Have you ever been puzzled by a concept (or entire course) in school? I certainly have and the feeling of it sucks.

But there is a solution to this.

It isn’t easy, but if you take the time to go through the process, it can be awarding (and more importantly, help you do well on that quiz that’s coming up).

This learning method is called the Feynman Technique.

What is the Feynman Technique?

The Feynman Technique is a learning process created by physicist Richard Feynman.

The technique helps you break down complex concepts into simple definitions.

This method allows you to learn new topics quickly.

It does this by forcing you to constantly check your understanding of concepts and simplifying it to the point where a person with no knowledge of the topic can understand it.

You have to water it down until it is in plain, simple language.

Whenever you’re learning a new topic, after you’ve finished learning, ask yourself these two questions:

• Does this make sense?
• Could I explain this to a five-year-old? pic.twitter.com/vJBwzbZyuU

— Ali Abdaal (@AliAbdaal) June 16, 2020

Who was Richard Feynman?

Richard Feynman was an American Physicist and Noble Prize Winner.

He is most known for his contributions to quantum mechanics and particle physics. He also pioneered quantum computing and introduced the concept of nanotechnology.

Feynman was often referred to as “The Great Explainer.” He had the ability to make big theories understandable to laymen.

This contributed to his success because he had to have a good grasp of concepts to be able to clearly explain it.

In his biography, written by James Gleick, it provides an example of how the prize-winning physicist learned. Via Doist:

“In preparing for his oral qualifying examination, a rite of passage for every graduate student, he chose not to study the outlines of known physics. Instead he went up to MIT, where he could be alone, and opened a fresh notebook.

On the title page he wrote: Notebook Of Things I Don’t Know About. For the first but not the last time he reorganized his knowledge. He worked for weeks at disassembling each branch of physics, oiling the parts, and putting them back together, looking all the while for the raw edges and inconsistencies. He tried to find the essential kernels of each subject. When he was done he had a notebook of which he was especially proud.”

How to Use/Do the Feynman Technique

Curious how to learn like Feynman? Here’s the process of his technique:

First, choose a topic that you want to learn and write it down.

Second, write down explanations of the topic as if you were teaching it to someone or as if you were creating a teaching plan.

Third, go over your explanations and find definitions you had trouble understanding.

Ask yourself if a young student would understand it (or person with no knowledge of the topic).

If the answer is no, review the concept in your text or notes. Then, re-write your explanations.

Fourth, go over your notes again and see if there is anything more you can simplify.

Make sure all complex and jargon are replaced with simple language.

Again, make sure you can explain it to someone who knows nothing about the topic.

When I was in college, there would often be some courses that had a lot of difficult, complex concepts in it.

I regularly had to refer to them in assignments or papers, but some would be hard to re-phrase.

The reason why I found it difficult was because I didn’t fully understand the concept.

If I had known about the Feynman Technique back then, I could’ve spent time prior to doing assignments to break down these concepts.

I could’ve simplified a complex sociological concept, for instance, into basic, everyday terms.

And this would’ve not only helped me with my papers but also during exams because I would’ve had a better understanding of them.

How the Feynman Technique Works

The Feynman Technique works by getting learners to confront their lack of understanding.

It’ll make you inspect your notes and clarify every single sentence.

By doing this, you’ll have to fully understand the concept because it’s very difficult to explain something you don’t know with simple language.

Conclusion

The Feynman Technique is a powerful learning method.

You can use it to learn new topics or challenging concepts from your schoolwork.

Thus, start applying it to your study sessions.

In the behaviourism school of thought, it is believed that learning is the acquisition of new behaviours based on environmental conditions.

For example, if you wanted to learn a new skill, like hook shots in basketball, for instance, you would have to learn the proper technique, and then just keep practicing it until you can consistently make that shot with good form.

This also applies to when you are learning new, non-physical skills or concepts as well.

For instance…

If you wanted to learn how to solve a certain type of math problem, for example, a behaviorist would say to keep copying that math problem and solution (writing it down) until you remember it, then try solving it (or questions similar to it) using your memory.

If this type of learning seems simple to you, it is and has been criticized for its simplicity.

People who oppose this learning style say that there is more to learning than just the external behaviour.

They believe that learning is a process where the learner not only practices the behaviour, but also critically analyses and thinks about what he/she is doing.

Behaviourism, to them, is just about the attainment of the behaviour.

However, behaviourist believes that free will does not exist and behaviour is determined by the environment in which the individual is a part of.

Additionally, their main concern is with the observable stimulus-response behaviours.

How to Apply Behaviourism

In my opinion, behaviourism would be best used to create habits that will allow you to succeed in mastering the subject that you want to learn.

The reason being is that habits are created through repetition and consistency –the more you do it, the more likely it will stick to your everyday routine.

So, the first thing you need to do is think of activities that can help you be more productive.

It can be reading for 20 minutes every morning or doing a yoga/stretching flow immediately after waking up.

Once you complete the activity, reward yourself. You can do this by appreciating how good you feel or how enjoyable it was, or you can give yourself a little treat, like a small candy.

