Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/expanding-sel
In recent years, social and emotional learning (SEL) has become a cornerstone of educational practices, aiming to equip students with essential skills for personal and interpersonal success. The ‘Expanding SEL’ course on Coursera, led by instructors Emily Price and Ben Kirshner, dives deep into community-based and youth-empowerment approaches to SEL, making it a must-take for educators, policymakers, and anyone interested in the holistic development of young people.
This course is part of a five-course specialization that critically examines SEL through various lenses, addressing the impact of social and political systems on children’s emotional experiences. The course is structured into five modules, each tackling different tensions and challenges within SEL programming.
Module Highlights
- Behavior Management and SEL: This module introduces the potential pitfalls of using SEL as a tool for behavior management, particularly how it can lead to emotional manipulation and disproportionately affect students of color. It emphasizes the importance of humanizing management structures that promote student agency.
- Culture, Context, and SEL: Here, the course explores the necessity of considering cultural and contextual factors in SEL programming. It challenges participants to think about how race, class, gender, and sexuality influence the skills that should be promoted.
- Examining ‘Success’: Goals, Measurement, and Outcomes in SEL: This module delves into what success looks like in SEL and the complexities of measuring soft skills. It encourages critical thinking about how we assess social and emotional development.
- Moving Forward: A Critical Examination of the Self Competencies: Focusing on self-awareness and self-management, this module presents equity-oriented approaches, including mindfulness practices and personal testimonials.
- Moving Forward: A Critical Examination of the Social Competencies: The final module emphasizes social awareness and relationship building, exploring innovative methods like critical witnessing and youth participatory action research (YPAR).
The course is not only informative but also transformative, encouraging participants to rethink traditional SEL approaches and consider more equitable practices. The instructors’ expertise and passion for the subject matter shine through, making the learning experience engaging and impactful.
Overall, I highly recommend the ‘Expanding SEL’ course for anyone involved in education or youth development. It provides valuable insights into the complexities of social and emotional learning and equips participants with the tools to foster a more inclusive and empowering environment for students.
Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/expanding-sel