The Impact of Social-Emotional Skills on Students

Students need social-emotional skills (SEL) to succeed in their educational and professional careers. K-12 educators, an abbreviation for publically-supported school grades before college. They are finding that a few tools that they are using in the modern learning environment are also teaching collaboration, empathy, and other soft skills. A study points to the fact that 98 percent of the principals believe that regardless of the background, all the students must learn SEL skills in the classroom.

According to the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL), students develop the necessary soft skills through SEL. Students learn the ability to understand their and others emotions, build relationships, and maintain them. These skills lead to self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. SEL came into the limelight because of the support from educators who tried it and gained results although it began decades ago.     

After researching the meta-analysis of data, researchers have found that good social-economic learning programs have a positive impact on the other aspects of academic performance. Additionally, employers determined that they need the workforce of young adults with SEL competencies. According to a Bloomberg report, 35 percent of the employers believe that young hires need soft skills to be successful in their job.

Technologies that create SEL Opportunities

New technologies have enabled a teacher to impart key SEL competencies. Here are a few technologies that create SEL opportunities:

Collaboration platforms: Administrators adopted a digital collaboration platform in the Fresno Unified School District. The intention behind the adoption was to improve social-emotional learning. The results showed improved academics and 25 percent of the middle school students were more likely to exceed in language and mathematics.     

Artificial Intelligence (AI): Personalized learning has played a vital role in the evolution of SEL in the classroom. AI-enabled technology gives the flexibility to the teachers to improve personalized training, assess students, and provide more time for one-on-one interactions. 

Mixed reality: Students get the chance to practice SEL skills with a combination of virtual and augmented. This teaching method provides opportunities for students to observe social-emotional skills and practice those skills in real life. These experiences improve skills such as empathy, collaboration and raise awareness of bias and develop skills.