Welcome to an engaging session on social and emotional learning (SEL) and digital life resources, brought to you by Common Sense Education. I’m Jennifer E. Hall, the Senior Manager on the Education Team, and I’m joined by my colleague, Sue Hotts. Together, we’ll explore how SEL can be integrated into digital life, providing valuable resources for educators and families alike.
In this session, we aim to achieve several key objectives. We’ll introduce you to short activities aligned with the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) framework. Additionally, we’ll offer family conversation starters to help students extend their learning beyond the classroom. Lastly, we’ll provide professional development resources to seamlessly incorporate SEL and digital life into your educational practices.
Social and emotional learning in the context of digital life involves equipping students with the skills and mindsets needed to navigate the challenges posed by technology. This includes managing emotions while using digital devices and fostering healthy relationships through social media.
CASEL, or the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, is a leading organization in promoting social emotional wellness across all age groups. Their framework is integral to our digital life lessons, helping educators teach SEL skills effectively.
Educators are increasingly tasked with teaching SEL skills, focusing on competencies outlined by CASEL. These competencies are directly applicable to students’ digital interactions. For instance, self-awareness involves understanding online cues, which differ from face-to-face communication. Students must learn to interpret digital signals effectively.
Another critical competency is relationship skills, such as managing digital conflicts. Students need strategies to avoid online arguments and maintain civility in digital interactions. These examples illustrate the relevance of SEL in the digital realm.
Our quick activities are designed to be impactful and essential for SEL. While we focus on middle school activities, resources are available for K-5 and high school students as well. Our user-friendly landing page provides everything you need in one place.
For example, a lesson plan for a sixth-grade class might cover topics like oversharing and digital footprints. Each lesson plan includes learning objectives, resource links, and step-by-step activities that can be completed in about 15 minutes.
We begin with a warm-up question, prompting students to share their social media experiences. A brief video follows, offering peer-to-peer insights to spark discussion. After watching, students are encouraged to express their thoughts and experiences.
To extend learning beyond the classroom, we provide family conversation starters related to the lesson. These prompts help families engage in meaningful discussions about avoiding the pitfalls of oversharing online.
These activities can be seamlessly integrated into different classroom settings, such as morning meetings, advisory periods, or school-wide initiatives. Our Teacher’s Essential Guide, available on the landing page, equips educators with foundational content on SEL and its connection to the curriculum.
All these resources are accessible on the Common Sense Education SEL landing page, where you’ll find lessons, parent resources, and more. As you explore these materials, consider which competencies resonate most with you and your students.
Thank you for joining us in this session! We hope you find these resources valuable and enjoy exploring the world of social and emotional learning in the digital age.
Engage in a workshop designed to enhance your self-awareness in digital spaces. Reflect on your online interactions and identify emotional triggers. Discuss with peers how digital cues differ from face-to-face communication and develop strategies to interpret these signals effectively.
Participate in role-playing exercises to practice managing digital conflicts. Work in pairs to simulate online disagreements and explore strategies to resolve them amicably. This activity will help you build relationship skills crucial for maintaining civility in digital interactions.
Take home conversation starters to discuss with your family. These prompts are designed to extend your learning beyond the classroom, focusing on topics like oversharing and digital footprints. Share your insights and learn from your family’s perspectives on digital life.
Watch a brief video featuring peer insights on social media experiences. After viewing, engage in a group discussion to express your thoughts and share personal experiences. This activity encourages empathy and understanding of diverse digital interactions.
Explore the CASEL competencies and their application to digital life. Identify which competencies resonate most with you and brainstorm ways to integrate them into your daily digital interactions. This exploration will deepen your understanding of SEL in the digital age.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hello and welcome to the Common Sense Education session on social and emotional learning and digital life resources. My name is Jennifer E. Hall, and I’m the Senior Manager on the Education Team. Joining me today is my colleague, Sue Hotts. Hi, Sue!
