As technology continues to evolve, new skills and knowledge are required to remain competitive in the job market. Many of these new skills involve complex concepts that are necessary for individuals to understand and apply in their work. An integral part of upskilling and staying relevant is developing the ability to understand complex concepts in order to adapt to changing work environments, solve complex problems, and drive innovation and creativity.
The Feynman technique is a powerful tool for upskilling because it emphasizes the importance of truly understanding a concept before attempting to apply it. The technique is useful not only for learning but also for teaching, especially when it comes to publishing micro-lessons using Generative AI.
What is the Feynman Technique?
Developed by Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman, the technique involves breaking down a topic into simple concepts and explaining it in plain language.
The method can be broken down into four steps:

By following these steps, learners can develop a deeper understanding of a topic. However, this approach requires a deep understanding of the material and the ability to communicate it effectively.
How can the Feynman technique be applied to generation of micro-lessons using Generative AI?
The buzz about the impact of AI on education has been impossible to miss, especially with EdTech giants like DuoLongo & Khan Academy talking about their own experiments with GPT-4. A subset of artificial intelligence that uses algorithms to generate content automatically, Generative AI can be used to create short, bite-sized lessons that focus on a specific concept or skill.:
- š Identifying a topic or concept to learn. This could be anything from a programming language to a historical event.
- š Break down the concept into simple language, identifying key ideas and concepts that need to be explained.
- š Create micro-lessons that focus on specific areas of the topic. For example, if we were creating a micro-lesson on Digital Marketing, we could use Generative AI to generate short lessons on specific concepts, such as SEO, SEM, etc.
By using Generative AI to generate micro-lessons based on the Feynman technique, we can create a personalized learning experience that is tailored to the needs of the individual. These micro-lessons can be delivered in a variety of formats, including text, video, and interactive quizzes, making it easier for learners to develop an understand of the topic with better retention of information.
While the Feynman technique focuses on human expertise and communication skills, generative AI is focused on data analysis and pattern recognition. When combined, high-quality micro-lessons can be created by educators in three steps:
- š Creation of an initial set of lessons by a panel of human experts using the Feynman technique in combination with other principles of teaching.
- š Analysis of these lessons an AI model to identify patterns and generation of new lessons based on that analysis.
- š Reviews with any additional inputs / edits by a human expert of the AI-generated lessons to ensure that they are clear and effective.
It’s safe to say that AI is set to revolutionize the way we learn & teach. But will we let it?