Unit 2: The Benefits and Detriments of Social Emotional Learning

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Unit 2: The Benefits and Detriments of Social Emotional Learning

During Unit 1, Social Emotional Learning was defined as discussing interactions with people and feelings in a learning environment. Within this unit, we will discuss the learning model’s benefits and challenges as they could occur in a secondary education classroom.

Objectives

• You can analyze the potential benefits of SEL in the classroom.
• You can analyze the potential detriments of SEL in the classroom.
• You can recognize physical emotions.

Lesson 1: Defining Physical Emotions

In her article, Julie Beck (2015) explains that "The word 'emotion' did not exist in the English language until the early 17th century... [originally] it referred to agitations, bodily movements, or commotions." Due to a translator's error, the word moved over from France to Britain. During the middle of the 18th century, the idea of passions, affections, and thoughts became "lumped together under the umbrella of emotion" (Beck, 2015). In the 21st century, these emotions are commonly recognized in classrooms across the world. Often, these emotions can help educators determine if their lessons are moving in the right direction, or if students clearly understand the material... just as long as teachers can recognize and interpret these emotions.

Learning Activity

Are you able to recognize various emotions? Take this quiz based on Paul Ekman's Identifying Emotions Research: Kahoot: Recognizing Emotions

Once you finish taking the quiz, visit this page for more information: Interpreting the Results: Recognizing Emotions

Lesson 2: Analyzing the Benefits and Detriments

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Mini-Lecture

Now that you know what Social Emotional Learning is, you'll need to weigh its benefits and detriments before you welcome it into your classroom. under construction

Learning Activity

Reflecting on the Benefits and Detriments of Social Emotional Learning

Journal Entry #2:______

Pick at least one of these prompts, and discuss your experiences in full-sentences: under construction

Want to make sure you were writing a reflective journal entry? Take a look at this checklist!

_____ I stayed on topic while I wrote, and I made sure I answered with my personal thoughts in mind.

_____ I provided many details in my writing.

_____ I made an effort to complete the task without distractions or interruptions.

Unit Assessment

For your specific classroom, do the benefits of Social Emotional Learning outweigh the detriments? Create a T-chart outlining the positives and negatives of this learning initiative. For reference, here is a sample T-chart that can help guide you in developing your own answers:

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Where do I go from here?

Head on over to your next unit... Unit 3: Evaluating the Social Emotional Model

• Julie Beck (2015) explores Paul Ekman's cross-cultural study about emotions, as seen in his 1950s era graduate study: Hard Feelings: Science's Struggle to Define Emotions

• Read into Building Academic Success on Social and Emotional Learning: What Does the Research Say? by Joseph E. Zins, Roger P. Weissberg, Margaret C. Wang, and Herbert J. Walberg. Preview the e-book version here

• Head to your local library to borrow Promoting Social and Emotional Learning: Guidelines for Educators by Maurice J. Elias to gather some insight into Social Emotional Learning. You can preview the book here, and find links to purchase the books through the same link.