Just remember that the reward is to help motivate you to continue doing that activity every day.

Once you’ve done the activity on a consistent basis for a long period of time, instead of rewarding yourself with a treat, reward yourself with the acknowledgment that the activity has been beneficial to your work and life.

Once you realize this, you will continue to do it because it makes you feel good, and the activity will become a habit.

One thing I want to put emphasis on is that you have to do your desired activity consistently.

Thus, instead of picking a lot of productive tasks, just pick one or two that you know you can do every day and do it every day.

This is how it will become muscle memory and a habit.

Final Thoughts

For me, I started reading non-fiction books for 30 mins before I start my work every day.

I decided to do this because I felt like I wasn’t reading enough and my brain wasn’t working at an optimal state.

Additionally, I also started to exercise every morning as well. I found that I was sitting too much and my body was getting stiff; I needed to be more active and move my body more often.

So what activity are you going to start doing to improve your life and productivity? Share it below in the comments.

Sources:

https://lo.unisa.edu.au/mod/book/view.php?id=610988&chapterid=120208

https://www.simplypsychology.org/behaviorism.html

Social constructivism is a social learning theory that was developed by psychologist Lev Vygotsky.

With this concept, Vygotsky wanted to prove that learning didn’t just happen solely via being taught new information.

Rather, he believed that cognitive functions are developed from social interactions, and thus learning also occurs when people (specifically young children) interact with others.

According to Vygotsky’s 1978 study, Interaction between learning and development:

“Every function in the child’s cultural development appears twice: first, on the social level and, later on, on the individual level; first, between people (interpsychological) and then inside the child (intrapsychological). This applies equally to voluntary attention, to logical memory, and to the formation of concepts. All the higher functions originate as actual relationships between individuals.”

Definition of Constructivism

Constructivism is a word that means constructing knowledge out of experiences and social interactions.

This word is similar to social construction, but the two are different.

Constructivism is a learning theory from psychology, while social construction is a sociological term (you can read more about this concept here).

Some popular constructivist, other than Vygotsky, are John Dewey, Jean Piaget, and Jerome Bruner.

The Main Differences between Constructivism and Social Constructivism

These two learning theories have many similarities, but there are some key differences.

So here are some positions that social constructivism promotes, but constructivism does not:

1) With social constructivism, there is an emphasis on learning with a social group or in a collaborative nature.

2) Social constructivists believe that all cognitive functions have origins in social interaction.

3) Social constructivists believe that learning is more than attaining knowledge. It is also a way for learners to be integrated into a knowledge community.

How Can It Be Used In Education?

Here are two suggestions on how to apply constructivist theories to your classroom:

1) Always question your student’s answers, regardless of it being correct or incorrect.

As well, make sure they understand the answer that they give by having them explain it to you.

2) Teachers should encourage students to have discussions and exchange their ideas.

The students should prove, justify, and communicate their ideas to the classroom (or community) and have the class accept it or reject it. T

his will create shared knowledge.

Final Thoughts

Social constructivism is a view that sees education as a process that happens when humans interact with one another.

As well, it argues that learning is best accomplished when students do (or solve) the problems rather than when they observe how the problems are solved.

Do you think constructivism is a good method of teaching?

Or is there a better method? Share your thoughts below in the comments.

Sources:

http://gsi.berkeley.edu/gsi-guide-contents/learning-theory-research/social-constructivism/

http://www.ucdoer.ie/index.php/Education_Theory/Constructivism_and_Social_Constructivism

http://www.theedadvocate.org/social-constructivism-in-education/

Unlike the other theories that have been discussed in this series, connectivism is a controversial, modern theory that is heavily based on digital learning (or e-learning).

This learning theory sees knowledge as a network where students learn best by doing much of the online research themselves and with peer networks.

What is Connectivism?

Stephen Downes, one of the developers of this theory, describes it as:

“At its heart, connectivism is the thesis that knowledge is distributed across a network of connections, and therefore that learning consists of the ability to construct and traverse those networks.”

He also says that “to teach is to model and demonstrate, to learn is to practice and reflect.”

If you were a student in one of these digital classrooms, there will be a teacher that will teach you the core basics (or essential elements) first.

Then you will be required to do extra research on your own time to learn more about the subject that you are learning.

For example, if you were taking a class on how to do SEO for your blog, there will be a teacher that will teach you the essentials of it (how to write SEO rich articles, how to promote it on social media, etc.).

Then the teacher will have you go out and do additional research and apply all of your knowledge into a blog or website.

Though there are many critics of this theory, I personally believe it is beneficial to students in that, one course (or class) can service multiple people from all over the world.

You just need the internet and the ability to communicate in online peer networks. You are able to learn any subject you wish.

But How Can You Apply Connectivism?

If you want to apply connectivism to your self-directed program, you will first need to find someone or something to lay down the core basics of the subject you want to learn.

This could be in the form of books, an online teacher/tutor, or a mentor.

Then once you have the basics down, you will have to do extra research to learn more about the subject.

