On teaching 

And here's is one of the greatest teachers that humanity has ever seen admitting that he doesn't know the best methodology to teach....Can a person be more authentic and humble?

Interviewer: Do you know how to teach? Feynman: Well yes, but actually no

So the best way to teach is to adapt according to your students

Sounds like he agrees with Bruce Lee, "using no way, as way". Great quote by Lee -- “Man, he is constantly growing, and when he is bound by a set pattern of ideas or way of doing things, that is when he Stops growing.” - Bruce Lee

Richard Feynman was absolutely spot on. And he ought to know since he may have been the greatest teacher of science of all time. Feynman claims he did not know how to teach. but if you watch the videos of his lectures, you will see that he is preoccupied with the question: How do we know? And, How do we find out? To me that was his secret. How to empower the student to learn by his/her own efforts. Teaching was the hardest work I have ever tried to do. And I had delivered morning newspapers in the dead of a Canadian winter. I had worked on a road gang at age 15, mixing concrete by shoveling sand and gravel into one of those rotary machines. The difference is that teaching is fun, even though you wonder at the end of the day if you will recover enough to teach again the next day. I taught high school science and mathematics full-time for five years and then part-time for another 5+ years to adults, with short stints in primary schools for slow-learners. English for New Canadians. Arc-welding to shipyard workers. Auto-mechanics to teenagers. The last courses I delivered were from 1966-1969, a series of ten lectures on computers applications in local government to about 1,000 attendees. And later in the 1960s, a graduate course in quantitative methods for the master of science degree. And a few other lectures in colleges on various aspect of quantitative methods. Not as much work or as much fun as school teaching. But still, you have to find ways to get into the heads of your students. How do you turn on the lamp so the student can see how something works? The biggest flaw in science teaching may be over-reliance on theory (deduction) and under-emphasis on experiment (induction). Deduction too often trumps induction in the classroom. It is easy to teach a subject the same way preachers teach religion, as a set of dogmas. That is where Feynman departed from those who do not know how to teach. Why he asked, How do we know? And, How do we find out? As he demonstrates in his video about how to learn the rules of chess by watching how the game is played. In all those years, the best lesson I delivered was a tenth-grade public high school class in atmospheric physics, demonstrating air pressure. I gave this lesson to children age 13-14, mostly girls. The date was around 1962. I was the most junior teacher, which is why I got to teach girls and not boys. (O tempora, o mores! Oh the times! Oh the customs!) Mercury Barometer experiment, inspired by a 1957 book by James Conant, a former president of Harvard University. I filled a tube of mercury just over one meter long (40+ inches long) and inverted it in a beaker of mercury. The height of the mercury in the inverted tube was a little less than one meter (38 inches). That left a gap in the top of the tube with no mercury. I then reviewed the research done on the following question: What holds the mercury up the tube? Can't remember the names of the philosophers of the 16th/17th century who argued this point. But one theory, still held by people who know no physical science, is that the semi-vacuum at the top of the tube creates a "spring of air" that pulls the mercury up the tube. (Semi-vacuum because some liquid mercury becomes mercury vapour at the top of the barometer tube, a little like in a mercury-vapour street-lamp.) *Even in those unenlightened days, we did not allow children to play with mercury. But it sometimes happened.* I wrote the list of theories on the blackboard and asked, What holds the mercury up the tube? Got mostly blank looks. But one student said it was the pressure of air in the room pressing down on the mercury in the beaker. So I asked if anyone could think of a way to test this theory. And someone said, Take away the air in the room. As I recall, this got a good laugh. Well I then pointed to the box on the table and said it was an air pump. And reached under my lab bench and retrieved a huge bell jar. And said, Let us place the beaker and tube on the air pump and then cover the the beaker and tube with the bell jar and turn on the pump. Which I did. The mercury fell down the tube into the beaker. We then discussed the result of the experiment. Then I asked, Can anyone could think of a further test? On student said, if you let the air back into the bell jar, then if the theory is correct, the mercury should go back up the tube. Which I did. And the mercury rose back to its about one meter high (38 inches). Because this was a course in general science, a section about the global water cycle, I then explained about barometers, the mercury sort and modern kinds that did not use mercury, and how air pressure varied as people ascend mountains. This was less than ten years after Edmund Hilary and Tenzing Norgay climbed Mount Everest, which everyone had at least heard about, even children. So this gave these children a topic for dinner conversation. About why people need to carry oxygen up Mount Everest. I wonder if any girl had become a physical scientist or engineer? Well I tried. I know that one of my students from a mining town in northern Canada became a famous primatologist. But I don't know if I had any influence in her choice of career. At that time, I did not have a degree in physical science (not until I reached age 75.) But as you can see, if you wish to teach, you can never stop trying to learn about what you are teaching and how to do it. And it's a 60-hour plus per week job to do it well. And you will never be able to say you are good at it. The toughest jobs I ever had were teaching jobs. And the most satisfying. But I was not earning enough to become independent even at age 32, and had no prospect of ever marrying or owning a home. I left teaching, but not until I had returned to university and got further credentials sufficient to work as an independent professional. What a pity! Harvard Case Histories in Experimental Science by James Bryant Conant tinyurl.com/ybn2xd43 www.amazon.com/s?k=Harvard+case+histories+in+experimental+science+james+B+Conant&i=digital-text&ref=nb_sb_noss

