This study reviewed self-explanation as an effective learning strategy and underlying mechanism of self-explaining. In particular, this study focused on three points such as learners, contents of explanation, and learning contents. First, past research showed that many students who didn't use self-explanation effectively. Second, appropriate intervention was required to enhance self explanation effect, for example, elaboration training and using personal computer. Finally, self-explanation effects were restricted with in definite subject areas. So it is necessary to carry out more research into various areas. Self explanation was compared with other activities, such as summary, questioning, and collaboration learning. Although all four activities were shown to be effective at promoting leaning to varying degree, these activities embodied different contexts and different processes from self-explanation. It showed that constructing one's knowledge and monitoring one's comprehension were very important. Future research has to find which strategy is more effective, and instruct students explicitly which strategy is useful and why it is effective.
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