Social Emotional Learning Skills Research Articles

Testing a social cognitive model of career self‐management with Turkish undergraduate students

AbstractThis study investigated the direct and indirect associations between social–emotional learning (SEL) skills, career decision self‐efficacy (CDSE), vocational outcome expectations (VOE), and career engagement (CE) within social cognitive career theory (SCCT) in a sample of Turkish university students. Junior and senior students (N = 460) completed the Social–Emotional Learning Scale‐Young Adult Form, the Career Decision Self‐Efficacy Scale‐Short Form, the Vocational Outcome Expectations Scale, the Career Engagement Scale, and the Demographic Information Form. Data was collected during COVID‐19 lockdowns in 2021. The results of a multiple serial mediation model indicated that higher SEL skills were related to higher CDSE and VOE, and, in turn, to CE. Overall, the results show that SCCT provides a promising framework for identifying predictors of CE, self‐directed career management behavior, in young adults during the transition from school to work. These findings have implications for theory, research, and practice by identifying potential influences on CE during COVID‐19.

The Predictors of Academic Motivation of University Students During COVID-19 Pandemic

Given the salience of personal and environmental-related factors in young people’s motivation during COVID-19, this study investigated if positive future expectations, social-emotional learning (SEL) skills, and perceived social support were related to university students’ intrinsic and extrinsic academic motivation and amotivation as well as if their academic motivations differed according to gender. Using a convenient sampling method, 805 university students (54% female) participated in the study in the spring semester of 2020-2021, during COVID-19 lockdowns. The results of multiple linear regression showed positive relations of positive future expectations and SEL skills with intrinsic and extrinsic academic motivations and negative relations with amotivation levels of university students. In addition, the results indicated a significant positive relationship between perceived social support and extrinsic motivation, yet no significant relation between intrinsic motivation and amotivation levels. Moreover, female students' intrinsic and extrinsic motivation levels were higher and their amotivation levels were lower than those of male students, with low effect sizes. The findings pointed to theoretical, research, and practical implications, which could be interpreted in a cultural context during COVID-19.

The Effect of the Socio-Emotional Learning for Professional Development (SEL-PD) Program on Turkish Preservice Teachers’ Knowledge and Practices

The use of socio-emotional learning skills in the classroom is one of the most important teacher competencies. Therefore this study aimed to examine the change in early childhood pre-service teachers’ professional perceptions, knowledge and skills throughout the Socio-Emotional Learning for Professional Development Program which was developed to provide support for pre-service teachers. The sample of this qualitative study consisted from 25 early childhood pre-service teachers whom selected through criterion based purposeful sampling. They met the criterion of completing the School Experience Course and having ongoing teaching practice at a kindergarten with 3-6 year old children. Data collected through Demographic Information Form and Structured Interview Form. Structured interview form include questions regarding participants’ perceptions on teachers’ professional development, emotion socialization responses, their interaction with children and the program outputs on their professional development. The findings showed that pre-service teachers’ perceptions and practices towards professional development and socio-emotional learning have been changed positively after the program implementation. Besides, their emotional awareness and emotion socialization skills have been improved. It is revealed that this changes also improved their classroom practices that they displayed more social emotional learning skills and less negative emotion socialization behaviors during their classroom practices. Findings were asserted concerning the importance of pre-service teacher training in terms of acquiring socio-emotional learning.

Proof of Concept for a Novel Social-Emotional Learning Programming: The B.E. M.Y. F.R.I.E.N.D. Framework

