Practical Skill Acquisition: The Revised Feynman Method

Have you ever tried to study how to study?

If so, you've come across the Feynman Method, created by the brilliant Richard Feynman. And known for being the best method for refining one's knowledge.

But...

The Feynman method isn't the best way to learn something.

Let me explain.

Richard Feynman was a genius theoretical physicist. Renowned for his ability to take complex topics and dumb it down for the average idiot.

This ability showed that he had a great depth of understanding in the topics he taught and Feynman realized this is a bidirectional street.

One who understands a topic well, can teach it well. 

But also, if one teaches a topic, one can learn it (well). 

So he created the Feynman Method, made up of 4 steps:

1. Study given topic and take notes

2. Teach the topic

3. Refer to notes and source material when stuck

4. Revise, fill in gaps, create better examples, and analogies

The technique works because, believe it not us humans aren't as self aware as we'd like to think. Teaching a topic allows us to find blind spots in our knowledge. Especially when your 'students' ask questions.

However, the reason I say the Feynman method isn't the best way to learn is, it lacks practicality.

Feynman and his students were studying highly theoretical topics like quantum entanglement.

These type of topics only have one type of knowledge: theoretical.

Chances are you're not studying such topics.

You're studying ideas that need two things for complete understanding.

Two types of knowledge:

1. Theoretical

2. Practical/Application

And so the Feynman Method is a great way to understand the theory behind something.

Not the application.

Let me use the example of foam rolling.

You can watch the top ten YouTube videos, read 3 books, learn the best routines, and even listen to a podcast on the optimal way to lay on the roller and move.

But, you won't be able to understand the feeling of it, without doing it…

How to make adjustments if a certain part of a muscle hurts...

How to prevent the roller from slipping up as you roll and travelling your body across the floor…

These are nuances that you won't find in a YouTube video and even if you did, you wouldn't understand the feeling of actually doing it.

Teaching a skill with a practical application before testing the theory you learnt, is conscious ignorance to your blind spots. 

Applying the theory and learning the nuances of it, is part of the learning process.

So I have revised the Feynman method for learning practical things.

We can call it the Feynman Method for Practical Skills:

1. Study a topic and take notes

2. Apply what you learnt in the real world

3. Take notes on the nuances you learn

4. Teach

5. Refer to material when stuck

6. Revise, fill in gaps, create better examples, and anlogies

Now I'm assuming the things you're learning have a practical application, if not ignore all of this.

If I am correct, I'm sure you'll have better results with this revised method.

Hope this helps.

- Xan