Want your students to feel more at ease in the classroom and nurture skills that will help them become successful learners and human beings? Social and emotional learning (SEL) fosters positive learning outcomes and thriving students by creating a base foundation for learners of all ages to build the confidence, resilience, and real-world skills needed to succeed in the classroom and in life.
This article provides an overview of social-emotional learning and its benefits in education, how this practice is used in K-12 and higher education classrooms, and creative social and emotional (SEL) activities to try with learners right away.
What is Social and Emotional Learning in Education? 
CASEL, The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, is a nonprofit that champions SEL, explaining that this educational framework equips students with what they need to create healthy identities, manage emotions, and achieve goals. Not only does it address forms of inequity, but it also empowers students to create a positive school climate and healthier and safer communities.
These goals all sound beneficial, but what are the advantages in real-world classroom scenarios? The Committee for Children suggests that social-emotional learning skills:
- Improve student academic performance
- Lower dropout rates
- Reduce negative social behaviors
One study suggests that students who engage in social-emotional learning programs see steady improvements in skills that contribute to positive outcomes up to 18 years later. So, how can teachers create a classroom promoting these skills? The basics of an SEL-focused classroom include three tenets:
- A supportive classroom climate
- Blending SEL into academic instruction
- Direct social-emotional learning instruction
With this understanding, teachers can utilize the five SEL competencies needed to foster a positive student experience and environment.
What Are the Five Social Emotional Learning Competencies?
The social and emotional learning definition is a powerful one to implement using five core competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.
1. Self-Awareness
Self-awareness is when students understand how their emotions, thoughts, and values influence behavior across different situations. Some examples include:
- Identifying and connecting feelings, values, and thoughts
- Examining prejudices and biases
- Embracing a growth mindset
For example, developing this skill can help students see mistakes as a positive thing, not a failure. This perspective allows them to grow, change, and embrace challenges.
2. Self-Management
Self-management skills include managing stress and behavior, setting objectives, and feeling motivated to accomplish personal and collective goals. For students, this may involve:
- Identifying and using stress management strategies
- Exhibiting self-motivation and self-discipline
- Using planning and organizational skills
An example of this skill is when a student can recognize anxiety symptoms when taking a test and develop ways to overcome those feelings to shift to a positive outcome.
3. Social Awareness
Social awareness skills involve understanding and empathizing with others, particularly with people from different backgrounds. Examples of this skill may include:
- Identifying social cues to discern how others feel
- Taking others' perspectives
- Demonstrating empathy and compassion
For instance, having students put themselves in the shoes of people on opposing sides of history can help strengthen social awareness skills and empathy.
4. Relationship Skills
Social and emotional learning relationship skills involve building healthy relationships and effectively navigating settings with diverse individuals and groups. This framework includes:
- Demonstrating cultural competency
- Communicating effectively
- Practicing teamwork and collaborative problem-solving
To reinforce this skill, teachers may have students work in teams to strengthen positive communication methods such as active listening and conflict resolution.
5. Responsible Decision-Making
Responsible decision-making skills include making thoughtful choices about social interactions and personal behavior across different situations. What does this look like for students?
- Learning how to make a sound judgment after analyzing information and facts
- Identifying solutions for personal problems
- Recognizing how to use critical thinking skills both in and outside of school
A student may apply this skill by listing positive solutions on a whiteboard to which they can keep returning when facing a challenge at school or home.
Customizing the Social and Emotional Learning Definition in Practice 
Most school districts use evidence-based social and emotional learning curricula and programs to support strong outcomes. Some examples include age-appropriate interactive lessons, individual SEL assignments, or video projects combining movement, play, emotion, and expression.
Lesson plans can also involve guided exercises, games, or curriculum within any subject. Some teaching methods to engage students in active SEL learning include cooperative, project-based, or experiential learning. No matter the approach, creating a supporting environment where students feel safe is essential.
SEL strategies can also be suited to specific ages. This may mean creating a cozy "peace corner" to practice emotional regulation skills where students are encouraged to use strategies like mindfulness exercises, developing a gratitude practice, or using a word to identify their feelings. Techniques like self-reflection, journaling, guided meditation, or group discussions are effective to support students in tackling real-world difficulties like anxiety and stress.
Social and emotional learning can be taught at all levels, including higher education. Some colleges and universities integrate social-emotional learning directly into their curriculum, while others establish SEL-focused initiatives. Here are some existing higher education program examples to use as inspiration to bring to your classroom.
1. SEL-Focused Programs and Courses
Higher Ed
The University of Pennsylvania offers a course called "Positive Psychology: The Science of Well-Being." This class aims to help students develop practical strategies for enhancing their well-being and happiness.
Similarly, UCLA has a holistic initiative called Resilience in Your Student Experience, which provides students with resources and tools to develop well-being and resilience.
K-12
Inspired by existing higher ed programs? Adapt and implement them in an age-appropriate way! The definition of social and emotional learning can be treated as a long-standing classroom management strategy. When prioritized this way, it can inform classroom etiquette, enhance understanding, foster quality instruction, and support outcomes.
2. Student Support Services
Higher Ed
Most campuses have student services to support students' mental health and well-being. This assistance includes health services, counseling, and wellness programs, providing students with resources to develop social and emotional skills.
