A couple of years ago, as I was lunching with a friend, he asked me a simple question. If all life started with one simple organism, how did so many complex species evolve?
By this time, I had already begun studying Anthropology (my Optional subject), so he naturally assumed that I should be able to handle such basic questions on the topic. Infact, I thought the same. But, it’s only when I started explaining, that I noticed that I was wrong about how much I knew.
Instead of answering in simple and clear language, I stumbled and fumbled my way through using high-sounding terms such as ‘adaptation’, ‘hybridisation’, ‘natural selection’, and all the complex terminology associated with evolution.
Midway through the explanation, I noticed I wasn’t making much sense— either to him or myself. I was frustrated at this point and just wanted a dignified way out. I covered up my lack of knowledge by telling my friend that the topic is too complicated for him and that it requires prior knowledge to understand it clearly. We then moved on to discussing something else.
But, the nagging feeling that there were gaps in my understanding persisted. The more I thought about the experience, the more I realized that it was not so much my friends’ incompetence but my own shallow understanding of the concept that made it impossible for me to explain it clearly.
That was when it dawned on me that to know how well you understand a topic, try teaching it to someone who is not as well-versed with the subject. As you try making it simple and understandable, you are forced to drill down the concept to its fundamentals, and in the process, your own understanding becomes much clearer. Later that year, I discovered the Feynman technique, and it only solidified my belief that teaching is the best way to learn.
When you are learning a new concept, after every few paragraphs, take a pause and explain it to yourself in your own words. When you can do that convincingly, that’s when you have gained the conceptual understanding of the topic. Being able to explain a complex topic in the simplest of language is a sign of absolute mastery.
As Feynman once said, there is a difference between knowing the concept and knowing the name of the concept. Teaching it to yourself or someone else is the best way to find out which category you fall under.
Dear sir..
You are an inspiration to all younger students.
The evergreen Feynman technique. Works everytime.
Thank you sir
This is one of the thing which everyone faces yet some people realise as in your case otherwise people put it on the back burner. That’s where it needs identification!
A fellow traveller once gave me this Gyan. He asked me what a hunter gatherer means, i started to describe to him with several words like forager, nomad. At the end he said “a man who hunts and gathers his food is a hunter gatherer, that simple line would have sufficed”. he then said try to explain things in laymen words, using complex sentences will only make it less understandable.
Yeah!! Admired
I agree with you
Completely agree with you Sir!!
Clear and sorted.Thank you!Sir
Amazing ♥️
Wowww sir that’s fantastic….and yes i totally agree with ur thoughts that for learning something in greater aspect teach that to another one or urself
RIGHT BROTHER
Thank you sir.. ?
Good sir
It’s very good sir
Tysm sir for this article.
Clear, concise and to the point. Once you absorb a concept, it comes out naturally without any effort. Thumbs up! ?
It is really important to teach others and that is what you are completely conceptual!! Of course it is correct. But to whom should we teach? That is also a big question!! Because you have to find someone who is not so learned about the topic..
Sir it’s really helpful to us because the same things hppn withs us.
Kuch sikhna ho to samne wla ke sath patience
Rakhna chahiye aur simple word ke sath explain kare
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Awesome sir??
That’s really a golden piece of advice. Thank you for the knowledge.
This is really a excellent advice and inspiring too…tq very much sir
Sir, you are an inspiration for all of us. Thank you for such wonderful ideas.
Great sir ?
Yes, rightly said and Illustrated. To Learn, teach.
Thank you Sir.. 🙂
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great sir
Dear Sir,
Your blog is superb. To learn perfectly, teaching our self or to others is a very good concept. Hoping that young generation will make use of your advice.
Dontula Ramachandar Rtd.. Mining Engineer SCCL
Excellent sir,
It’s a new and interesting perspective.
Thanks a lot for sharing this.
Thank you sir,this is peace of information and should be aware that type of information.