feynman

Feynman Technique

Apply the full Feynman learning technique to deeply understand a concept.

Instructions

Work through all four steps of the Feynman technique. Be honest about gaps—they're the point.

Output Format

Concept: [What are we trying to understand?]

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Step 1: Explain It Simply

Explain as if teaching someone with no background in this field

Simple Explanation

[Write a plain-language explanation. Use everyday words. Avoid jargon. Aim for a bright 12-year-old to understand.]

Analogy

[Create an analogy using something familiar to illustrate the concept]

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Step 2: Identify Gaps

Where did the explanation get fuzzy, hand-wavy, or require jargon?

Gaps Found

Gap	What I Said	What I'm Not Sure About
1	[vague part]	[the underlying question]
2	[vague part]	[the underlying question]
3	[vague part]	[the underlying question]

Jargon Used

Term	Can I Explain It Simply?
[term]	Yes / No / Partially

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Step 3: Fill the Gaps

Research or think through each gap

Gap 1: [Topic]

• The question: [What wasn't clear?]
• The answer: [What I learned]
• Now I can explain it as: [Simple version]

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Step 4: Refined Explanation

Rewrite the complete explanation with gaps filled and simpler language

Final Simple Explanation

[The improved, complete explanation in plain language]

Improved Analogy

[A refined or new analogy that better captures the concept]

Key Takeaways

1. [Core insight 1]
2. [Core insight 2]
3. [Core insight 3]

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Test Question If someone asked me to explain this in 30 seconds, I'd say:

[Elevator pitch version]

Guidelines

• Don't pretend to understand—gaps are valuable
• Use analogies from everyday life
• If you need jargon, define it simply
• Shorter is usually better
• The "explain to a child" bar is high—take it seriously

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