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Tags: learning
The Feynman Technique
One of the best tests for understanding a topic is to teach it.
Richard Feynman used this technique himself in preparation to master a topic. He would write down everything that he already knew about a subject (without notes) to expose the gaps in his knowledge.
Gaps exposed, he could do additional research to fill them, then to test if he understood he would Teach it to someone. He knew he had to engage with the idea because Understanding requires effortful engagement. If he couldn’t properly teach the concept, there was work to do.
To be able to take down an idea and rewrite it using your own words is the most proper test for whether we truly have retained and could teach acquired knowledge.