To Truly Understand A Subject, Teach It

Have you ever been told that to truly understand a subject, teach it to others in a way they also understand it? If you cannot do that, then you have a problem.

There was a time I took up a temporary teaching job where I taught math to adults in a local technical college in the evening. I needed the money and felt this was a good way to earn it.

The Problem

But I had a problem. When I studied the math curriculum I realized that there were several concepts I didn't understand myself. How could I teach these topics to others? I would look stupid in front of my class.

There was only one option. I had to re teach these subjects to myself to the point where I understood them well enough to teach them to the class. My motivation to succeed was very strong.

The Process

I started at the beginning of the math book went through the chapter that was on the schedule for my next class. This was at a time when there was no personal computers, mobile phones or Internet. Hence, I had to rely totally on the text books I was assigned to use by the college. Of course, I had access to the library too.

Something magical happened. As I read the materials, my mind was so intimately connected with the lesson that everything started to make sense to me for the first time. I had managed to get through these lessons when I was a student enough to pass the tests.

Passing Tests

Contrary to what is commonly believed, passing tests does not guarantee fully understanding of a subject. This time I was not taking a test. I had to explain the lessons to my students so that they would understand them.

I succeeded! I created teaching notes that went beyond what was in the text book. The proof was in the student responses. The feedback I received was encouraging. They told me that although they had gone through this material before when they were younger, this was the first time they really understood the concepts.

The Results

When they had to take their test, most of them did extremely well.

Once I had completed the teaching notes for my first year, the hard work was done. In the following years my job was much easier as I was better prepared.

The same process can be applied to the lessons we are taught here on how to create successful online businesses.

Lessons Learned

Maybe I can learn something from my past experience and create notes as if I was going to teach the subjects to others. We can learn by teaching.

Can you relate? Please share similar experiences you may have had.

Cheers.

Edwin