Right from coding
robots to 3D printing, STEM subjects can be exciting, challenging and
intellectually stimulating. They can help prepare students for a variety of
career paths, while equipping them with a range of important technical skills. Hind Louali French
School of Austin - Ecole Jean-Jacques Rousseau points out that technical STEM
subjects and concepts often benefit from the incorporation of social and
emotional learning (SEL) strategies. SEL helps kids to express themselves,
explore ideas and solve problems together, and hence can form the basis for
teamwork they need in STEM learning.
Hind Louali sheds
light on how SEL supports STEM learning
Social-emotional
learning (SEL) helps students acquire the ability to manage emotions, feel and
show empathy for others, maintain positive relationships as well as make
responsible decisions both in and outside of the classroom. SEL can have a
positive impact on school climate and safety, peer relationships, and even the
skills, attitudes and academic achievement of the students. Specific benefits
of SEL like improved problem-solving abilities and better self-motivation can
help students to fare better in STEM subjects like math or computer science.
There are many
complex challenges in STEM subjects that require students to think out of the
box in order to find a solution to a specific problem. For example, in math,
the educator may tell the class to apply a specific mathematical principle to
work out an answer, but there can also be other times when the students must
decide which principle will best lead them to the solution. In the latter case,
the students have to use their problem-solving and critical thinking skills to
identify the right math principle.
By enabling students
to develop self-management skills, SEL can help them to hone their problem
solving and critical thinking abilities. Self-management basically
teaches students to hone their ability of self-motivation and reach a level of
emotional maturity that allows them to manage frustration. This would
invariably lower the chances of having students give up on complex tasks and
promote perseverance.
Today many educators
use the growth-mindset theory to improve problem-solving and critical thinking
in students. A growth mindset is basically the belief that ability is something
attainable through effort and hard work, rather than something innate. Students
who accept that struggle and failure are simply a part of the learning process
are more likely to persevere in the long run.
Hind Louali French
School of Austin - Ecole Jean-Jacques Rousseau says that a huge aspect of SEL
is assisting the students to develop positive behaviours during interactions
with their peers. This can lead to the creation of a more enjoyable learning
environment where students feel comfortable with one another. Such an
environment can positively impact the collaborative abilities of students
during group projects which are pretty common in STEM subjects.
Integrating SEL into
the curriculum helps foster social awareness and relationship skills. When
students learn to recognize and empathize with the emotions of their peers
during classroom activities, they are more likely to collaborate effectively,
thereby minimizing the chances of conflicts and exclusion. Students with strong
social awareness are better prepared to manage task delegation, participate in
collaborative brainstorming, and offer constructive feedback on the ideas of
their peers.
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