How to Leverage Social-Emotional Learning to Cultivate Digital Wellness

Technology can assist teachers in amplifying student voices and allowing students to take charge of their education.

FREMONT, CA: Social-emotional learning has developed over the past years into one of the most discussed subjects in the world of education. To create healthy identities, manage emotions, accomplish personal and group goals, feel and have empathy, develop and maintain healthy relationships, and make caring decisions, social-emotional learning (SEL) is a process that all young people and adults must go through. Teaching SEL abilities benefits many student outcomes, from enhanced academic performance to success in post-secondary education and professions. Applying SEL skills to improve collective digital well-being includes communicating in online contexts, recognizing and stopping cyberbullying using social awareness skills, and being self-aware and responsible while creating an online identity.

Usage of digital learning in the classroom

Multimedia and digital learning technology facilitates the development of social and emotional learning abilities in the classroom. To create secure, encouraging learning settings where they can impart and reinforce important SEL ideas, teachers and student support workers in schools can use digital resources that kids are interested in utilizing, such as tablets, smartboards, and computers. Two aspects that support the core tenets of social-emotional learning are student empowerment and amplifying their voices. Students are allowed to express their thoughts through various SEL activities and classes.

An individualized learning experience for each student

Students can work on their strengths, finish projects at their own pace, and have a more individualized experience in the classroom by integrating technology into SEL instruction and basic academic subjects. Because they are digital natives, specific student demographics find it particularly beneficial to use technology to help them practice self-regulation and emotional labeling skills because it gives them a more welcoming setting. By modifying the SEL instruction's topic, medium, pace, and learning style, teachers can provide these kids with specific help and individualize their learning.

Discussing various interpersonal relationship topics

Many schools now offer digital citizenship courses that show students how to use SEL techniques in online settings to manage digital surroundings with empathy, perspective, and self-awareness. Project-based learning with media and technology can allow students to practice compassion in the digital world. Social media usage, its effects on mental health, and how it affects interpersonal relationships are all topics that students can discuss during digital citizenship classes.