The Feynman Technique

Start by selecting a topic from your coursework—this could be a challenging concept from physics, literature, psychology, or any subject. Write the topic at the top of a blank page or in a digital document.

Pretend you’re teaching the concept to someone with no background in the subject, like a child, a friend who knows nothing about it, or even yourself. Use simple language and avoid jargon. The goal is to break the concept down into its most basic, understandable form without skipping key details.

• Example: Instead of saying, “Gravity is a force that acts between two masses proportional to their product and inversely proportional to the square of their distance,” you might say:
• “Gravity is what keeps us on the ground. It pulls everything toward the Earth, and the bigger or closer two objects are, the stronger the pull.”

As you explain, you’ll likely get stuck or realize you don’t fully understand certain aspects. These gaps signal areas where you need to review your textbook, notes, or lectures to gain a clearer understanding.

• Example: You may realize you don’t quite understand why gravity gets weaker with distance, so you revisit Newton’s law of universal gravitation to clarify.

Once you’ve filled in the gaps, try explaining the concept again—this time making it even simpler. Use analogies, metaphors, or real-life examples to make it more relatable. Example:

• Instead of just saying, “Gravity pulls objects together,” you could say,“Gravity works like a magnet, pulling things toward each other, but the farther apart they are, the weaker the pull—like when you move a magnet away from a paper clip.”

This step helps cement the knowledge in your mind, making it easier to recall during exams or discussions.