SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING

If we teach todays students as we taught yesterdays, we rob them of tomorrow. ~ John Dewey

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNINGSKILLS FOR THE 21st CENTURYArnold F. AraoUniversity of MissouriDepartment of Educational PsychologySaturday, June 18th, 2016 Notre Dame Seishin University, Okayama, Japan

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Success in schoolWHAT IS OUR ROLE AS EDUCATORS?Success in life

Small discussion.TAKE AWAY: To consider the possibility that we need to rethink education from the perspective of facilitating learning rather than at making teaching more effective.X AXIS experience Y AXIS mastery3

WHAT IS SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING?The Collaborative for Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) define social-emotional learning (SEL) as:the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others and maintain positive relationships and make responsible decisions.

(http://www.casel.org/social-and-emotional-learning/)

Life skills: self-awareness, emotional regulation, managing stress, managing conflict, problem solving, prosocial behaviour, grit, tenacity, resilience, empathy,4

WHY DO WE NEED SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING?less than 1/3 of students report that they feel socially competent less than 30% of students feel that their school is a caring, encouraging environmentBy high school, 60% of students disengage from school 30-50% of students engage in multiple high-risk behaviour

(Durlak et al., 2011)

image source: http://www.edutopia.org

SHORT DISCUSSION what are some factors that contribute to this (KEY: Take a moment and think about your memories from schoolI am pretty sure they are not about passing a test or they day I had to really study hard for an upcoming midterm. They are probably filled with relationships, relationships to friends, teachers, and even your school which for many students nowadays is a huge stumbling block) Invasiveness of media messages social competence: empathy, decision making skills, conflict resolution 77% of students reported that they experienced some form of verbal abuse from their peers in the past year80% reported the same from cyber bullyingSome important facts: Despite the majority of students finishing high school (97%), less than 1/3 of students go on to pursue higher-learning (OECD, 2015, pp. 41,55). More poignant is the concern that such a demanding education system may be a factor in the ever increasing suicide rate among adolescents, particularly with suicide being cited as the second leading cause of death among Japanese adolescents (OECD, 2012, p. 49). The salient aspect of social emotional learning (SEL) is the SOCIAL aspect. Education as most of us practice it, is a social experience. At its core is the relationship between a teacher and a student. There is a unwritten contract of communication. Surrounding this is peer relationships and around this is school environment. To be successful, students need to be able to navigate the pitfalls that are part and parcel of those relationships. They need to possess the skills and abilties to regulate emotion and behaviour to pursue positive helathy relationships and respond appropriately to negative ones. But when are those skills taught moreover when do students have an opportunity to practice them. We expect and talk about character being important but fail to give a chance to experience it directly.

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THE SCIENCE BEHIND SEL

STROOP TEST

So far maybe some of you see this as fairly airy-fairy touchy-feely sentiment and in my experience, talking to others about this, it is not a unique reaction. So, lets look at the science behind this. This has to deal with the emotional side of SEL.talk about biology and then the skills to alter biology (i.e. go into SEL competencies) NEUROPLASTICITY of the BRAINDORSOLATERAL PFC executive functions (i.e. cognitive processes incl. working memory, flexibility planning) risky behaviour, decision makingORBITOFRONTAL CORTEX affective value of reinforcement (i.e reward & punishment) which makes it crucial for adaptive behaviourAMYGDALA negative emotions (i.e fight or flight) play a primary role on the processing of memories with emotional connotations also mediates the affect of emotional arousalANTERIOR CINGULATE CORTEX error detection and conflict resolution (STROOP TEST)Diffuse mirror imaging shows the connections between the PFC and the amygdala

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THE SCIENCE BEHIND SEL

Diffuse mirror imaging shows the connections between the PFC and the amygdala (in this case the UNCINATE FASCICULUS

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THE SCIENCE BEHIND SEL

(Scherf et al, 2006)