This man died when I was 8, long before I heard about him a few years ago. I don't know if it makes sense or not but... I miss him a lot

Teaching - is very difficult. You must capture the person's interest and motivation. With out that - you have nothing, His story of his own son - is how real learning and education can develop.

The best teacher in the history says I don't know how to teach...🙏🙏🙏

Richard Feynman was a youtuber too...

Feynman’s ability to teach will always be best illustrated for me by that few minutes on the panel investigating the Challenger disaster, when he took the seal material for the solid propellant booster and put it in the glass of cold water. Simple, and brilliant.

Do we know his son today? Imagine "My dad, historically famous physicist and educator, used to tell me bed time stories about tiny people in the carpet". Seems like a pretty cool way to remember dad.

Can't thank him enough for teaching me to see beauty in all the phenomena of Nature, everything that my eyes, ears, mind could possibly land on !!! Possibly the greatest teacher of all time.

His basic idea is- "Everyone is different. Different ways of teaching work on different students."

"I really don't know"...I love this man so much!

The best way to learn is to explore and experiment as a child does. The best way to teach is to encourage this process. A never ending journey of discovery, this is what Feynman is talking about here.

Richard Feynman be like : I don't know the answer, but I sorta know the answer. *Respect*

Happy Birthday Richard Feynman... your a great scientist!

And that is what mathematics exactly is. Chaotic. At first even one plus one makes no sense. Once understood, it makes so much sense it is beautiful to the point of addiction. The deeper you go, the less becomes the understanding making everything chaotic again. Once deeper levels are understood, it makes everyone around you that don't, be chaotic. And that is the next level of mathematics often neglected, avoided, for whatever reasons. Teaching.

What an extraordinary man Richard Feynman was.

he was the finest teacher we have ever seen... my favorite.. we learn best when we are having fun.. the good doctor Feynman understood that... absolutely

Yes ! FEYNMAN IS RIGHT FOR TEACHERS WHO WANT TO TELL THE CONCEPTS TO STUDENTS BASED ON THEIR STRATEGY. because telling theory is boring . But telling (problems & experiment's) is much more FASCINATING. 🤘🤘 That's why he is always a LEGENDARY physicist of 20th century 🔥🔥🔥🔥

That’s why teaching is so taxing as there are all different kinds of minds and personalities and how to deal with them all

His way of seeing and relating the world is marvelous. The joyfulness in his storytelling is pure delight!

The only thing harder to find than a good teacher is a good student.

Thank you for sharing! Feynman is a great inspiration of mine. =)

I regret never having had a chance to meet this great man.

G-reatest O-f A-ll T-ime

Great advice, so ahead of his time.

One of the Greatest minds that the world human race ever born..

What a Beautiful mind

“Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts.” -Professor Richard Feynman😉

God, what an AMAZING teacher!

Best teacher in this civilizáció!

Right?!?!?🙏🤗👦👧 the learning patterns are different. And appreciated so intelligently.

Teaching is a person-to-person activity! If one has an active and engaging personality, and really loves people, that person will be an effective teacher! I have always said that "teachers are born, and not made," despite all the courses and advice regarding how to be an effective teacher!

amazing person Sir Richard Feynman

🤧I remember my late father. The way he talks, similar to my father.

Legend of science

Everyone learns differently, some learn by reading, some learn by doing, some learn by watching or listening, there is no best way to teach, it depends on the person who is trying to learn.

The true moral of the story is that you teach by learning about the student’s preferences and be flexible to their needs.

You can only teach someone who's willing to learn.

What a personality. Such insight.

What a wonderful person, this guy seems

I love this guy. Everything that's ever came out of his mouth

I LOVE this man!!!

