The Feynman Technique (Detailed Implementation):
Step 1: Choose Your Concept
- Select something you want to understand deeply
- Write the concept name at the top of a blank page
- Be specific (e.g., "photosynthesis" not "biology")
Step 2: Explain in Simple Terms
- Write out the concept as if explaining to a 12-year-old
- Use simple language and avoid jargon
- Include analogies and examples
- Draw diagrams if helpful
Step 3: Identify Knowledge Gaps
- Look for areas where your explanation becomes vague
- Note where you resort to complex terminology
- Mark concepts you can't explain simply
- Identify missing connections between ideas
Step 4: Return to Source Material
- Research the gaps you identified
- Focus on understanding, not memorizing
- Look for multiple explanations of difficult concepts
- Seek out analogies and examples
Step 5: Simplify and Analogize
- Rewrite your explanation incorporating new understanding
- Create better analogies for complex concepts
- Test your explanation on someone else
- Refine until it's crystal clear
Example Application: Understanding "Compound Interest"
- Initial attempt: "Money grows over time with compound interest"
- After Feynman Technique: "Imagine planting a magic seed that grows into a tree. Each year, the tree not only gets bigger, but it also drops more seeds that grow into new trees. After 10 years, you don't just have one big tree—you have a whole forest. That's how compound interest works with money."