Harnessing Teaching as a Tool for Mastering Technical Skills
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The Power of Teaching in Learning
If you find it challenging to remember technical concepts, you're not alone. Many people struggle with retaining information, which can hinder their ability to absorb new material, regardless of the time spent studying.
Typically, we engage with information through reading books, listening to audiobooks, and watching instructional videos. However, these methods alone may not suffice. Research indicates that we retain only 10% of what we read and about 20% of what we hear and see. While these are good starting points for learning, teaching is what significantly boosts our retention!
As Joseph Joubert famously stated, “To teach is to learn twice.” Let’s explore how teaching can enhance our ability to grasp and remember new information.
The Learning Pyramid
To appreciate why teaching is so effective, let’s examine the learning pyramid. Developed by the National Training Laboratory, this model suggests that students retain merely 5% of lecture content and 10% from reading textbooks. Astonishingly, when it comes to teaching others, retention leaps to an impressive 90%.
While discussing what you're learning is beneficial, it does not match the effectiveness of teaching. The same applies to working on practical projects.
Before, During, and After Teaching
Why You Learn Before You Teach
You might be surprised to learn that your motivation to teach can deepen your understanding. For instance, if you need to present a new topic, you’ll likely invest extra time ensuring you can explain it thoroughly. This heightened focus leads to a more profound understanding.
Additionally, when your goal is to teach, you revisit your learning material more frequently, which aids in memory retention.
Why You Learn While You Teach
Teaching often reveals gaps in your knowledge. If you struggle to explain a concept clearly, it’s likely you don’t fully understand it yet. This realization is not negative; in fact, it encourages you to seek further information and ask questions, thereby enhancing your knowledge.
Teaching also provides opportunities for correction. Peers can point out errors, offering a valuable chance to learn anew.
Why You Learn After You Teach
After you teach, you gain:
- Feedback: New perspectives, examples, and solutions arise from your audience, enriching your existing knowledge.
- Accountability: You feel responsible for the information you share, motivating you to embody the principles you teach.
As someone who instructs others in coding, I strive to embody the guidance I provide. It’s essential to offer useful and accurate information to facilitate the learning of others.
What If You Have No One to Teach?
When you think of "teaching," you might picture a traditional classroom setting. However, there are numerous alternative avenues to share what you've learned:
- Teaching online
- Creating video tutorials
- Writing articles
- Authoring a book
For nearly two years, I’ve been “teaching” by producing video tutorials on YouTube and writing articles. This experience has greatly accelerated my learning.
Writing is my preferred teaching method, as it requires just a laptop to share knowledge with a wide audience. If you're interested in writing, consider exploring my guide on crafting engaging technical articles.
Remember, you don’t have to teach in a conventional manner—find a method that suits your comfort level. If teaching feels daunting, consider participating in active learning activities like discussion groups or hands-on practice.
For those interested in programming or data analytics, I invite you to join my Discord server. There, you can engage in discussions about your learning journey, ask questions, and assist others.
This video, titled "How to self study technical things," delves into effective strategies for self-directed learning in technical fields.
The second video, "How To Self Study Technical Things," offers insights into maximizing your learning potential through self-study techniques.