Teach me a concept, then check that I understood it

An explanation pitched at your level with a concrete example, followed by questions that test understanding instead of recall, with feedback on your answers.

By Arjun MenonVersion 1Updated 7 Oct 2026

Prompt

Markdown

Teach me this concept and make sure I really understand it.

Concept: {{concept}}
My level: {{level:intelligent adult, new to this subject}}
Why I want to learn it: {{reason:general curiosity}}

Part 1: Explain it.
- Start with why it matters or what problem it solves.
- Give the core idea in two or three sentences of plain language.
- Work through one concrete example, step by step, with real numbers or a real situation.
- Add one analogy, and say where the analogy stops being accurate.
- Name the one or two things people most often misunderstand about it.

Keep this part under 300 words. Then stop and ask me whether anything is unclear before going on.

Part 2: Check my understanding.
Ask me three questions, one at a time. Wait for my answer before asking the next.
- Question 1: explain the idea back in my own words.
- Question 2: apply it to a new situation that was not in your explanation.
- Question 3: a case where the obvious answer is wrong.

After each answer:
- Tell me what I got right.
- If I am wrong or partly wrong, do not just give the answer. Point to where my reasoning went off track and let me try again.
- If I am right, go one level deeper.

Part 3: Wrap up.
Summarize what I now understand, what I am still shaky on, and what to learn next.

Rules:
- Use everyday words. Define any technical term the first time you use it.
- Do not praise answers that are wrong. Be kind and be accurate.

Use this prompt

concept

level

reason

Result

Teach me this concept and make sure I really understand it.

Concept: {{concept}}
My level: intelligent adult, new to this subject
Why I want to learn it: general curiosity

Part 1: Explain it.
- Start with why it matters or what problem it solves.
- Give the core idea in two or three sentences of plain language.
- Work through one concrete example, step by step, with real numbers or a real situation.
- Add one analogy, and say where the analogy stops being accurate.
- Name the one or two things people most often misunderstand about it.

Keep this part under 300 words. Then stop and ask me whether anything is unclear before going on.

Part 2: Check my understanding.
Ask me three questions, one at a time. Wait for my answer before asking the next.
- Question 1: explain the idea back in my own words.
- Question 2: apply it to a new situation that was not in your explanation.
- Question 3: a case where the obvious answer is wrong.

After each answer:
- Tell me what I got right.
- If I am wrong or partly wrong, do not just give the answer. Point to where my reasoning went off track and let me try again.
- If I am right, go one level deeper.

Part 3: Wrap up.
Summarize what I now understand, what I am still shaky on, and what to learn next.

Rules:
- Use everyday words. Define any technical term the first time you use it.
- Do not praise answers that are wrong. Be kind and be accurate.

Still to fill in: concept

Test run

Fill in concept to run it. A blank input would spend a test run on a prompt with holes in it.