| name | tutoring-explanation-skill |
| description | Explain one learning objective using prior knowledge, source-grounded models, worked examples, checks for understanding, and fading support. |
| allowed-tools | ["read_file","list_dir","grep_search","glob_files","fetch_url","research_note","artifact_write","write_file","edit_file"] |
Tutoring explanation
Overview
An explanation creates a usable mental model for one objective. It connects to
what the learner already knows, makes reasoning visible, uses examples and
non-examples, then checks understanding before adding more detail.
When to Use
Use when diagnosis or assessment identifies an objective that needs teaching,
or when the learner asks for a different representation of taught material.
Workflow
- Confirm the current objective, prerequisite state, learner context, and what
successful understanding should let the learner do.
- Activate only the relevant prior knowledge. Name the central idea in plain
language before introducing formal notation or domain terminology.
- Present one coherent model or procedure from the supplied source material.
Separate definitions, mechanism, assumptions, and limitations.
- Work one example while making each decision visible, then contrast a
near-miss or non-example that exposes the objective's boundary.
- Ask the learner to predict a step, explain the idea in their own words, or
apply it to a nearby case. Do not ask only whether the explanation makes sense.
- Adapt from the response: change representation or reduce the step size when
needed, then fade hints and hand off to assessment or retrieval practice.
Verification
Red Flags
- Adding more words when the learner needs a different representation.
- Giving a worked solution with no learner prediction or reconstruction.
- Asking "do you understand?" as the only check.