Despite the known benefits of social-emotional learning (SEL) for children, evidence-based, culturally sensitive, and multisensory SEL programs are limited. To address existing challenges in SEL for underprivileged youth, we developed the multicomponent B.E. M.Y. F.R.I.E.N.D. (BMF) framework that capitalizes on (1) cultural tailoring to foster acceptability, (2) tools and strategies to build healthy habits, (3) parental engagement using the Child-Mediated Health Communication Model, (4) social engagement of teachers via peer interaction during learning experiences, and (5) multisensory learning. Each letter (component) of the BMF stands for a unique SEL skill. To test the BMF framework, we developed a proof of concept (POC) focused on one component of the BMF—mindfulness and gratitude SEL (M-letter). The POC includes a description of immersive and interactive multimedia modules with tailor-made music, digital games, cartoons, and booster activities. The outcomes from the POC will inform the development of fully powered randomized studies of each component of BMF and, ultimately, the implementation and dissemination of the entire BMF program. The Multisensory Multilevel Health Education Model (MMHEM) guided the design of the program. In the POC, we used a learning management system (LMS) platform to facilitate program scalability. The modules encompassed culturally and age-relevant real-world examples and were digitized and integrated with traditional learning approaches. This article presents qualitative and quantitative data evaluating feasibility, preliminary acceptability, and preliminary outcomes from the mindfulness and gratitude modules (letter “M” of the BMF). The studies were conducted with 4th and 5th-grade students (Studies 2–4) attending a New York City public school-affiliated after-school program in the Bronx and Queens and their teachers (Study 1). Study #1 presents the focus group data on teachers and principals; Study #2 shows the focus group data on minoritized students; Study #3 presents data from the pilot testing of study-specific outcome measures; and Study #4 presents data on the preliminary efficacy of the BMF mindfulness and gratitude modules using a within-subjects repeated measures pre-posttest study design. Results suggest that the “M” component (mindfulness and gratitude) of the BMF framework is feasible and highly engaging among minoritized children, with high acceptability among teachers and students. We also found a positive impact of the intervention on measures of gratitude and life satisfaction (preliminary efficacy).

The Mediating Effect of Social Emotional Learning between Relationship on Basic Psychological Needs and Technology Addiction

This study was aimed at testing the hypothetical model, which included technology addiction, basic psychological needs, and social emotional learning skills (SEL). The study also examined whether there is a mediating effect of SEL in the relationship between basic psychological needs and technology addiction. For this purpose, data were collected from a sample of 592 participants [424 (71.6%) females and 168 (28.1%) males] aged between 18 and 27 years. Demographic Information Form, Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction and Inhibition Scale, Social Emotional Learning Scale-Young Adult Form (SELS-YF), and Technology Addiction Scale (TAS) were used to collect the data. Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the data, and the results supported the hypothetical model. There was a negative correlation between technology addiction and the satisfaction of basic psychological needs and SEL. There was a positive correlation between the satisfaction of basic psychological needs and SEL. Another finding was that SEL indirectly effected the relationship between satisfaction of basic psychological needs and technology addiction. In addition, the model explained about 14% of the total variance in technology addiction.

Leveraging Recess and Physical Education to Promote Social–Emotional Learning

Recess is ideal for students to accumulate recommended physical activity minutes and work on social-emotional learning skills. However, many students fail to meet national physical activity guidelines, and recess is often withheld from students for a myriad of reasons, including behavioral issues. Helping students build social-emotional skills and providing opportunities to utilize skills at school can help them succeed in school and their future careers. Furthermore, teaching students low organized, student-initiated games provides students with activities they can use at recess, which may keep them more physically active. Thus, the purpose of this article is to share how one physical educator implemented a recess unit into physical education to (a) work on students’ social-emotional learning skills, particularly those needed in gameplay, (b) introduce games that can be played at recess, and (c) how to evaluate recess before and after a recess unit. The article will share games, social-emotional skill-building activities, and evaluation tools. As a physical educator, you can build social-emotional skills and teach recess games with physical education. These efforts can potentially improve the school recess environment from a behavioral perspective and increase students’ physical activity time.

