My personal notes for Learn Difficult Concepts with the ADEPT Method
An article by Kalid Azad from Better Explained
Kalid gives a nice overview of learning difficult topics with the ADEPT method. I think this applies equally well to teaching.
- Analogy: “Analogies are fuzzy, not 100% accurate, and yet astoundingly useful. They’re a raft to get across the river, and leave behind once you’ve crossed.”
- Diagram: Find a way to visualize the topic. If half your brain is dedicated to visual processing, you might as well use that.
- Experience: Let people make progress for themselves. Don't take the fun out of it.
- Plain-English description: Describe the idea in your own words.
- Technical description: Finally, translate the concept into its formal definition.
When learning something new, take the blurry to sharp approach.
Start with a rough analogy and sharpen it until you’re covering the technical details.