LINE GRAPH: People with greater mindfulness (affective control) showed greater amygdala down regulationBAR GRAPH: shows how stress affects working memory and produces longer reaction times in both people with high and low working memory but the affect is more pronounced for those with a low working memoryAFFECTIVE CHRONOMETRYwhat if we can teach students the skills to become self aware of themselves and their emotionsto manage self-distressing feelingto be more empathicto ake sound social decision

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WHAT IS SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING?SELF-MANAGEMENTSELF-AWARENESS

SOCIAL AWARENESSRELATIONSHIP SKILLS

RESPONISBLE DECISION MAKINGimage source: http://www.casel.org/social-and-emotional-learning/core-competencies/RESPONSIBLE DECISION- MAKINGSOCIAL AWARENESSSELF-MANAGEMENT

RELATIONSHIP SKILLSELF AWARENESS

Social & emotional learning

Social-emotional learning can be seen in terms of competencies that incorporate internal and external awareness and regulationThe interaction of these results in a fifth competency:

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Metacognition (metacognitive monitoring, reflective functioning)Flexible optimism (Seligman, 2006)Growth mindset (Dweck,2006)Mental contrasting (Duckworth et al., 2010)Academic Mindset (Farrington et al., 2012) image source: http://www.casel.org/social-and-emotional-learning/core-competencies/RESPONSIBLE DECISION- MAKINGSOCIAL AWARENESSSELF-MANAGEMENT

RELATIONSHIP SKILLSELF AWARENESS

Social & emotional learningSELF AWARENESS

DEF: the ability to recognize ones emotions and thoughts and to understand their influence on behaviourIncludes a recognition of ones strengths and limitationsmetacognition (include meta-comprehension: self-judging about the rightness of an answer, meta-memory: awareness of ones memory and how to effectively use memory support tasks) BERGIN 2015 and metacognitive monitoring which is the ability to observe ones self, detect errors and inconsistencies in ones speech or thinking and appreciating that others may have a different perspective (Kerig & Ludlow, p. 564)Flexible optimism gives an individual control over how one approaches adversity. It implies the positive integration of pessimism to support a keener sense of reality in the context of optimistic outcomes (learned optimism, 208)Mental contrasting ability to envision a future goal in relation to present circumstances (More on this later)SELF AWARENESS IS DIFFICULT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AS THEY OFTEN HAVE A DIFFICULTY TIME APPRECIATING THEIR BODY SPACE AND THE EFFECT OF THE WORDS AND ACTIONS ON OTHER PEOPLE10

Perseverance and academic tenacity (Dweck, 2014)Mental Contrasting and Implementation Intentions (Duckworth, 20120)image source: http://www.casel.org/social-and-emotional-learning/core-competencies/SELF AWARENESSRESPONSIBLE DECISION- MAKINGSOCIAL AWARENESS

RELATIONSHIP SKILLSELF MANAGEMENT

Social & emotional learningSELF-MANAGEMENT

DEFN: regulation of emotions and attitudesPutting awareness to work ACADEMIC TENACITY DEFN: impulse in a given direction and maintained momentum regardless of encountered challengesSTUDENTS DO NOT NECESSARILY KNOW THE TOOLS OR HAVE LEARNED STRATEGIES TO SELF-REGULATE they need to be taught and then provided the opportunity to practice themWe talk about character as being important but fail to provide students a chance to experience it directly12

MENTAL CONTRASTING AND IMPLEMENTATION INTENTIONS

Duckworth Upenn GritThree paths to goal commitment Oettingen 2001 Indulging: focus on the positive with no regard for possible obstaclesDwelling : focus on the negative exclusive of possible positive future outcomesMental Contrasting: envisioning desired outcome in relation to present circumstancesMENTAL CONTRASTING desired future is seen first (positive) and the present is seen as in the way. This realization energizes the individual to actionGOAL SETTTING v. Implementation intentions (i.e. if-then statement) The example she draws is I want to lose five pounds v. I want to lost five pounds + If I exercise twice a week and watch my nightime meals I can lose 1lb a week if I dont then Ill try to exercise three times a week and see how that goes. The goal of this is to protect goal commitment from reluctance to act (backsliding v. staying on track) GOAL COMMITMENTGRITDifference between goal setting and implementation intentionsResearch has shown a strong correlation between Grit (self-control) and higher student GPA (Farrington et al.,2014)More traditionally, Walter Mischels Marshmallow experiments (Mischel & Mischel, 1983) is often cited as evidence of the effect of self-control on academic achievement (SAT scores).

