What it is
Self-explanation is the practice of pausing while you study to explain the material, either to yourself or someone else. You want to use your own words to talk through what the concept or idea means, how it works, or how you would teach it to someone else.
Why it matters
Explaining in your own words forces you to slow down and check your understanding and allows you to identify gaps or notice points of confusion. Doing this helps you to make connections between previous and new material, and strengthens your memory of it. Even short, simple explanations boost comprehension and long-term learning.
How to use it
- After reading a section, stop and explain what it means in your own words.
- Explain - aloud or in writing - how a new idea relates to something you’ve already learned.
- Pretend you’re teaching a classmate who missed lecture. Or, actually teach it to someone!
- Write short explanations in your notes or next to diagrams or charts to expand your thinking.
