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The Feynman technique

The Feynman technique is described as a process in which a person attempts to write an explanation of some information in a way that a child could understand[1]. The educational principle of learning by teaching (Lernen durch Lehren) has long been recognised for deepening students' understanding through the act of teaching others[2].

Key points

  • Where the writer reaches an area that cannot be explained comfortably, the technique involves going back to re-read or research the topic[1].
  • In the plastic platypus technique, the learner does not need another person to be present in order to teach the subject[3].
  • In learning by teaching, students become responsible for their own learning and teaching after preparation by the teacher[4].
  • In learning by teaching, the teacher remains actively involved and steps in if the teaching students falter or the learning students do not seem to understand[4].

How to do it

  1. A person attempts to write an explanation of some information in a way that a child could understand[1].
  2. Original analogies are developed where necessary[1].
  3. The writer reaches an area that they cannot comfortably explain[1].
  4. The writer goes back and re-reads or researches the topic until they are able to explain it[1].

Explaining without an audience

The plastic platypus technique is described as a related method, based on evidence that teaching an inanimate object improves understanding and knowledge retention of a subject[5]. Rubber duck debugging in software engineering is described as a similar concept, in which a programmer can find bugs in their code by explaining it line by line to an inanimate object such as a rubber duck[3].

Learning by teaching in class

In learning by teaching (LdL), the new material is divided into small units and student groups of not more than three people are formed[4]. Students are encouraged to experiment to find ways to teach the material to the others[6]. Besides learning the material, another goal is described as teaching life skills such as respect for other people, planning, problem solving, taking chances in public and communication skills[6].

Student talks in flipped teaching

In planned flipped teaching lessons, the teacher hands out the teaching material one week before the lesson so that students can prepare talks[7]. Small student groups work on the lecture chapters instead of homework and then give the lecture in front of their peers[7]. The professional lecturer then discusses, complements and provides feedback at the end of the group talks, acting as a coach[7].

Source-checked: 2026-10-16

Sources

  1. C Staff (5 March 2021). "Feynman Technique for Learning" . Library, William S. Richardson School of Law , University of Hawaiʻi . Retrieved 31 July 2021 . law-hawaii.libguides.com (via Wikipedia: Learning by teaching)
  2. C Adamson, Timothy; Ghose, Debasmita; Yasuda, Shannon C.; Shepard, Lucas Jehu Silva; Lewkowicz, Michal A.; Duan, Joyce; Scassellati, Brian (2021-03-08). "Why We Should Build Robots That Both Teach and Learn" . Proceedings of the 2021 ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction . Vol. 9. New York, NY, USA: ACM. pp. 187– 196. doi : 10.1145/3434073.3444647 . ISBN 978-1-4503-8289-2 . dx.doi.org (via Wikipedia: Learning by teaching)
  3. B Koh, Aloysius Wei Lun; Lee, Sze Chi; Lim, Stephen Wee Hun (2018). "The learning benefits of teaching: A retrieval practice hypothesis". Applied Cognitive Psychology . 32 (3): 401– 410. doi : 10.1002/acp.3410 . doi.org (via Wikipedia: Learning by teaching)
  4. C Heinrich, Christian (November 2007). "Learning by Teaching: The Goal is Independence" . Goethe-Institut . goethe.de (via Wikipedia: Learning by teaching)
  5. B "Learning by teaching others is extremely effective – a new study tested a key reason why" . 2018-05-04. Archived from the original on 2022-07-16 . Retrieved 2018-10-17 . web.archive.org; Aslan, Safiye (2015). "Is Learning by Teaching Effective in Gaining 21st Century Skills? The Views of Pre-Service Science Teachers". Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice . 15 (6). doi : 10.12738/estp.2016.1.0019 (inactive 12 July 2025). {{ cite journal }} : CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 ( link ) doi.org; Bargh, John A.; Schul, Yaacov (1980). "On the cognitive benefits of teaching". Journal of Educational Psychology . 72 (5): 593– 604. doi : 10.1037/0022-0663.72.5.593 . doi.org (via Wikipedia: Learning by teaching)
  6. B Thimm, Katja (1 July 2002). "Guten Morgen, liebe Zahlen" . Der Spiegel . spiegel.de; Kahl, Reinhard (October 22, 2008). "Unterricht: Schüler als Lehrer" . Zeit (in German). zeit.de; Stollhans, S. (2016). "Learning by teaching: developing transferable skills." (PDF) . In Corradini, E.; Borthwick, K.; Gallagher-Brett, A. (eds.). Employability for languages: a handbook (PDF) . Dublin: Researchpublishing.net. pp. 161– 164. doi : 10.14705/rpnet.2016.cbg2016.478 . ISBN 978-1-908416-39-1 . S2CID 63643548 . eprints.nottingham.ac.uk; Grzega, Joachim; Schöner, Marion (4 July 2008). "The didactic model LdL (Lernen durch Lehren) as a way of preparing students for communication in a knowledge society". Journal of Education for Teaching . 34 (3): 167– 175. doi : 10.1080/02607470802212157 . S2CID 59268569 . doi.org (via Wikipedia: Learning by teaching)
  7. B Mastmeyer, A. (2020). "Quantitative and Qualitative Evaluation of Transforming to Flipped-Classroom from Instruction Teaching using Micro Feedback Loops". Manuscript Work in Progress : 1– 42. doi : 10.5281/zenodo.4000357 . doi.org (via Wikipedia: Learning by teaching)

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