The Relationship of Reward Addiction and Punishment Sensitivity with Social and Emotional Learning Skills in High School Students

The purpose of the study was to analyze the relationship between Social Emotional Learning skills, which emphasize the effect of school on students' social and emotional problems, and the sensitivity created by the use of reward-punishment in educational processes on students. The present research was designed in accordance with the relational survey model, one of the quantitative research designs. The sample of the research consists of 818 high school students who continue formal education in a province located in the Marmara Region, Turkey. Personal information form, punishment sensitivity scale, reward addiction scale, and social emotional learning scale were used to collect data. In the analysis of the data, pearson correlation coefficients were determined and tested by path analysis by establishing a structural equation modeling with latent variables. Secondly, multiple regression analysis was conducted while investigating the effects of students' levels of reward addiction and punishment sensitivity on their social and emotional learning in the academic context. When the relationships between reward commitment in the academic context and sensitivity to punishment in the academic context were examined, low and moderate relationships were found between the sub-dimensions of both variables.

PROMOTING PRESCHOOL CHILDREN'S SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING SKILLS THROUGH CREATIVE DRAMA INTEGRATED MUSIC ACTIVITIES

This study investigates the progression of social-emotional learning skills in children by integrating music activities into creative drama. The research was executed employing a pre-and post-test control group research design. The research cohort consisted of 40 five-year-old participants, separated into two groups of 20 each, experimental and control. An 8-week comprehensive music education program was implemented exclusively for the experimental group to enhance their social-emotional proficiencies. A personalized information questionnaire was also employed to gather demographic information about the children and their respective parents. The "Vineland Social-Emotional Early Childhood Scale" (VSEECS) and the "Expression of Emotions Test" (EET) were applied as pre-and post-tests to determine children's social-emotional behaviors. The results of this investigation revealed a statistically significant difference in the EET pre-and post-test scores within the experimental group. Conversely, comparing both study groups, no statistically significant difference in EET scores was observed. The lack of a significant difference could be attributed to social-emotional learning activities in the curriculum that were carried out at school. This result may positively affect the control group's emotional expression and social skills. The analysis revealed that no statistically significant difference was observed in the mean scores of the (VSEECS) between the two groups at both the pre-test and post-test scores. In the context of forthcoming research, it is advisable to procure data through systematic observation, interviews, and the implementation of longitudinal investigations to elucidate the impact of music education on the development of children's social-emotional learning skills.

The Effect of Literature Circle Method on Social Emotional Learning Skills Levels of High School Students: A Mixed Method Study

Bu araştırmanın amacı, okuma çemberi yönteminin lise öğrencilerinin sosyal duygusal öğrenme becerileri üzerindeki etkisini belirlemektir. Araştırma, iç içe karma desende tasarlanmış ve 2021-2022 eğitim öğretim yılının birinci döneminde İstanbul ili, Arnavutköy ilçesindeki bir lisede yürütülmüştür. Araştırmanın çalışma grubu, 9. sınıfta öğrenim gören 32’si deney, 31’i kontrol grubunda olmak üzere 63 öğrenciden oluşmuştur. Araştırmanın nicel verileri Sosyal Duygusal Öğrenme Ölçeği ile toplanmıştır. Nitel veriler ise görüşme formu ve öğrenci projelerinden elde edilmiştir. Araştırmanın nicel verileri Kovaryans Analizi istatistik tekniğiyle; nitel veriler ise içerik analizi yöntemiyle çözümlenmiştir. Araştırmanın nicel boyutunda ulaşılan bulgular, okuma çemberi yönteminin uygulandığı deney grubu ile kontrol grubu arasında SDÖ becerilerinin her birinde ve toplam puanlarında deney grubu lehine anlamlı bir fark ortaya çıkarmıştır. Nitel boyutta ulaşılan bulgular ise nicel bulguları destekler şekilde öğrencilerin SDÖ becerilerini yansıtmıştır. Araştırmanın sonuçları, öğrencilerin okuma çemberleri ile duygularını ifade ettiklerini, öz güvenlerini artırdıklarını, ön yargılarını gözden geçirdiklerini, ilgilerini keşfettiklerini göstererek öz farkındalık becerilerini yansıtmıştır. Ayrıca öğrencilerin öz yönetim becerileri kapsamında, koydukları hedefe ulaşma ve zaman kontrolü sağlama açısından disiplin kazandıklarını, motivasyonlarını artırdıklarını, inisiyatif aldıklarını göstermiştir. Sonuçlar, öğrencilerin empati kurma, şefkat gösterme, başkalarının duygularını ve bakış açılarını anlama gibi sosyal farkındalık becerileri sergilediklerini; iletişim becerilerini geliştirerek olumlu ilişkiler kurduklarını; eleştirel düşünme, problemleri tanımlayıp çözme ve eylemlerinin sonuçlarını öngörerek gerekçeli yargıda bulunma gibi sorumlu karar verme becerileri sergilediklerini ortaya çıkarmıştır. Araştırmada, SDÖ becerilerinin desteklenmesinde okuma çemberi yönteminin etkili olduğu görülmüştür.

