Study Methods: Feynman Technique and Retrieval Practice

In this week’s post, we are going to talk about another two learning methods: the Feynman Technique and the Retrieval practice. They focus on different areas of learning and they are used by thousands of students all over the world. As we said before, not all techniques have the same benefits, so every student has to be carefully informed and choose whichever learning method suits their needs.

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Feynman Technique vs. Retrieval Practice

Feynman Technique

What it is

Learning method that has 4 stages and it is about the way students learn really demanding material by breaking it down and simplifying as if they were teaching it to a kid.

How it is done

First, students have to choose the topic they want to learn. It should be something that is of some complexity and not easy for them to understand at first. They should take down anything that they already know and is relevant to it. Once this step is complete, they should go on and gather more information about the subject and write it down as well.

The next step is to take all this information and knowledge and imagine having to teach it to a 10-year-old kid. In order to do that, students have to make the material simple, concise and easy to grasp. How? By getting rid of any sophisticated terms/notions and replacing them with vocabulary that a child can relate to. The more students understand the topic in depth, the easier it will be for them to complete this stage.

Now that students have simplified all the material, they should write it down in a piece of paper as simply and clearly as possible. In that way, they can concentrate on the essence of the information. In case there are still some complex points, they need to go back and refine them. Then, the students have to read their simplified version out loud. Again, if there are any complexities or they find it hard to understand some ideas, they have to go back and come up with a way to make it simpler. This can be repeated as many times as necessary.

The final stage is to see how much students have learnt from this process. Therefore, they have to explain it to someone else and observe the questions that may arise. As soon as they are satisfied with their level of understanding, this material can be put away and revised a few times throughout the year.

Advantages

The advantages of the Feynman Technique are more than evident. In the first place, using this technique, students can have a deep insight of the information and material they are studying. Also this method focuses on leaning new ideas and teaching students how to gain knowledge best. Lastly, it makes students become critical thinkers and assess their strong and weak points.

Disadvantages

As anyone can see, the Feynman technique isn’t a suitable learning method for something that’s already easy to understand. It requires a difficult subject. What is more, it doesn’t promote memorization so it’s not advisable for students to use it in subjects and topics that rely heavily on that aspect of learning. Finally, it can take quite some time to be able to break down the material and simplify it and then teach it to someone else. Thus, it’s best if it’s used in long-term projects.

Retrieval Practice

What it is

Learning method where students have to bring to memory what they have already learnt or been taught.

How it is done

The most important thing about retrieval practice is the timing. This learning method requires that the students let some time pass before trying to recall any information they have learnt. This is because this method is about being able to retrieve any knowledge after it has begun to fade away in the mind.

There are some ways students can implement this study method. In the first place, after some time has passed, students can try and recall any information about the material/topic they wish to revise and write it down in a piece of paper. In this way, they can check what they know on the topic. Furthermore, if a teacher provides them with resources such as revision tests or practice questions, they can go through these. Remember! It is important not to look at the book or any notes. All answers have to be from memory.

In case students have revised the questions and tests quite a few times, they can take down their own questions or even make flashcards with the question on the one side and the answer on the opposite one. This can work wonderfully not only with retrieval practice but generally speaking with any mid-term or final exam where all the material has been coded in questions and answers.

Whichever way students choose to use this study method, the next step is the same. They have to go back to their books and notes and check how much information they were able to recall correctly. Then, they should study the areas that felt impossible to remember and after a while use retrieval practice.

Advantages

It goes without saying that retrieval practice is one of those methods that boost muscle memory. It empowers long-term memory and helps with organizing and planning. What is more, it can be used as a way for students to prepare for big exams and assess themselves on what they know and what they need to work on more. Lastly, it is a way for the mind to create new neural pathways which again strengthens the memory.

Disadvantages

Let’s be honest here. Retrieval practice can take time! It is among the methods that are quite time-consuming. It also requires that students regularly test themselves and as a result can lead to anxiety and unnecessary stress.

In a nutshell, in this article we discussed two very different study methods both with advantages and disadvantages. Have you ever tried either of these two learning methods? If so, share your experience with me. If not, would you be willing to try them in the future? Comment down below and share this article with your friends and family.