Learn Difficult Concepts with the ADEPT Method - BetterExplained
Overview
ADEPT Method: A strategy to understand and explain difficult concepts by using
Analogy
Diagram
Example
Plain-English Description
Technical Description
Components of ADEPT
Analogy: What Else Is It Like?
Start from known experiences or objects to understand new concepts.
Example: Imaginary numbers are like moving up/down or rotating on a number line, similar to understanding negative numbers.
Analogies aren't perfect but are useful for initial understanding.
Diagram: Engage That Half Of Your Brain
Use diagrams as a visual aid to understand concepts such as imaginary numbers (rotation around the number line).
Half of the brain is dedicated to vision, making diagrams powerful for comprehension.
Example: Let Me Experience The Idea
Encourage experiential learning rather than rote memorization.
Example: Use rotations to understand imaginary numbers (4 turns = back to the start).
Plain-English Description: Use Your Own Words
Translate the understanding into everyday language.
Example insights: Imaginary numbers can point in various directions, and multiple rotations lead back to the start.
Technical Description: Learn The Formalities
Formalize understanding into technical terms and notation.
Example: The imaginary unit i as a square root of -1 (a 90-degree rotation).
Learning Strategies
The Mental Checklist
ADEPT serves as a checklist to fully understand a concept.
Use resources like Google Images for diagrams, Khan Academy for examples, and Wikipedia for technical descriptions.
Modifying the Learning Order
Blurry-to-sharp approach: Start with broad analogies, refine to technical details.
Flexibility to work backwards from technical descriptions to analogies.
The Goal: Explanations That Actually Work
Encourage explanations that integrate different components for lasting understanding.
Reference Scott Young's Feynman Technique and other teaching methods.
Bonus: BE ADEPT
Brevity: Keep explanations concise.
Empathy: Relate to personal experiences and anticipate questions.
Appendix: ADEPT Summaries
Use the ADEPT framework to analyze concepts like Euler’s Formula and Fourier Transform.
Combine components creatively for effective learning.
Other Posts in the Series
Includes various mathematical concepts and learning strategies such as intuitive understanding, math as a language, and the ADEPT method for machine learning courses.