explanare

Explanare is a term used in educational theory and cognitive science to describe the explicit process of making information explainable to a learner. It refers to methods that transform data into coherent, accessible explanations rather than leaving intuition or data alone.

Etymology and usage: from Latin ex- “out” and planare “to make flat or clear,” the term has been adopted in modern scholarly language to denote the act of developing an explanation. It is often presented as distinct from the final product of an explanation, emphasizing the method and reasoning used to render content understandable.

In practice, explanare can function as both a verb and a noun. As a verb, teachers explanare a concept—producing a clear, structured explanation. As a noun, an explanare (for example, a worked example, schematic diagram, or explanatory narrative) refers to a concrete explanatory artifact designed to align with learners’ prior knowledge.

Applications and goals: explanare emphasizes transparency of reasoning, causal mechanisms, and the organization of information to reveal underlying principles. It typically involves breaking complex ideas into steps, using explicit mappings between concepts and priors, and employing diagnostic prompts to surface and correct misconceptions. It is often contrasted with merely presenting data, procedures, or facts without guiding the learner through the explanatory logic.

Critique and reception: some scholars caution that the term can be vague or overlapping with broader notions of teaching quality. Evaluating explanare’s effectiveness usually requires assessing learner understanding, ability to transfer concepts, and alignment with instructional goals. See also: explanation, explication, pedagogical modeling.