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A study in the Journal of Benefit-Cost Analysis concluded that for every $1 spent on a Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) program, an $11 benefit appears. This advantage is one of many for high schools looking to improve their SEL curricula. What are the other benefits of teaching these skills? SEL programs prepare teenagers to navigate the real world long after they are handed their diploma. This is an advantage no one can put a price tag on. The following article outlines how the five core outcomes of SEL prepare teens for life beyond high school.
The SEL Model
CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning) defines the five core outcomes of the SEL curriculum as learning self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. This SEL model is incredibly beneficial during high school when adolescents navigate academic challenges, social groups, and learning to regulate their emotions. What about life after high school? Here are the five ways the core tenets of SEL help students in college, careers, and beyond.
Self-Awareness
In SEL, self-awareness is the ability to understand one’s own emotions, thoughts, and values and influence behavior across contexts. Some examples of this skill include identifying one’s emotion and experiencing self-efficacy. When teenagers learn these skills, especially emotional regulation, they can carry this ability into several facets of their adult life. An article in Berkley’s Greater Good in Education magazine cites researcher James Gross and his thoughts on self-awareness and emotions. Gross states, “When we regulate our emotions, we are using processes that impact which emotions we have, when we have them, and how we experience and express them.” The article also gives a key example of positive emotional regulation in a professional situation, “In a staff meeting, a principal is publicly criticized by her teachers for a decision she made. That evening, the principal feels a tight knot in her stomach. It isn’t until she does a body scan mindfulness practice before bed that she understands the connection between her stomach ache and the staff meeting. She now allows herself to feel the emotions and makes the healthy decision to talk to the teachers tomorrow about their concerns.”
Self-Management
In Education Week, Marc Brackett, a professor at Yale University and proponent of SEL, states, “If we’re not teaching students how to eat healthily, regulate their sleep patterns, how to maintain exercise, how to persevere even in classes where they’re bored, or how to manage their stress – we’re not doing them any good.” Brackett makes an excellent point that once a high school student can effectively achieve self-awareness through SEL, they must learn how to manage those behaviors in the real world. These self-management functions often include learning how to deal with stress, setting goals, and motivating oneself. As teens learn these skills and others like time management, they can continue these practices well into adulthood. When students develop motivation, healthy habits, and stress management skills, they learn to overcome procrastination and develop resilience, especially as they tackle several academic, social, and job demands.
Social Awareness
SEL’s social awareness component involves understanding and empathizing with others, particularly with people from different backgrounds. However, according to an article in Berkeley’s Greater Good in Education, the skills that develop social awareness go far deeper including,
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Identifying social cues to determine how others feel.
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Recognizing situational demands and opportunities for support.
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Identifying diverse social norms, including unjust ones.
For example, identifying situations in which social support can serve as a resource for managing problems is critical for students entering into college life. According to one report by the American Institutes for Research, utilizing parental, peer, or community assistance during the transition to college is vital in lowering anxiety levels and helping students meet the academic demands of college life and beyond. The Carnegie Corporation of New York also adds that SEL helps meet the workforce needs for “soft skills,” such as solving problems and collaborating with diverse colleagues.
Relationship Skills
CASEL defines relationship skills as establishing and maintaining healthy and supportive relationships and effectively navigating settings with diverse individuals and groups. This framework includes having clear communication skills, critical thinking, and working collaboratively to solve and negotiate conflict constructively. Skills like relationship-building, collaboration, and team-building are highly sought after in today’s workforce. Once students master these skills in school, they become better equipped to succeed professionally within the workplace. A joint report between CASEL and The Committee for Children found, “Employers want workers with skills in the 4 Cs: critical thinking, creative and innovative problem solving, communication, and collaboration.” The report also revealed, “Of the 16 skills identified in a World Economic Forum report as necessary for the 21st century, 12 are social and emotional skills.”
Responsible Decision-Making
SEL’s responsible decision-making component includes making caring and constructive choices about personal behavior and social interactions across diverse situations. This includes the capacity to evaluate the benefits and consequences of various actions for personal, social, and collective well-being. An American Institutes for Research report states an increased capacity for abstract reasoning and systematic reasoning during adolescence, which are all relevant to decision making. For example, through SEL, adolescents can improve their systematic reasoning ability. This skill provides teens with the capacity to imagine future outcomes, allowing them to determine the consequences of their actions. Having students understand that their lives will include continuously making decisions regarding college, careers, financial decisions, and even choosing partners allows them to understand that making sound and informed decisions are key to healthy choices and livelihoods.
At Endominance, we understand how important it is for teens to have the right tools and skills to thrive globally. We offer customized cognitive assessments to help high school students pinpoint not only how their brain works – but why. SEL skills foster knowledge, abilities, and attitudes that advance students’ learning and development. Our assessment tools help young adults unlock their cognitive traits to unveil the inherent and environmental factors contributing to their brain and behavior. Together, these tools and skills create true, holistic support for the adolescent learner – unlocking their potential for greater personal, professional, and academic success.
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