Learning Loop: Teach to Learn What You Want to Know

I am reminded frequently of this quote from Richard Feynman:

“If you want to master something, teach it. The more you teach, the better you learn. Teaching is a powerful tool to learning.”

Why teaching accelerates learning

When we decide to learn something new, most of us follow a predictable pattern: consume content, take notes, practice a bit, and hope it sticks. It’s passive, comfortable, and—let’s be honest—often ineffective.

But when you commit to teaching what you’re learning, everything changes. Suddenly, you can’t hide in the shadows of “good enough” understanding. You need clarity, depth, and the ability to answer questions you haven’t even thought of yet.

The version of me who was just “learning for myself” could get away with partial understanding and fuzzy concepts. But the version who had to stand in front of others and explain it clearly? That person needed mastery. It changes how you consume information.

This happens with almost every skill. We think we understand something until we try to teach it—then the gaps in our knowledge become painfully obvious. So when you are consuming information you take different notes, you notice different things, you ask more questions of yourself and the subject matter.

The cost of passive learning

Have you ever spent three months “learning” a skill, like video editing. You watch countless YouTube tutorials, read articles, and even purchased a course. You feel like you are making progress because you are consuming so much information.

But when a friend asks you to help with a simple editing project, you freeze. Despite all that time invested, you can't execute the basic techniques you thought you’d learned.

Why? Because you have been a passive consumer of information rather than an active processor of knowledge. You had collected facts without building understanding.

I remember learning dance as an adult learner. I went to many hours of classes and thought I was pretty good, until I started teaching dance. I was forced to really, really understand the mechanics of what the body was doing. Standing in front of beginners who really are trying but just not getting it. I had to know the moves deeply in order to convey what each move was so that my students could reproduce the moves and the choreography.

Everything changes when you teach to learn

When you teach to learn, you don’t just acquire knowledge faster—you develop a completely different relationship with the learning process.

When I went back into the classroom as a student myself, I found myself paying attention to more and catching more of the nuance in the moves. It was always there, I had changed how I attending class as a student because I was also teaching the material.

This approach isn’t about pretending to be an expert when you’re not. It’s about leveraging the unique psychological dynamics of teaching to accelerate your own learning. Here’s how to make it work:

Start with the “One Chapter Ahead” mindset. You don’t need to master an entire field before teaching it. You just need to be one chapter ahead of your audience. Be transparent about your journey: “I’m learning this too, but here’s what I discovered this week.”

Create teaching commitments before you’re ready. Schedule a presentation, workshop, or tutorial session before you fully understand the topic. The deadline creates productive pressure that will drive deeper learning. Your learning pace accelerate overnight.

Seek out confusion and questions. When someone asks a question you can’t answer, celebrate it! Each difficult question exposes a gap in your understanding that you might have missed. Keep a “confusion journal” and document these moments as treasures for deeper study.

Simplify to solidify. Teaching forces you to translate complex ideas into simple language, which reveals whether you truly understand something. Einstein said, “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” This process of simplification isn’t just for your audience—it’s how you cement your own understanding.

A simple framework to teach while learning

When I’m learning through teaching, I use this straightforward approach that creates value for others while maximizing my own growth:

• The challenge I’m tackling: Be transparent about what you’re trying to learn and why it matters

• What I’ve discovered so far: Share your current understanding, even if incomplete

• Questions I’m still exploring: Highlight areas where you’re still developing clarity

• Resources that have helped me: Point to the best learning materials you’ve found

• Let’s figure this out together: Invite collaboration and additional perspectives

This framework works whether you’re writing a blog post, hosting a workshop, or just having a conversation with a colleague. It positions you as a guide rather than an all-knowing expert, which creates space for authentic learning.

The Bottom Line

If you want to truly master something, stop hiding behind passive consumption and commit to teaching it—even before you feel ready.

The most powerful learning doesn’t happen when you’re watching tutorials or reading books. It happens when you’re forced to organize your thoughts, anticipate questions, and explain concepts in your own words.

This approach isn’t about faking expertise. It’s about accelerating your learning by embracing the challenging but rewarding path of teaching what you’re discovering.

That person who will master the skills you want to develop? They’re not hiding in more content consumption. They’re waiting for you to step into the role of teacher—even as you continue to be a student.

The teacher and the learner can be the same person.

You just have to be brave enough to share what you’re figuring out along the way.