Learning to Teach

Fragments from imaginary dialogues

“I like to make a distinction between Learning by Teaching and Learning to Teach. I’ve identified these as two fundamental principles of learning.”

“What’s the difference between them?”

“Learning by Teaching means learning by explaining to someone else, or to yourself as if to someone else. This is the principle that underlies the Feynman Technique [<link; medium read]. 

Learning to Teach means learning with the intention of actually teaching, either in person or in writing. This is the principle that underlies writing articles, creating a course, or writing a book. 

In the former, you’re creating value for yourself.
In the latter, you’re creating value for yourself and others – and you have something to show for it.

I’ve decided to expand the latter from articles to (free) practical handbooks on all the subjects/skills I’m interested in – Peak Performance, Thinking, Creativity, Meta-Learning (Learning to Learn), Design, Movement, Breathing, Stoicism, etc. –, and everything else I learn. I’ve been learning them rather chaotically, so now I want to experiment with focusing on one at a time.

I call it Project Enchiridion.

Enchiridion: A book containing essential information on a subject

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