5 ms·

I'm not being funny, but I thought the Feynman technique was: - Write down the problem. - Think very hard. - Write down the answer. Still, this is a useful upd

• a3n 10y ago
  That's the one I've seen.
• bramen 10y ago
  Wouldn't surprise me, the guy was a legend.
• jerf 10y ago
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Feynman#Popular_legacy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Feynman#Popular_legacy: 'In a 1992 New York Times article on Feynman and his legacy, James Gleick recounts the story of how Murray Gell-Mann described what has become known as "The Feynman Algorithm" or "The Feynman Problem-Solving Algorithm" to a student: "The student asks Gell-Mann about Feynman's notes. Gell-Mann says no, Dick's methods are not the same as the methods used here. The student asks, well, what are Feynman's methods? Gell-Mann leans coyly against the blackboard and says: Dick's method is this. You write down the problem. You think very hard. (He shuts his eyes and presses his knuckles parodically to his forehead.) Then you write down the answer."' In other words, Feynman himself never promoted that. I believe Feynman did extol the virtues of learning things until you can explain them to others. I have seen many people use the real Feynman technique to good success. While I have to admit I've never quite used it directly, I can also attest to the virtues of trying to teach others to make sure you understand something yourself. I have seen many people attempt to use the "write problem - think - write solution" method. Universal abject failure. It's a joke and it always was.
  • rasur 10y ago
    Ah I never caught it was a joke.. thanks for clarifying. The 'real' Feynman technique sounds much more interesting and beneficial ;)
• justinpombrio 10y ago
  > I'm not being funny, but I thought the Feynman technique was: - Write down the problem. - Think very hard. - Write down the answer. It's funny, because he was the very antithesis of that.
• andrewchambers 10y ago
  That is for solving a problem, not learning.