The Feynman Technique: Learn Anything by Teaching It
Named after Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman, this technique forces you to explain concepts so simply that anyone could understand - and in doing so, you master them yourself.
Richard Feynman was one of the greatest physicists of the 20th century, but his real genius wasn't just understanding complex ideas - it was explaining them so simply that anyone could follow. He believed that if you can't explain something to a first-year student, you don't really understand it yourself.
The Feynman Technique has four steps. First, pick a concept you want to learn and write it at the top of a blank page. Second, explain it out loud as if teaching a complete beginner - no jargon, no assumptions, no shortcuts. Third, when you hit a gap in your explanation (and you will), go back to your source material and fill in what's missing. Fourth, simplify your explanation until it's crystal clear.
Why does this work so well? Explaining a concept forces you to organise your knowledge into a coherent narrative. You can't just recite facts - you have to connect them logically. The gaps in your explanation reveal exactly what you don't understand. And the act of simplification strips away memorised jargon, exposing whether you truly grasp the underlying principles or just recognise the words.
Claritii's Feynman mode guides you through this process step by step. You write your explanation, the app identifies gaps by comparing it to a structured understanding of the topic, and then you refine. By the time you're done, you've not only learned the concept - you've taught it to yourself.
Use the Feynman Technique for topics that require deep understanding rather than rote memorisation. It's ideal for science concepts, historical events, philosophical arguments, and mathematical proofs. Pair it with spaced repetition (review your explanations at increasing intervals) for maximum retention.