You Can Do It! A narrative inquiry into children’s experiences of a social-emotional and academic learning programme

ABSTRACT Internationally and nationally, government and educational policies prioritise wellbeing to support education. Social-emotional learning (SEL), a frequently used term for wellbeing in the United States of America (USA), comprises accrued skills enacted over time. This article presents the findings of an arts-based narrative inquiry exploring eight primary school children’s experiences of the five foundations of the social-emotional and academic learning program ‘You Can Do It (YCDI) Program Achieve’. YCDI is a structured classroom-based programme where children are taught explicit SEL skills through lessons based on the five programme foundations, or SEL competencies, of Organisation, Confidence, Getting Along, Persistence, and Resilience. Using a three-dimensional, narrative inquiry framework, the researcher addresses two questions: What impact did the YCDI programme and its foundations have on the children’s lives on and off the school landscape? What are the implications for the future implementation of the YCDI programme? Through the presentation of children’s narratives, this study provides insight into how YCDI improved the children’s SEL skills and wellbeing. It also prompts important questions for those considering the program’s implementation in the future.

Effect of music education based on Edwin E. Gordon’s Theory on children’s developmental music aptitude and social emotional learning skills

This study aims to determine the effect of music education based on Music Learning Theory (MLT) on children’s developmental music aptitude (DMA) and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) skills. For this purpose, an experimental procedure planned as 16 lessons was applied to primary school first-grade students ( n = 92) aged between 6 and 7. The experimental group received music education based on MLT, and the control group received music education following the current curriculum in Turkey. Also, SEL objectives were integrated into MLT lessons. DMA was measured with the Primary Measures of Music Audiation test, and SEL skills were measured with Social Emotional Assets and Resilience Scale-Teacher Form-Turkish. In the musical dimension of the study, although the difference was not statistically significant, it can be said that the increase in the tonal, rhythmic, and composite scores of the experimental group are higher than the control groups’ scores and noteworthy for a short-term experiment. As for the SEL dimension of the study, the total SEL skills of the experimental group showed statistically significant improvement. These results suggest that music education in this direction can create opportunities and an effective learning environment for acquiring SEL skills; however further research is needed, particularly over a longer instructional period.

The Impact of a Weekend Dance Program on Social-Emotional Learning Among Young Children

Dance and movement encourages socialization promoting children's social and emotional skills. This study aimed to examine the impact on the SEL of children after a weekend dance program. METHOD: This study employed a quasi-experimental controlled trial design with 60 children aged 5-6 in Fujian Province, China. Participants were randomly assigned to either an integrated dance program group (n=30) or control group (n=30). The weekend dance program was led by professional instructors and consisted of 12 weekly lessons, each lasting 50 minutes. Pre- and post-measurements were taken using the Social-Emotional and Character Development Scale (SECDS) and the Preschooler Gross Motor Quality Scale (PGMQS) to assess changes in social-emotional learning and gross motor skills. Repeated-measures ANOVA tests were conducted to determine the impact of the integrated dance program.RESULTS: The study found a significant difference in the changes between the two groups, indicating that the weekend dance program had a positive impact on the social-emotional behavior and motor skill quality of the children who participated compared to the control group. Specifically, the participants in the dance program group demonstrated significantly greater improvements in their social-emotional behavior and motor skill quality compared to those in the control group.CONCLUSION: The study provides preliminary evidence that an integrated dance program can promote social-emotional development and gross motor skills in young children. After-school dance activities may help to improve children's well-being. Further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms and to evaluate alternative arts-based therapies. 

