Self-explanation

Self-explanation is a learning technique where the learner explains the steps they take in solving a problem or their processing of new information to themselves.

History

Dunlosky et al. (2013) [1] calls a 1983 study by Berry "the seminal study on self-explanation".

Software engineering

Closely related to self-explanation is a technique called rubber duck debugging (or rubber ducking), where a programmer explains a software problem to themselves (or someone who knows nothing about programming) to help them debug code.