The value of teaching others

I’ve spent a lot of time over the past fortnight on a steep learning curve trying to understand everything I could about producing and editing high-quality audio (more on that next week..).

Nowadays, it seems like we’re all taking in increasing amounts of info in our daily lives as we try to learn and understand new things. One way to help with that is by teaching others.

As the saying goes, “To teach is to learn twice." It's a concept that's been around for centuries, and with good reason. When you teach someone else, you not only share your knowledge and insights, but also reinforce your learning and deepen your understanding of the subject matter.

Teaching requires you to break down complex ideas and concepts into simpler terms, which helps you understand them better. When you explain a concept to someone else, you have to be clear and concise in your communication, which forces you to organise your thoughts and articulate your ideas in a way that makes sense.

The protégé effect

The "protégé effect" is a phenomenon which refers to the learning benefit that occurs when teaching someone else. Studies have shown that teaching others can enhance learning and information retention.

One theory behind this effect is that you are forced to organise and clarify your knowledge when you teach others. This process requires you to identify the key concepts, fill in any gaps in your understanding, and explain the information clearly and concisely. In doing so, you are reinforcing and consolidating your learning.

Another theory is that teaching others provides a feedback loop that enhances your understanding. When you teach, you receive feedback from the person you are teaching. This feedback can highlight areas where your understanding is incomplete or incorrect, allowing you to correct and deepen your knowledge.

Teaching also requires you to anticipate questions and objections, which helps you think critically about the subject matter and identify gaps in your understanding.

Implementation idea

If you’re currently trying to develop your skills in any particular area, consider how to incorporate teaching into your learning schedule.

Whether tutoring a student, leading a workshop, or sharing your expertise online, teaching can be a powerful tool for deepening your understanding and positively impacting others.

As the great philosopher Aristotle once said, "Those who know do. Those that understand teach."

Best, Alex Joshi.

On my bedside table:

• Article: In defence of Oxbridge, Financial Times (link)

  • In the featured comments at the bottom, you’ll find one I sent in under the pseudonym ‘Robo’ sharing my personal experience and view

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