Self-Explanation
Explain steps and 'why' in your own words.
Explanation
You can memorize procedures without understanding the underlying principles, but this knowledge breaks down when you encounter new situations. Self-explanation means talking yourself through not just what you're doing, but why you're doing it. This builds deeper understanding by forcing you to connect new information to what you already know.
Real-World Example
Learning algorithm: Don't just trace through it. Explain why each line exists, what would break if removed. Medical students who self-explain diagnose 2x better. Programmers who explain their code have 60% fewer bugs.
How to Apply
After each paragraph/problem/concept, pause. Explain to yourself: What did I just learn? Why does it work this way? How does it connect to what I know? Write explanations in margins. If you can't explain simply, you don't understand. Go back and relearn.