You can do this by reading blogs or websites, or watching educational videos online.

Once you feel that you have enough information, you are going to join a discussion group or forum.

Here, you will bounce ideas and discuss what you know about the subject with the peer group.

You will also begin to apply your knowledge. If you are learning how to start a blog, for instance, you will create a blog, work on it (write posts, promote it, etc.), and then have your peers critique it.

And that’s it. That is how you apply this theory to a self-directed program.

Is this a learning method that you think you would apply to your own studies? Share your thoughts below.

Sources:

https://opentextbc.ca/teachinginadigitalage/chapter/3-6-connectivism/

https://www.learning-theories.com/connectivism-siemens-downes.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connectivism

I am a firm believer that everyone should be able to do self-directed learning.

The reason is that not everything you want to learn requires going to college or taking a paid course.

There are many subjects that can be learned by just reading books or watching online tutorials, or through a combination of both.

For instance, online business.

You don’t need a business degree from an accredited university to start an online business, so why would you go to college for it?

You can just read business books, watch educational videos online, maybe buy a course, and learn how to run it through trial and error.

Not only will this save you a bunch of money, but you will be learning how to do it firsthand; you will get practical knowledge rather than theoretical knowledge.

But to be successful at self-directed learning, you need to know what type of learner you are. Are you the type that prefers to see images and videos?

Or are you the type that prefers the information to be presented in the text? It’s important to know the type because the medium that you will learn from will be based on the type of learner that you are.

So here are the details of the 4 types of learning styles (VARK):

1) Visual

If you are a visual learner, then you like to see the information presented in images. You prefer to learn via charts, graphs, diagrams, maps, etc.

One way to do self-directed studies if you are a visual learner is to try to find books or educational videos with a lot of charts, diagrams, and graphs.

As you study these resources, take a lot of handwritten notes and create diagrams for the information.

You should also take some time after learning a new concept to come up with a visual example of it in your mind. You can also imagine/create a hypothetical story to use as an example.

The main thing with the examples is to create a mental image that will help you remember the information.

However, if you are unable to find texts or videos with lots of charts and graphs, then you’ll just have to put in some extra effort to create these images yourself.

Buy a sketchbook and transform all the information you have learned into diagrams that will help you remember it.

2) Auditory

If you are an auditory learner, then you prefer information to be presented to you in spoken word.

You like to learn via lectures, group discussions, webchats… pretty much any form of learning that involves listening and talking things through.

To do self-directed learning as an auditory learner, you’ll need to learn from podcasts, audiobooks, and lectures (online or in-class).

You will also have to find someone (or a group of people) to discuss the ideas and concepts that you have learned.

If you are unable to find podcasts, audiobooks, or lectures on the subject you want to learn, then reading books or texts out loud works too (it’s not as effective as the other suggestions, but it works).

However, with the internet being the internet, I’m sure you’ll be able to find resources for any subject you want to learn. You just have to put in an effort to search for it.

3) Reading/Writing

If you are a reading/writing type of learner, then you prefer to learn by reading information and then writing it down in lists or notes.

To do self-directed learning as a reading/writing type, you will want to read a lot of how-to books or blogs and take notes of important information. You can make lists or take point form notes.

It doesn’t matter what the method you choose is, so long as you are writing the information that you are reading or listening to or watching down.

You can also learn through online courses that are presented in text, where you read the information, take notes, and then apply it.

To find resources to learn as this type of learner isn’t that difficult. The majority of learning resources cater to this type, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding material to learn from.

4) Kinesthetic

If you are a kinesthetic learner, then you prefer to learn through experiences or by doing things. This means you like to do experiments and/or use your own experiences as learning tools.

One thing that all kinesthetic learners have to do when they are doing a self-directed learning program is to write out all the important things that they learn.

If they are reading a how-to book, then they have to write and/or draw out all the important information. If they are watching an educational video, then they have to, again, write and draw out all of the important information.

The reason being is that the act of writing creates a movement that can help kinesthetic learners remember information.

Additionally, if you are a kinesthetic learner, you have to put what you learned into practice.

If you are learning about Vietnamese culture, for example, then you have to go out and go to their festivals and events, and go eat at their restaurants; you have to experience the culture.

Another example would be learning how to bake. Some people can read or listen to the recipe and know how to make it.

But as a kinesthetic learner, you have to try to make it while learning how to make it. So, you have to read the recipe while attempting to make it.

Final Thoughts

The types of learners are all preferences.

One type can learn via a different mode, but it’s just not as effective. Also, some people will be a mix.

For example, I prefer to learn via reading and writing, and also through visual resources like infographics or charts.

I like to study images and then write down all the important information. I also like to read something and then write down notes and create examples for the concept or idea.

But what type of learner are you or how do you prefer to study? If you’re not sure, delve into this topic more and find out.

It can help you become a better learner and more productive.

Sources:

https://www.advancementcourses.com/blog/4-types-of-learners-in-education

https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/education/blog/types-of-learning-styles/

https://teach.com/what/teachers-know/learning-styles/