Using Games to Build Social Emotional Learning Skills

This paper presents the results of a questionnaire-based study conducted at the "Vasile Alecsandri" University of Bacău, Romania. The study aimed at identifying students’ perception of the impact of educational games on their social emotional skills. The objectives of the study are: O1. to highlight the connection between game-based learning and social emotional learning skills; O2. to identify students' perceptions of the effects of learning games on their social-emotional learning skills in the context of online education; O3. to systematise the main arguments for using learning games to build social-emotional learning skills. A questionnaire consisting of a series of closed questions answered by 200 students from different study programmes was used for data collection. The results obtained made it possible to determine both students' perceptions of the impact of educational games on their professional and personal development and to formulate suggestions for the use of games to build social-emotional learning skills in higher education.

An Investigation of Social Emotional Learning Skills in Primary Schools in Terms of Some Variables

In this study, the social-emotional learning skills of the students attending the fourth and fifth grades of primary school were examined in terms of gender, class, parental association, assertiveness, aggression, and submissiveness variables. As a measurement tool in the study, it consists of four dimensions and twenty-one items developed by Baydan (2010). Behavioral Tendency Scale for Children, which was developed by Deluty (1979) and adapted to Turkish by Usakli (2006), was used. The findings of the study revealed that there were significant differences in the social-emotional learning skills of the students attending the fourth and fifth grades in terms of gender, class, parental association, assertiveness, aggression, and submissive variables. In future studies, it may be about giving social emotional learning skills training in different grade levels by associating it with assertiveness training.

The Real Learning Loss: A Lost Opportunity to Reimagine Schooling

Reflections on pandemic schooling and its aftermath have been dominated by narratives of loss. Most notably, there has been sustained attention given to students’ loss of learning and loss of social skills (with implications that this will lead to loss of revenue and a lost generation down the road). This neoliberal view of schooling, which is steeped in whiteness, has led to a narrow understanding of both these problems and their solutions. The solutions that are suggested, informed by whiteness and dominant culture, have significant consequences for all children, but especially BIPOC children. Specifically, there have been calls to focus classroom efforts on raising test scores and calls to add the teaching of social emotional learning skills. In this paper, we critique these moves and argue instead for a more expansive view of possibilities for schooling post-pandemic. Rather than framing this loss as a reason to focus on test scores and scripted curricula, we encourage educators to consider what children have gained and how we might reimagine more democratic, just, and liberatory schooling as a result. We highlight two pedagogical frameworks—community engaged teaching and restorative justice—as viable alternatives to a focus on academic learning loss and SEL.

Pilot Evaluation of the Elementary Social-Emotional Learning Program Sources of Strength.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12310-023-09567-0.

Moving beyond dosage and adherence: A protocol for capturing dimensions of active child engagement as a measure of fidelity for social-emotional learning interventions.

Social-emotional competencies are important for school-readiness and can be supported through social-emotional learning (SEL) interventions in the preschool years. However, past research has demonstrated mixed efficacy of early SEL interventions across varied samples, highlighting a need to unpack the black box of which early interventions work, under what conditions, and for whom. In the present article we discuss the critical implementation component of active child engagement in an intervention as a potential point of disconnect between the intervention as designed and as implemented. Children who are physically present but unengaged during an intervention may lead to decreased average impacts of an intervention. Furthermore, measuring young children's active engagement with an intervention may help to guide iterative intervention development. We propose a four-step protocol for capturing the multi-dimensional and varied construct of active child engagement in a SEL intervention. To illustrate the utility of the protocol, we apply it to data from a pilot study of a researcher-implemented, semi-structured block play intervention focused on supporting the development of SEL and math skills in preschoolers. We then present future directions for the integration of active participant engagement into the measurement of implementation of SEL interventions for young children.