K-12
K-12 also has student services, student leadership, and student advocacy groups that support the development of social and emotional learning skills. Encouraging involvement in these groups for learners can further apply what’s happening in the classroom, outside of it.
3. Soft Skill Development
Higher Ed
Some college programs are also designed to develop the soft skills required for many jobs, such as teamwork, effective communication, and problem-solving. Strengthening these SEL skills helps prepare students for success throughout their college years and beyond.
K-12
Of course, this soft skill development does not (and should not) start in higher education. The four C’s of learning — collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical-thinking — are well supported by social and emotional learning strategies. The earlier the implementation, the more future-ready students become.
Video is also an effective way that can nurture these soft skills for any age. Video projects and multimedia creation has become an essential for modern classrooms to support real-world skill development.
Top Benefits of Social and Emotional Learning
Ultimately, defining social and emotional learning is intuitive, because it supports the whole person. Every student learns differently, so using diverse strategies to target cognitive, behavioral, and emotional learners can support the skill development of everyone better.
1. Higher Academic Performance
Students developing social and emotional skills are better equipped to achieve academic goals and maintain motivation and engagement in their studies. For example, students participating in SEL programs saw a 4.2 percentile point increase in overall achievement — up to an 8.4 percentile with courses lasting longer than a semester. . Research also suggests students participating in SEL instruction have higher test scores and increased homework completion.
2. Stronger Social Skills
Boosting SEL skills helps students build empathy for others, develop cultural competence, and create strong interpersonal relationships. Research finds that SEL instruction and activities also support the positive social development of children from diverse backgrounds and geographies. There is also evidence that SEL promotes educational equity and classroom inclusivity.
3. Better Mental Health
According to the Child Mind Institute, social and emotional learning can help students feel more confident and optimistic in the classroom and in life. Research suggests SEL skills help students cope with emotional stress, solve problems, and avoid destructive activities. Studies also find that social and emotional learning decreases aggression and bullying.
4. Enhanced Job Readiness
Learning valuable behaviors beyond academic achievement helps students master the soft skills needed for many careers, such as teamwork, effective communication, understanding others, and problem-solving. Developing these skills in high school and college can enhance students' job readiness and career opportunities, creating a lasting positive impact.
5 Interactive SEL Activities to Try with Learners
Short story writer, Anton Chekov, said, "Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice." Below are a few enriching and easy SEL activities to implement and practice with your learners. (Teachers can modify them for any grade level.)
1. Project-Based Learning
Many school districts have embraced SEL project-based learning, where students take on real-world issues and create presentations, multimedia projects, or videos to offer solutions.
Example: Have students dive into a problem like cyberbullying and create videos or presentation slides providing effective resolutions to show the class. This activity develops teamwork, planning, problem-solving, and communication skills.
Learning extension: Hear from other educators about the power of video as a pedagogy.
2. Journal Writing
Provide a SEL journal prompt each morning for students to respond to. Include the option to have learners draw their responses or create a learner-made video instead.
Example: Ask younger students to write about a time when they felt mad, sad, or nervous. Ask them to include details on what they did to feel less sad or scared.
This exercise helps develop self-awareness skills. If relevant, ask learners to reflect on the emotions they experienced during a recent test or exam. How did those emotions affect the rest of that class, day, or week?
3. The 5-Step Morning Check-In
Begin the day with a mindful morning check-in. This easy 5-step process has students:
- Taking five deep breaths
- Listing four things they notice around them
- Recalling three things they are grateful for
- Expressing two positive self-talk statements
- Saying one thing they are looking forward to for the day
This activity develops self-awareness skills and creates time for students to have quiet reflection time.
4. Reflective Listening
To help students develop context around their emotions, try reflective listening. Pair up students in the morning and have them take turns expressing their feelings. Students should focus on their teammate's language and recall a time when they felt similar feelings. The activity helps students develop empathy and contextualize their emotions or struggles.
5. The "Anchor" Exercise
Anchors hold a boat in place so it doesn't float away. Similarly, the anchor exercise has students select the places, people, experiences, and things that feel steady or grounding to them. It can be anything from an image of their favorite pet to a specific smell they love.
Why is this effective? When students learn what feels soothing and comforting to their nervous systems during heightened stress, they can access these small practices in any situation.
By utilizing SEL activities like these, educators can nurture essential skills that benefit students in their academic journey and beyond. And remember, creating a supportive educational environment where students can thrive academically and emotionally is only half of the equation. The other half? Having fun creating lifelong learners and successful human beings.
Defining Social and Emotional Learning With WeVideo
The social and emotional learning definition encourages a holistic approach to learning that better prepares students for their futures. Nurturing SEL initiatives requires educators to incorporate diverse and engaging lessons and assignments. Enter: WeVideo.
WeVideo’s dynamic interactive learning platform makes it easy for educators to implement social and emotional learning strategies with powerful analytics features that track learner progress, a full suite of video editing and creation tools, and seamless integration for existing learning management systems and hosting platforms.
Social and emotional learning isn’t a one-time experiment or experience, but a framework to prioritize for positive learning outcomes. Curious how WeVideo can support your learners? Reach out to us today to deepen learning in any environment.