One of the mantras I live by is, “You develop best when you are developing others.”

I deeply believe that teaching others is the most powerful way to deepen your understanding of any subject. This belief has guided me throughout my life and eventually led me to pursue an MSc in EdTech/Learning Science.

Teaching not only benefits those you’re sharing knowledge with, but it also accelerates your own learning and growth.

Here are some reasons why I find teaching as such a transformative practice:

1. Teaching forces you to learn the subject more deeply.

When you teach something, you can’t just gloss over the basics—you need to know the topic inside and out. Preparing to teach others pushes you to dig deeper into the material, helping you discover nuances and details you might not have noticed before. It challenges you to not only understand but also explain concepts in a way that others can grasp. In the process, you gain a richer and more thorough understanding of your subject.

2. Repetition makes knowledge stick.

One of the best ways to make knowledge stick is through repetition, and teaching gives you plenty of opportunities for that. Every time you explain a concept to someone else, you’re reinforcing that knowledge in your own mind. The more you teach, the more ingrained that information becomes, solidifying it in your long-term memory.

3. Answering questions helps you explore new angles.

Students often ask questions that make you think about your subject in new ways. Sometimes their questions lead you to ideas or areas you hadn’t considered before. This back-and-forth exchange not only keeps the material fresh but also expands your own understanding as you explore different aspects of the topic.

Remember, teaching isn’t just about passing on knowledge. It’s about reinforcing your own understanding, deepening your expertise, and continuously learning from the people you’re teaching.

So, if you know something worth sharing, don’t hesitate—start teaching!