What is the Feynman Technique for learning and memory?
Short Answer
The Feynman Technique is learning by explaining a topic in simple language as if teaching a beginner, then finding gaps, studying, and refining. It combines retrieval, organization, and elaboration.
Why This Matters
Because explaining forces you to reconstruct ideas, you quickly notice missing links and shaky definitions. Turning concepts into plain words leads to clearer mental models, which improves recall and transfer to new problems.
Where This Changes
It’s less useful for pure memorization unless you also drill key facts. For technical topics, check your explanations against formal definitions so you don’t accidentally oversimplify.