THE OPINIONS OF CHILDREN ABOUT VIRTUAL REALITY SOCIAL–EMOTIONAL LEARNING SKILLS PROGRAMME

The purpose of this case study is to introduce Virtual Reality Social–Emotional Learning Skills Programme developed for Children (VRSELCHILD) and to reveal how children experience, perceive and react the two main components of VRSELCHILD including psychoeducation program and the software. The spread of virtual reality in recent years has accelerated the emergence of applications developed for children. For example, a child with high social anxiety will be anxious as in real life when exposed to vitrual reailty scenarios in order to better cope with the avoidance social environments. On the other hand, knowing that the virtual environment is not real allows the child to act more courageously and repeat the supported skill as often as desired. Thus, the child is better prepared for real life experience. VRSELCHILD, designed to support children's SEL skills, consists of two basic contents: "Psychoeducation Program" and "Software".This study recruited seven children (females = 4, males=3) aged between 9 and 10 years. VRSELCHILD was implemented individually with seven children during nine weeks. Researcher conducted semi-structured individual interviews with children after the implementation. Observations of counselor/researcher were also recorded via a researcher diary. The data obtained from the interviews and diaries was analyzed through descriptive analysis. The findings showed that VRSELCHILD supports the development of children’s social-emotional skills and children enjoyed learning the skills with such a programme. It has been seen that psychoeducation program, software, counselor and gamification effect dimensions within the scope of VRSELCHILD have important contributions to this development. The findings of the study are discussed regarding the effectiveness, benefits and side effects aspects of VRSELCHILD. Recommendations are provided for further program developers as well as researchers and practitioners.

Connection to nature is associated with social-emotional learning of children

When assessing the link between nature exposure and social-emotional or proximal outcomes of children, few studies have included the psychological connection to nature as a mediating variable. We determined the association between children's connection to nature and their overall social-emotional learning (SEL) skills, self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. The final study sample of children ages 8–10 (n = 138) originated from three elementary schools serving majority economically disadvantaged Latino households in communities with relatively low access to nature in Austin, Texas, United States, in 2019. SEL skills originated from a survey administered annually by the school district. Output from ordinary least squares regression models in which nature connection was measured using the Connection to Nature Index and that adjusted for gender, race, ethnicity, grade, and school found children's connection to nature was directly associated with higher overall SEL skills (β = 0.29; 95% CI [0.13, 0.45]; p = 0.001); self-awareness (β = 0.46; 95% CI [0.29, 0.64]; p = 0.001); self-management (β = 0.34; 95% CI [0.09, 0.60]; p = 0.009); and relationship skills (β = 0.39; 95% CI [0.10, 0.68]; p = 0.009). Results suggest children's connection to nature may positively impact their SEL skills. We recommend developing nature-based SEL interventions with explicit focus on strengthening children's psychological connection to nature.

Focusing on Uptake: The Evolution of an Evidence-Informed Classroom Resource for Student Mental Health

It is widely recognized that the most effective student mental health interventions, tools, and resources are those that are solidly grounded in theory, evidence, and practice. But developing interventions in this way can be a time-consuming, challenging process. This article describes the process of developing a classroom resource to build social emotional learning skills among high school students in Ontario. The resource was informed by the latest research evidence while also being sensitive to the implementation context and needs of educators and students. In creating, evaluating, and revising these resources over several years, lessons have emerged about what it takes to navigate inherent challenges, balance competing needs and priorities, and ultimately develop an intervention that is both evidence-informed and implementation sensitive. Flexible funding, effective partnerships, and a commitment to contextual responsivity are key.