Learning Through Self-Explanation

Self-explanation is the process of explaining concepts, processes or examples to yourself in your own words. It can boost understanding, memory and problem-solving ability.

The benefits of self-explanation include:

• It helps identify gaps in knowledge. You have to figure out what you don't fully understand to explain it.
• It reveals incomplete explanations. If you struggle to explain something, it shows you don't truly understand it.
• It strengthens connections in memory. Explaining in your own words cements information in your mind.
• It forms a mental model. Creating a simple model to explain helps you organize and integrate information.
• It improves transfer of knowledge. Self-explanation prepares you to apply what you've learned in new situations.

To practice self-explanation:

1. Read through a text, example or process once normally.
2. Cover the material and explain it in your own words step by step.
3. Provide examples, analogies and visualizations to make it concrete.
4. Check your understanding by returning to the original material.
5. Explain again, filling in gaps and correcting misunderstandings.

With practice, self-explanation can become an automatic study skill that helps you truly understand and integrate new information.