Definition & Benefits of SEL
What is Social Emotional Learning?
According to CASEL, a leading research organization regarding social/emotional learning (SEL) and its implementation in schools, SEL refers to the knowledge, skills, and abilities that are “necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions” (CASEL, https://casel.org/what-is-sel, 2018). CASEL has identified 5 core competencies that comprise SEL:
Self-awareness
Self-management
Social awareness
Relationship skills
Responsible decision-making
See here for a more detailed explanation of each competency: NJ DOE Descriptors of SEL Competencies
Children learn the 5 core competencies by observing their parents and others, as well as through direct instruction (such as being directly taught a step-by-step method to solve a problem or learning vocabulary to identify their feelings).
Benefits of SEL
Research shows that strong SEL skills benefit students’ school functioning and their success as adults. This, in turn, has benefits for the greater society, such as the workforce and economy. Check out this short video to learn more about the value of SEL skills!
At school, strong SEL skills are associated with:
Reduced conduct problems
Decreased emotional distress
Increased academic achievement
Higher graduation rates
Improved college/postsecondary readiness
Increased positive social interactions with peers and adults
More positive attitudes toward self and others
Students with strong SEL skills are less likely to have mental health concerns, use drugs/alcohol, commit crimes, or utilize public assistance programs as adults. Additionally, students with strong SEL skills are more likely to have stable employment as adults. The skills necessary for career success, such as cooperating with teams and managing your emotions, are directly related to the 5 SEL core competencies. Employers desire workers with strong SEL skills!
(CASEL & Committee for Children, 2016; National Commission on Social, Emotional, and Academic Development, 2017)
Additional Reading
You can explore more about SEL and its benefits using the resources below.
CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, & Emotional Learning)
Congressional Briefing by CASEL & Committee for Children (Why Social & Emotional Learning & Employability Skills Should Be Prioritized in Education)
Research Brief by The Aspen Institute (The Evidence Base for How We Learn: Supporting Students' Social, Emotional, & Academic Development)
References
CASEL (2018). https://casel.org/.
CASEL & Committee for Children (2016, September). Why social and emotional learning and employability skills should be prioritized in education. Retrieved from https://www.casel.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Sept.-14-2016-Congressional-Briefing-on-SEL-and-Employability-Skills.pdf
National Commission on Social, Emotional, and Academic Development (2017). The evidence base for how we learn: Supporting students’ social, emotional, and academic development. Washington, DC: The Aspen Institute. Retrieved from https://assets.aspeninstitute.org/content/uploads/2017/09/SEAD-Research-Brief-9.12_updated-web.pdf