What is Self-Explanation?

Self-explanation is a metacognitive strategy that involves articulating your understanding of study material in your own words. It is the process of actively engaging with the content by explaining concepts, connecting ideas, and clarifying ambiguities as you revise. This technique transforms passive reading into active learning, allowing you to internalize and consolidate information more effectively.

Why Use Self-Explanation?

There are several compelling reasons to incorporate self-explanation into your revision routine:

  • Enhances Comprehension: By explaining content in your own words, you ensure that you truly understand the material rather than just memorizing facts.
  • Improves Long-Term Retention: Active engagement with the material helps solidify your understanding and aids in transferring information to long-term memory.
  • Encourages Deep Processing: Self-explanation prompts you to think critically about the subject, identify underlying principles, and draw connections between new and existing knowledge.
  • Identifies Knowledge Gaps: When you struggle to explain a concept, it signals areas that may require additional review or clarification.

How to Use Self-Explanation During Revision

Here are some practical steps to effectively incorporate self-explanation into your study sessions:

  1. Review Actively: As you go through your study material, pause periodically to reflect on what you have just read.
  2. Ask Probing Questions: Formulate questions about the content such as "Why does this concept work this way?" or "How is this idea connected to what I already know?" Answering these questions in your own words deepens your understanding.
  3. Summarize in Your Own Words: After reading a section or completing a problem, write or speak a brief summary explaining the key points and concepts.
  4. Make Connections: Link new information to prior knowledge. Explaining how the new concept relates to previously learned material helps in building a coherent mental model.
  5. Utilize Visual Aids: Diagrams, flowcharts, and mind maps can assist in visually organizing your explanation, making it easier to grasp complex ideas.
  6. Reflect and Revise: Evaluate your explanations for clarity and accuracy. If any part remains unclear, revisit the material and refine your explanation.

Conclusion

Self-explanation is a powerful tool that turns passive revision into an active learning process. By regularly practicing this technique, you not only improve comprehension and retention but also build the ability to identify and address gaps in your knowledge. Incorporating self-explanation into your study routine can lead to a deeper, more meaningful understanding of the material and better academic performance.