Explaining as a learning tool
Richard Feynman, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist, had a method for learning anything: write down what you know about the topic and explain it as if to a bright child with no background. If the explanation flows clearly, you understand it. If you get stuck, struggle with wording, or realize you cannot explain a piece, you found your knowledge gaps.
The technique works because explanation forces you to translate tacit understanding into explicit language. When you know something well, the explanation is smooth. When you skipped a step in your own mental model, the explanation breaks down. The breakdown is diagnostic.
Closing gaps through iterative refinement
After the first explanation, read sources again to fill the gaps you found. Then explain again in your own words. Repeat until the explanation is clear and complete. This cycle combines direct instruction (from your sources) with retrieval practice (explaining from memory) and error correction (filling gaps).
The technique works across all domains. A student learning economics writes: 'When central banks raise interest rates, borrowing becomes more expensive...' and immediately realizes they cannot complete the sentence. They return to their notes, learn the mechanism, and complete the explanation on the second pass. The gaps are now concrete targets for learning.