For today’s session, we have a few goals. This short session will highlight the short activities related to the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) framework. We will also share some family conversation starters so students can bring home what they’re learning at school. Additionally, we’ll provide some professional development resources to help integrate social emotional learning and digital life into your practices.
Let’s start by ensuring we all understand what social emotional learning in the digital life space entails. It refers to the skills and dispositions that students develop to navigate the unique dilemmas that technology brings to their lives. This includes learning to regulate emotions when using devices and leveraging social media to nurture healthy relationships.
For those unfamiliar with CASEL, it stands for the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning. They are thought leaders in social emotional wellness for all ages. Their framework has been tied to our digital life lessons.
Many educators are being asked to teach social and emotional learning skills in their classes, centered on the competencies outlined by CASEL. We’ve connected these competencies to how students use them with their devices. For example, under self-awareness, understanding online cues is crucial. In real life, we can read body language and facial expressions, but online communication is different, and we need to help students navigate that.
Another example is relationship skills, such as de-escalating digital drama. Students need to learn how to avoid online arguments and incivility. These are just a couple of examples of how social and emotional skills relate to the online space.
Now, let’s move on to our activities. We call them quick activities, but they are essential for social and emotional learning. We’ll focus on middle school activities, but there are also resources for K-5 and high school students.
Our landing page is intuitive and has everything you need in one spot. For example, if I have a sixth-grade class, I would pull up a lesson plan about oversharing and digital footprints. The lesson plan includes learning objectives, hyperlinks to resources, and step-by-step activities that take about 15 minutes.
We start with a warm-up question asking students to describe their experiences with social media. Then, we show a video that lasts about three minutes, followed by a discussion. The video provides peer-to-peer insights, which can help jump-start the conversation.
After discussing the video, we encourage students to share their thoughts and experiences. We also provide family conversation starters related to the lesson, helping families engage in discussions about avoiding the negative effects of oversharing.
These activities can be easily integrated into various classroom settings, such as morning meetings, advisory periods, or school-wide initiatives. We also have a Teacher’s Essential Guide available on the landing page, which equips educators with foundational content on social emotional learning and its connection to classroom curriculum.
All of this content is available at the Common Sense Education SEL landing page, where you can find lessons, parent resources, and more. As you consider implementing these lessons, think about which competencies resonate most with you and your students.
Thank you for joining us today! We hope you enjoyed the session and have fun exploring these resources.
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This version maintains the core content while ensuring clarity and professionalism.
Social – Relating to society or its organization, particularly in terms of how people interact and form relationships within a community. – Social dynamics play a crucial role in shaping community health initiatives.
Emotional – Pertaining to feelings or psychological states that influence a person’s behavior and interactions. – Emotional intelligence is essential for healthcare professionals to effectively communicate with patients.
Learning – The process of acquiring knowledge or skills through study, experience, or teaching. – Continuous learning is vital for educators to stay updated with the latest teaching methodologies.
Digital – Involving or relating to the use of computer technology and the internet. – Digital platforms have transformed how students access educational resources.
Resources – Materials, tools, or assets that can be used to achieve a goal, particularly in education or professional development. – Access to diverse resources enhances the learning experience for students.
Competencies – The skills and abilities required to perform tasks effectively in a specific context. – Developing cultural competencies is crucial for social workers to serve diverse communities effectively.
Relationships – The connections or associations between individuals or groups, often influencing social and professional interactions. – Building strong relationships with community leaders can enhance public health outreach efforts.
Activities – Tasks or actions undertaken to achieve a particular purpose, often used in educational or professional settings. – Interactive activities in the classroom can significantly improve student engagement and learning outcomes.
Educators – Individuals who provide instruction or education, often in a formal setting such as schools or universities. – Educators play a pivotal role in shaping the future workforce by imparting essential skills and knowledge.
Technology – The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry and education. – The integration of technology in healthcare has improved patient outcomes through more accurate diagnostics.
