Docendo Discimus
The Latin phrase meaning 'by teaching, we learn' - teaching as a path to deeper understanding.
Also known as: By teaching we learn, Teaching to learn, Learning through teaching
Category: Concepts
Tags: philosophies, wisdom, learning, teaching, education
Explanation
Docendo discimus (Latin for 'by teaching, we learn') is an ancient principle attributed to Seneca, capturing how teaching deepens the teacher's own understanding. The concept works because teaching requires: organizing knowledge clearly, identifying gaps in understanding, explaining at fundamental levels, and answering unexpected questions. Benefits of teaching include: discovering what you don't truly understand, strengthening memory through retrieval and articulation, deepening comprehension through explanation, and seeing knowledge from new perspectives. The principle applies beyond formal teaching to: explaining ideas to colleagues, writing about concepts, and mentoring others. The Feynman Technique leverages this - explaining something simply reveals whether you truly understand it. Teaching also motivates learning - knowing you'll teach creates purpose and engagement. For knowledge workers, docendo discimus suggests: explaining ideas to test understanding, writing about what you learn, mentoring others to deepen your own expertise, and using teaching as a learning strategy.
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