Feynman Technique
"If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it."
The Nobel-winning physicist's method for deep learning. Teach to learn. Gaps in explanation = gaps in understanding.
Feynman's Insight
"The first principle is that you must not fool yourself—and you are the easiest person to fool."
— Richard Feynman
We often mistake familiarity for understanding. We recognize terms, we nod along, but when asked to explain—we stumble. The Feynman Technique forces you to confront the gaps between recognition and true comprehension.
The Two-Audience Test
Explain to a Child
Forces you to use simple words, avoid jargon, and find analogies. If you can't do this, you're hiding behind terminology.
"A database index is like the alphabet tabs in a phone book—it helps you jump to the right section instead of reading every name."
Explain to an Expert
Forces you to handle edge cases, nuance, and technical depth. An expert will catch oversimplifications and gaps.
"B-tree indexes store keys in sorted order, allowing O(log n) lookups, but writes incur rebalancing costs and composite indexes only help leftmost prefixes."
Why Teaching Works
Teaching activates retrieval practice—the act of pulling information from memory. It also forces organization—you must structure knowledge coherently. Both are proven to dramatically improve retention and understanding.