The Feynman Technique

Another popular study method students utilize is called the Feynman Technique, which employs the skill of teaching others in order to learn a concept thoroughly. 

As the famous physicist Albert Einstein once said, “If you can’t explain it to a 6-year-old, you don’t understand it yourself.”

Richard Feynman was a renowned theoretical physicist, most known for his discoveries in quantum mechanics. He became an expert in physics by utilizing his study method, The Feynman Technique.

The Feynman Technique requires a student to learn a concept well enough to be able to explain said idea to a fifth grader. According to the University of Colorado Boulder, to be able to teach others “forces you to not only deeply master the information or skill but to also grasp how all of the different elements join together.” 

The starting step in this study method is to study a topic. Next, one needs to find someone to teach said topic to, but in such basic terms so that they are able to understand and learn the subject entirely. If one does not successfully complete step two, one must go back to the drawing board and fill in the gaps. 

One should ask themselves, “What parts were missed in the explanation? How could it be even more simple?” Finally, the last step is to teach an elementary schooler the newly learned concept. 

“If you can teach another student, you understand it yourself,” Nguyen said. 

According to a study on the Feynman technique, it is effective due to its constructivist, self-teaching, and self-determined learning approach, which allows students of all age levels to absorb the knowledge effectively. 

In addition, it encourages deeper learning processes by utilizing synthesis, analysis, evaluation, and creativity, according to the study. It even employs metacognition, which refers to understanding one’s thought process.

“The Feynman Technique shows me what I do and don’t understand, and I can go back and study the topics I don’t know. It forces me to understand the material in order to be able to teach it,” said Sara Ho, a sophomore at Carlmont High School.