Why integrate SEL through technology?
Here in British Columbia, the new Curriculum that has now been rolled out in schools relies not only on prescribed learning outcomes as before (now curricular competencies, content, and big ideas), but also six core competencies. These competencies are meant to be woven throughout the subject areas and as a result, there is a much greater focus on these areas than ever before. As stated by the BC Ministry of Education, “core competencies are sets of intellectual, personal, and social and emotional proficiencies that all students need to develop in order to engage in deep learning and life-long learning” (2017). The core competencies are separated into three categories: communication, thinking, and personal and social. There are three competencies listed under personal and social that directly relate social and emotional learning. Those competencies are positive and personal identity, personal awareness and responsibility, and social responsibility.
With the increased push to ensure that students are receiving proper instruction and exposure to tasks that allow them to develop social and emotional learning skills, it makes sense to integrate them with technology. Technology is on the rise and has become an integral part of most people’s everyday lives. In schools, educators should be teaching the skills needed to use these tools effectively to create 21st century citizens. Mobile technology in particular has become so mainstream that it almost seems negligent not to integrate it into our programs and allow students the luxury of making their learning more personalized and meaningful.
With the increased push to ensure that students are receiving proper instruction and exposure to tasks that allow them to develop social and emotional learning skills, it makes sense to integrate them with technology. Technology is on the rise and has become an integral part of most people’s everyday lives. In schools, educators should be teaching the skills needed to use these tools effectively to create 21st century citizens. Mobile technology in particular has become so mainstream that it almost seems negligent not to integrate it into our programs and allow students the luxury of making their learning more personalized and meaningful.