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image source: http://www.casel.org/social-and-emotional-learning/core-competencies/SELF AWARENESSRESPONSIBLE DECISION- MAKINGSELF-MANAGEMENT

RELATIONSHIP SKILLSOCIAL AWARENESS

Social & emotional learningSOCIAL AWARENESS

STUDENT VOICE COLLABORATIVE (NYC)

the ability to take the perspective of and empathize with others from diverse backgrounds, as well as to understand social and ethical norms for behaviour and to recognize family, school and community as sources of support. (CASEL)One of the important foundations behind SEL is that these is not knowledge that is necessarily taught rather than skills and abilities that are developed and nurtured in safe, caring learning environments involving peers and families (Cook et al 2009 as cited in Farrington)Because traditional education and teaching in particular take place within a social context, this runs through all aspectsSVC: Student Voice Collaborative was established in 2010 to generate a wave of student led change across NYC public high schools. The identify issues and challenges at their schools at implement changes 14

image source: http://www.casel.org/social-and-emotional-learning/core-competencies/SELF AWARENESSRESPONSIBLE DECISION- MAKINGSOCIAL AWARENESSSELF-MANAGEMENTRELATIONSHIP SKILL

Social & emotional learning

RELATIONSHIP SKILL

includes not only the ability to create and maintain healthy relationships but also refers to the skills needed to do this, such as active listening, gratitude (appreciation), cooperation as well as the abilities to resist inappropriate social pressure negotiating conflict and seeking and offering help.Because social skills runs through all aspects of learning, it is difficult to determine the exact impact of social skills itself on academic outcome. However, the general view of research and practice is that social skills have an indirect impact on learning by defining classroom behaviour (fewer misbehaviour, more time on task, less emotional distress) and enhance social interactions that promote more effective learning (Vygotsky, 1978; Bandura, 1997 as cited in Farrington, 2014)THIS IS A FUNDAMENTAL LIFE SKILLS THAT WE WILL USE IN ALL DOMAINS OF LIFE WITH COWORKERS FRIENDS IN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS15

RELATIONSHIP SKILL EFFECTIVE LEARNING STRATEGIESACADEMIC BEHAVIOURSACADEMIC TENACITYPROSCOCIAL BEHAVIOURPOSITIVE AND NURTURING RELATIONSHIPSimage source: http://www.casel.org/social-and-emotional-learning/core-competencies/SELF AWARENESSSOCIAL AWARENESSSELF-MANAGEMENTRESPONSIBLE DECISION MAKING

Social & emotional learningRESPONSIBLE DECISION- MAKING

the interaction of the previous four competencies culminates in responsible decision making and realized in the following outcomes:Academic behaviours (e.g. completing class assignments, doing homework, active participation) act as a mediator of cognitive and non cognitive factors that affects grades (Farrington, 2014). An example is a student who has mastered the material but fails to engage in activities is invisible to the teacher.These outcomes in turn reflect back on and affect cognitive and non-cognitive factors (success breeds success) TRANSACTIONAL LOOP16

WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH SHOW?STUDENTS WHO ARE ALREADY ACADEMICALLY SUCCESSFUL by building on strengths and developing weaker areas students are introduced to positive failure and develop qualities such as grit and tenacity. Students who go from success to success will be unprepared for lifes frustrations simply because they have no knowledge of them (Hoerr, 2013, p.7)TEST SCORES ARE POOR INDICATORS OF FUTURE OUTCOMES. GPAs and teachers grades are much better more accurate predictors of how a student will do in the future both academically and in life (CASEL, 2015, p.9, Dweck at al., 2014, p.2, Elias, Parker, Kash, Weissberg & Obrien, 2008, p.254, Farrington et al., 2014, p20-27, Weissberg & Cascarino, 2013, p.11) For STUDENTS WHO STRUGGLE, SEL competencies help act as a buffer against a variety of risk factors and can mediate or even vaccinate individuals against risks (Beets et al., 2009)INTEGRATED CLASSROOMS room are the direction that the Ministry of Education is moving toward. SEL programs have consistently demonstrated success for student with disorders and disabilities and has been successfully used to ease transition into mainstream classes (Bellini et al., 2007, Destin, M. & Kosko, M.J., 2016, Elbertson et al., 2010, Sumida, M., 2010).

