in. 

Using the Feynman Technique with someone else

Helping your child learn using the Feynman Technique is a great idea. Simply take turns explaining the concept or idea they’re learning to each other verbally. 🗣️ 

You’ll soon discover what your child is fully confident in explaining and what areas they may be unclear on. The next step is to apply a targeted learning approach to effectively fill in knowledge gaps in their understanding of whatever it is they’re learning.  

Many people find that practicing the Feynman Technique together is a very helpful way to learn, while others prefer using the learning method on their own. 

Using the Feynman Technique alone

It’s also easy for your child to use the Feynman Technique alone. All they’ll need is a pen and a  sheet of paper. 📝

How to use the Feynman Technique:

• Step 1: Identify the subject 

On a blank piece of paper, get your child to write down the concept or idea they’re learning. Make sure they’re clear about what concept they’re trying to understand. 

• Step 2: Explain the concept 

Get them to explain the topic in their own words, as though they’re teaching it to another person, without referring to any source material. 💬 Encourage them to use only basic, simple words and terminology that almost anyone could understand. Avoid giving only a brief overview or definition and go in-depth enough to fully explain the concept. 

• Step 3: Identify knowledge gaps 

Next, they should read through their explanation, and identify any gaps in knowledge. In the process of writing the explanation, they probably already spotted areas where their explanation was unclear or confusing. 👉 When they’ve identified the problem areas, they can go back to their notes or reading materials to fill in any gaps in their understanding of the concept.

• Step 4: Organise and clarify

In the process of shoring up any gaps in their explanation of the concept, your child is likely to have deepened their understanding of the topic at hand. 🎓 Now, they can spend some time clarifying the main aspects of their explanation and organizing their writing so that it would make sense to anyone that’s never heard of the concept before.

Apart from using the Feynman technique, check out these other study tips that you could recommend to your child:

• Focus on improving critical thinking skills
• Study with spaced repetition
• Make flashcards
• Create mind maps
• Get help, take a course or get a tutor

For the many people who regularly use the Feynman Technique to help them learn, it’s a very efficient way to ensure they fully understand the topic at hand. But different techniques and methods work for different people, and there are other popular learning methods available too.

Here at GoStudent, we’re all about finding the best ways for every child to learn – and for many people, online tutoring can be a great help! If your child would like to give it a try, why not schedule a free trial lesson today? 🚀