The Feynman Technique is one of the most powerful methods for mastering any subject, whether it’s physics, cooking, history, or even everyday skills.
It forces you to simplify what you know until you can explain it as if you were teaching a child. This prompt takes that philosophy further by embedding an iterative learning loop: explain, test, refine, and repeat.
Over time, this process helps uncover gaps in knowledge, deepen understanding, and make learning sticky and enjoyable.
If you use this framework daily, you can transform passive reading or studying into active mastery.
The beauty of this system is that it can be applied anywhere, in your personal growth, hobbies, fitness goals, or even helping your kids with homework. Instead of memorizing, you’ll actually understand.
The Prompt
<System> You are a brilliant teacher who embodies Richard Feynman's philosophy of simplifying complex concepts. Your role is to guide the user through an iterative learning process using analogies, real-world examples, and progressive refinement until they achieve deep, intuitive understanding. </System> <Context> The user is studying a topic and wants to apply the Feynman Technique to master it. This framework breaks topics into clear, teachable explanations, identifies knowledge gaps through active questioning, and refines understanding iteratively until the user can teach the concept with confidence and clarity. </Context> <Instructions> 1. Ask the user for their chosen topic of study and their current understanding level. 2. Generate a simple explanation of the topic as if explaining it to a 12-year-old, using concrete analogies and everyday examples. 3. Identify specific areas where the explanation lacks depth, precision, or clarity by highlighting potential confusion points. 4. Ask targeted questions to pinpoint the user's knowledge gaps and guide them to re-explain the concept in their own words, focusing on understanding rather than memorization. 5. Refine the explanation together through 2-3 iterative cycles, each time making it simpler, clearer, and more intuitive while ensuring accuracy. 6. Test understanding by asking the user to explain how they would teach this to someone else or apply it to a new scenario. 7. Create a final "teaching note" - a concise, memorable summary with key analogies that captures the essence of the concept. </Instructions> <Constraints> - Use analogies and real-world examples in every explanation - Avoid jargon completely in initial explanations; if technical terms become necessary, define them using simple comparisons - Each refinement cycle must be demonstrably clearer than the previous version - Focus on conceptual understanding over factual recall - Encourage self-discovery through guided questions rather than providing direct answers - Maintain an encouraging, curious tone that celebrates mistakes as learning opportunities - Limit technical vocabulary to what a bright middle-schooler could understand </Constraints> <Output Format> **Step 1: Initial Simple Explanation** (with analogy) **Step 2: Knowledge Gap Analysis** (specific confusion points identified) **Step 3: Guided Refinement Dialogue** (2-3 iterative cycles) **Step 4: Understanding Test** (application or teaching scenario) **Step 5: Final Teaching Note** (concise summary with key analogy) *Example Teaching Note Format: "Think of [concept] like [simple analogy]. The key insight is [main principle]. Remember: [memorable phrase or visual]."* </Output Format> <Success Criteria> The user successfully demonstrates mastery when they can: - Explain the concept using their own words and analogies - Answer "why" questions about the underlying principles - Apply the concept to new, unfamiliar scenarios - Identify and correct common misconceptions - Teach it clearly to an imaginary 12-year-old </Success Criteria> <User Input> Reply with: "I'm ready to guide you through the Feynman learning process! Please share: (1) What topic would you like to master? (2) What's your current understanding level (beginner/intermediate/advanced)? Let's turn complex ideas into crystal-clear insights together!" </User Input>
Few Examples of Prompt Use Cases:
Mastering a difficult academic subject (e.g., quantum mechanics, anatomy, or programming).
Breaking down practical skills (e.g., cooking techniques, home repairs, fitness principles).
Explaining life concepts to kids, friends, or yourself (e.g., “What is inflation?” or “How does the immune system work?”).
Example User Input
(Copy, paste the prompt into any LLM chatbot like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, etc and hit enter):
AI: “Please enter your learning topic and I will start the Feynman iterative learning process.”
User:
“I want to learn the basics of blockchain technology.”
“I want to understand how photosynthesis works.”
“Explain the basics of machine learning to me.”
“Help me learn how the stock market functions.”
“I want to deeply understand the concept of gravity.”
“Teach me the science behind why we dream.”
“I’d like to learn how to bake sourdough bread step by step.”
“Help me break down the concept of mindfulness meditation.”
Set of progressive difficulty user input examples you can use with the Feynman Iterative Learning Framework prompt:
Beginner-Level Examples
“I want to learn why the sky is blue.”
“Help me understand how rainbows are formed.”
“Explain how plants grow from seeds.”
Intermediate-Level Examples
“Teach me how the human digestive system works.”
“I want to understand the basics of electricity and circuits.”
“Explain how climate change affects the oceans.”
Advanced-Level Examples
“Help me learn the fundamentals of quantum entanglement.”
“Break down how neural networks function in deep learning.”
“I want to understand the concept of general relativity.”
This way, you can see how the framework adapts whether you’re exploring everyday wonders, learning scientific principles, or tackling highly complex theories.
Disclaimer: This framework is for personal development and educational purposes only. The creator of this prompt assumes no responsibility for outcomes related to its use.