How I used Feynman Technique for My Coding Bootcamp Classes
If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough. — Albert Einstein
Throughout my years in schooling and college, I was never taught the skills of learning how to learn. My teachers gave us packets and assigned lessons to study and memorize.
But how effective is memorizing concepts and complex information in both long and short term?
I struggled quite a bit when I was in high school and college. Imagine taking three upper-level science courses in one semester and trying to memorize every lesson? I stayed up late many nights just so that I could pass the classes.
In the spring of my Junior year, I was scrolling through YouTube when I stumbled upon How to learn faster with the Feynman Technique by Thomas Frank. I watched the entire video and took notes.
I began to start using the technique and explain it to my classmates. Oftentimes, I would go to office hours and explain the concepts we went over to my professor.
At first, it was uncomfortable because explaining something to someone else caused me to overcome my fears and helped me better understand the course.
In the spring of this year, I signed up for a Full-Stack Software Development program at University of Minnesota and I remembered how Feynman Technique was helpful during my undergrad years.
Below, I will explain how to use Feynman Technique for any subject. Whether you are in humanities, sciences, or technology, using this method will help you understand better what you are studying.
A. Pick a Topic and Study it
Before you start tackling chapters or a huge chunk of material, grab a piece of paper and write down the specific concept at the top of the paper. For instance, when were we going over JavaScript, I went over For Loop a couple times and I wanted to understand what loops were.
B. Explain it to someone else
When you study and understand the topic first, teach someone else. Maybe it is your classmate or a friend. The method of teaching doesn’t matter as long as you are explaining what you just learned. It helps you realize what you understand and what you don’t understand.
C. Identify the Gaps
As you explained the material to your classmates or friends, you might have forgotten a few pieces of information. In that case, go back to step one and two. Study over the concept and explain it again to someone else.
D. Make it Simple
Once you understand what you studied, put it in a simple terms. For example, if you are studying the digestive system or going over complex information, use simple language and focus on understanding it. Remember, the goal of learning is not to memorize facts and dates so that you can forget tomorrow. Rather, it is understanding the material so that you can retain for many years to come.