Love this man.

There's no perfect teacher. Only you know how teach yourself.

awesome

i'm in love with him, such a cute human.

All of the teachers I enjoyed the most were the ones who always confused me. They have strengthened my cognitive-functioning.

Oh how it would have been nice to be a Mini Feynman growing up :)

GREAT WORK

I always thought i would end up with a physics teacher or die alone.

If I could ever become someone else...

Greatness lies in him!

Teaching is more like improvising, adapting to what you have in front of you. One of the underlying constraint is that you just can't leave any one out.

When was the last time you saw anyone smile involuntarily when talking about their work?!?

I am a high school teacher, and the central question of my existence is how to hook the interest of students who have no interests. "What are you interested in?" "Nothing." "What are your hobbies?" "I have no hobbies." "What's your favorite movie?" "I don't have one." "What's your favorite tv show?" "People don't watch tv anymore." "Do you play sports?" "No." "Do you like any sports?" "No." "What do you do on the weekend?" "Nothing." "What's your favorite book?" "I don't have one." And these are the students who give you any kind of answer at all. Sometimes all you get are blank stares and a refusal to even write an answer. At least 20 years ago when I'd give a questionnaire on the first day of school, kids would actually write things that were mostly true--things they were actually somewhat interested in. Today they might write their favorite song or something, but the rest are "IDK", blank, or "I don't have one."

Give people something to rise to---a method, new levels of a skill---in their own way.

Real life Ms. Frizzle.

Complex concepts have many faces and it's important to focus one step at a time on every one of them, including those which better connect with our everyday experience and language.

I didnt learn english in school. I wasnt interested in the stuff at all. Like exercises where one had to clean the dishes and put them somewhere etc. Later on, I got into video games and played an online game on an international Server. I was really intereseted in the things that were going on there, but they were in english. So quess what, Im typing this comment now. :D

A Great father

Amazing

He was a modern Natural Historian. Natural History is about the entire world and everything in it and how they all interact. And thats what he did.

Feynman was an incredible man

The best teacher in the world: "I don't know the best way to teach"

he seems very direct and honest. i bet he was a swell guy!

The short version that he’s explaining is “Teachers Teaching All Ways Always” The best teachers know to supply students with several different avenues that lead you to the desired end result. He is 100% correct that what works for one student (or class of students) will be able to be replicated with 100% accuracy. It’s a system where you have to change your method multiple times in a single lesson, and then it’s a completely different game with the next group of students. Now imagine that, then also having to write bathroom passes, tell students to put phones away constantly, and handling behavior issues and apathy towards education. Then you’ll understand the real world of education below the college level.

He was a fineman

WOW

This is the best video I’ve ever seen on youtube.

Interviewer: so how are you such a good teacher Feynman: lol fuck if I know

There really isn’t a person who is not closely related to me who I wished I could meet more than Dr Richard Feynman. Damn. Was born too late

A man of the world.

Everyone is different, so teaching for everyone is different.

The best made in usa

I agree absolutely!

And this is why I've always had issues with the concept of competitive education in the private industry. How do you gauge who does it best when there really are no set rules...and where there are, those rules will stifle the hell out of some of minds while giving absolute flourish to others.

Feynman: I don't know what is the best way to teach, or how to keep everyone interested and engaged The Algorithm: ...this response is unacceptable, must keep searching

hello from Chile fellow persons

I am here. Where is Einstein said Feynman.

maybe the world needs all kind of people.

Knowing your subject well and having great enthusiam for the material is the key to being effective. Be excited to teach and it will rub off on your students. That's my two cents...but what the hell do I know?

I really want to find out something bad about Feynman to balance how good he is but the worst things are that he messed with people but even that can be just because he was curious

Imagine what this guy would do to these metaphyscial philosophy conmen we have now..

Appeal to their self interest, egoism... It's like DeepQ-Learning where you create a reward system(fun facts, small games) that lures people in the direction of possibly greater reward(knowledge in this case). They might gain enough momentum to drag others along.

A genius who loved physics and loved explaining. RESPECT!

Richard Feynman 😍

Good

*I do not know how to hook them* - he said as he hooked them. Your personality and charisma was the hook Sir. Your modesty hid them from you as a practical joke.

depends on different personality

Enthalpy and energy

How do you teach best ways? Step one. Catch students on different hooks.

Where can I find all of these clips

Its because the whole universe is alive and everything you see is a living memory.

i love him

I always wish he's my physics teacher......

Please enable us to make subtitles and translate the genious of Feynman.

Thanks Rich