To address the needs for a globally competitive workforce, policy makers have mandated stricter and more rigorous academic standards. Based on the assumption that test scores reflect student performance, by raising standards, it is hoped that student performance will naturally follow. However, both extensive research and daily practice have shown this to be false (Boykin & Noguera, 2011, p.5, Dweck, Walton & Cohen, 2014, p.2, Farrington et al., 2014, p.3). Struggling students: Many variables influence adolescent behaviour including academic achievement and peer and familial influence. The immediacy and messages of modern media also plays a large role, communicating quick and shortsighted decision-making, impulsive and violent behaviour as well as emotional dis-regulation (Elias et al., 2008, p248). Unchecked, adolescent engagement in risky behaviours such as violence, substance abuse and precocious sexual activity place our children at risk for psychopathology (Beets et al., 2009, p.1438, Kerig & Ludlow, 2012) 17

HOW CAN WE IMPLEMENT SEL IN OUR CLASSROOMS?Scheduled student-teacher check-insEffective use of classroom meetingsHigh expectationsCommunicate with families from the teacher and the studentProvide assistance exemplars to stimulate and encourage conversation at homeExplicitly instruct and provide opportunities to practice problem solvingModel mastery self-talkIncorporate students in decisions that affect the classroom

Socially - Oriented Microchanges

The increased interest in SEL is often met initially with agreement and enthusiasm which then turns into skepticism and arguments of logistical impracticality. However, though competencies can be delivered independently as separate courses of learning or even interventions, it is also possible to incorporate SEL into existing curricula as dual-purpose learning (David Levin, KIPP) or in the form of what Doll et al. call micro-changes.

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WHAT CAN WE DO TO IMPLEMENT SEL IN OUR CLASSROOMS?Instruct and provide opportunities to practice prosocial behaviour, self-regulating strategies, goal setting and decision makingExplicitly communicate classroom rules (and review periodically)Give students varied choices (where to sit, how much time, how to respond) Help students self-rate (e.g. a competency check list)Provide step-by-step directionDevelop designated activity areasUse alpha instead of beta commands

Academic - Oriented Microchanges

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SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING FINAL THOUGHTSREDUCE aggression and emotional distressINCREASE prosocial behavioursINCREASE academic behavioursIMPROVE positive attitudes toward ones self and othersIMPROVE student academic performance by 11 percentile points (Durlak et al., 2011)

video source: http://www.edutopia.org/keys-social-emotional-learning-video

Language plays a critical role in the development of individuals. It is the social medium through which we know and are known. It is also the tool through which we identify and develop who we are. For example, the ability to label and describe emotions is a necessary developmental phase that we all must go through and failure to do can lead to the development of psychopathology (Kerig & Ludlow)Language and language arts instruction is prime domain in which to help students develop the competencies they will require to succeed at school and in life.20

REFERENCESBeets, M. W., Flay, B. R., Vuchinich, S., Snyder, F. J., Acock, A., Li, k.-K., et al. (2009). Use of a social and character development program to prevent substance abuse, violent behaviors and sexual activity among elementary-school students in Hawaii. American Journal of Public Health , 99 (8), 1438-1445.Bellini, S., Peters, J.K., Benner, L., & Hopf, A. (2007). A meta-analysis of school-based social skills interventions for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Remedial and Special Eduation, 28(3), 153-162Boykin, A. W., & Noguera, P. (2011). Creating the Opportunity to Learn. Alexandria, VA, USA: ASCD Publications.Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning. (2015). 2015 CASEL guide: Effective Social and Emotional Learning programs. CASEL. Chicago: Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning.Compton, W. C., & Hoffman, E. (2013). Positive psychology: The science of happiness and flourishing (2nd Edition ed.). Belmont, CA, USA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.Doll, B., Brehm, K., & Zucker, S. (2014). Resilient Classrooms: Creating Healthy Environments for Learning (2nd Ed. ed.). New York, NY, USA: The Guilford Press.Duckworth, A. L., Grant, H., Loew, B., Oettingen, G., & Gollwitzer, P. M. (2010). Self-regulation strategies improve self-discipline in adolescents: Benefits of mental contrasting and implementation intentions. Educational Psychology , 31 (1), 17-26.

