Feynman's method: how to really learn anything and will never forget
Forming A Life / / December 19, 2019
It often happens that you seem to capture the essence of the theme, but lost in the details. You think that you have learned and know the subject well, but began to explain, you know, that's not true, and your knowledge is more than superficial.
To avoid falling into this situation, check your knowledge of the method of Feynman.
What is the method
So, you learned something and want test your knowledge. The essence of the technique is learned to explain the topic to another man, far from the subject. In this case, it is not necessary that such a person was present near you.
Take a sheet of paper, write your topic and begin to explain it. Imagine that you're a man who knows nothing about your subject matter, and even better - a child of eight years.
Children at this age have enough knowledge to understand the simple explanation, but their vocabulary is pretty small, so it will have special terms to describe in simple terms.
How it works
Since high school, many are accustomed to cram material. We refer to terms without understanding exactly what they mean. This does not happen often because you're too lazy to clarify that means this or that concept or to analyze in detail the mechanism works, but because of the habit of cramming stuff.
You feel that you understand the topic, but such knowledge is very superficial - the words are not backed up by images that are quickly forgotten, revealed gaps in knowledge.
Explaining the theme of the eight-year child, you can not use terms and phrases learned. You have to describe everything in your own words, simply and affordably as possible. Very soon, you will find places that can not be explained in simple language. And not because the child is too small, and because you yourself do not fully understand what is happening at this moment.
If you just happened to write an explanation, read it again and put into question all the moments that seem illogical, confusing and complex. Try to paint them in detail that the child probably knew what was going on.
Now it is small - there really understand all the points that you do not understand, and to finish his explanation.
If you have a person who is not well versed in the subject, who agrees to read your explanation - even better. He will be able to ask questions on all the obscure points and help you even more to deepen their knowledge.
Where to apply Feynman's method
With this method, you can check any knowledge of the physical formula operating principles of different devices and functioning of living organisms, economic mechanisms and more.
This technique will not only help in the learning process, but also during operation. For example, it can be used for reporting or presentations. Simple it is always perceived and remembered better than the presentation, told complicated language, with an abundance of special terms and phrases.
Feynman's method will help you to the maximum streamline its report and make sure that he will understand all the listeners.
Try using this method, and share your impressions in the comments.