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REFERENCESDuckworth, A. L., Peterson, C., Matthews, M. D., & Kelly, D. R. (2007). Grit: Perseverance and Passion for Long-Term Goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , 92 (6), pp. 1087-1101.Durlak, J. A., Weissberg, R. P., Dyminicki, A. B., Taylor, R. D., & Schellinger, K. B. (2011). The impact of enhancing students' social and emotional learning: A meta-analysis of school-based universal interventions. Child Development , 82 (1), 405-432.Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. New York, NY, USA: Ballantine BooksDweck, C. S., Walton, G. M., & Cohen, G. L. (2014). Academic tenacity: Mindsets and skills that promote long-term learning. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.Elias, M. J., Parker, S. J., Kash, V. M., Weissberg, R. P., & O'Brien, M. U. (2008). Social and Emotional Learning, Moral Education, and Character Education: A comparative analysis and a view toward convergence. In L. P. Nucci, & D. Narvaez, Handbook of Moral and Character Education (1st Ed. ed., pp. 248-266). New York, NY, USA: Taylor and Francis.Farrington, C. A., Roderick, M., Allensworth, E., Nagaoka, J., Keyes, T. S., Johnson, D. W., et al. (2012). Teaching adolescents to become learners: The role of noncognitive factors in shaping school performance: A critical literature review. University of Chicago Consortium on Chicago School Research. Chicago: University of Chicago Consortium on Chicago School Research.Hoerr, T. R. (2013). Fostering grit: How do I prepare my students for the real world? Danvers, MA, USA: ASCD Publications.

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REFERENCESJones, S. M., & Bouffard, M. (2012). Social and emotional learning in schools: From programs to strategies. Social Policy Report , 26 (4), 1-33.Kerig, P. K., Ludlow, A., & Wenar, C. (2012). Developmental Psychopathology (6th Edition ed.). Maidenhead, Berkshire, UK: McGraw-Hill Education.Maslow, A. H. (1970). Motivation and Personality (2nd Ed ed.). Harper & Row Publishers.OECD. (2015). Education at a glance 2015: OECD indicators. OECD Publishing.OECD. (2012). Lessons from PISA for Japan, strong performers and successful reformers in education. OECD. OECD Publishing.Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. (2004). Character strengths and virtues: A handbook and classification. Washington, DC, USA: Oxford University Press.Scherf, K. S., Sweeney, J.A., & Luna, B. (2006). Brain basis of developmental change in visuaspatial working memory. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 18 (7),1045-158.Seligman, M. E. (2006). Learned optimism: How to change your mind and change your life. New York, NY, USA: Vintage Books.Tough, P. (2012). How children succeed: Grit, curiosity and the hidden power of character. New York, NY, USA: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.Weissberg, R. P., & Cascarino, J. (2013). Academic learning + social-emotional learning = national priority. Phi Kappan Delta , 95 (2), 8-13.http://www.casel.org/social-and-emotional-learning/core-competencies/http://www.edutopia.org

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STROOP TEST 1-A

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BLUEWHITEYELLOWPINKPURPLEBLACKORANGEGREEN

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BLUEBLUEGREENPINKREDBLACKWHITEPINKPURPLEBROWNWHITEYELLOWPURPLEGREENORANGEBLUE

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REDYELLOWYELLOWREDBLACKBLACKORANGEWHITEYELLOWGREENBLUEBLACKPURPLEBLUEORANGEBLUE

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