Cognitive Development Current Research and Pedagogical Approach

Summary

The video script discusses the significance of social and emotional development in education, highlighting two key research studies. The first, from Child Trends, explores the impact of supportive non-family adults on high school students' academic success and behavior, affirming the Youth Connect theory of change. The second research, conducted in Washington DC during the pandemic, underscores the importance of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) for student well-being and academic performance, advocating for its integration into education policy to support recovery from the pandemic's effects.

Takeaways

• 📚 The research 'Relationships with Caring Adults and Social and Emotional Strengths' links positive relationships with adults to high school academic achievement.
• 🔗 The Youth Connect theory of change was tested, suggesting that positive relationships with adults lead to higher academic self-efficacy and better school engagement.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The study involved 721 participants, with parental consent to access academic records, highlighting the importance of consent in research.
• 👨‍🏫 The presence of a supportive non-family member is associated with positive social, emotional, and academic outcomes in students.
• 🚫 Students who avoid risky behaviors and have better anger management skills tend to have improved attendance and higher grades.
• 🌟 The development of relationships with caring adults, social and emotional competencies, and the reduction of risky behaviors are interrelated and predict positive academic outcomes.
• 🏫 The pandemic has led to a decline in student performance and a decrease in social and emotional well-being, emphasizing the need for SEL (Social and Emotional Learning).
• 🌱 SEL is now considered as critical as academic competencies, with traits like empathy and resilience being essential for daily life.
• 🏛️ Washington DC is prioritizing SEL in education policy, aiming to make whole child education the norm to aid in pandemic recovery.
• 📈 Implementing diagnostic assessments and strategies to bolster social and emotional strengths can improve educational outcomes.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the first research mentioned in the transcript?

The main focus of the first research is the relationship between having caring adults in a student's life and the development of social and emotional strengths, which are related to high school academic achievement.

What is the Youth Connect theory of change, and how does it relate to the research?

The Youth Connect theory of change anticipates that students who have a positive relationship with at least one adult will have higher academic self-efficacy, be more engaged in school, have lower rates of substance use, and have higher GPAs, leading to promotion to the next grade.

Who are the target participants of the Youth Connect research, and what data was accessed?

The target participants are 721 high school students, 60% of whom are female and 40% are male, in either the 11th or 12th grade. Their parents or guardians gave permission for Child Trends to access their academic records, including grades, attendance, and suspensions.

What role do non-academic factors play in academic outcomes according to the research?

Non-academic factors are associated with academic outcomes, as students who avoid risky behaviors, have better anger management skills, are more engaged in school, and have peers who want to go to college tend to have better attendance and higher grades.

What is the significance of the second research titled 'Learning during the pandemic'?

This research highlights the impact of the pandemic on student performance and social and emotional well-being, emphasizing the need for social and emotional learning (SEL) to be prioritized in education policy.

How has the pandemic affected children's mental health and academic performance?

The pandemic has led to reduced student performance and limited social and emotional well-being, with increased reports of adversity, food insecurity, and mental health-related emergency room visits among children.

What is the importance of SEL in the context of the pandemic?

SEL is crucial as it encompasses patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are critical for student development and academic success. The pandemic has emphasized the need to elevate the importance of SEL to support children's mental health and overall well-being.

What actions are being taken in Washington, DC, to address the findings of the 'Learning during the pandemic' research?

Washington, DC, is placing SEL prominently in the upcoming education policy agenda, aiming to make whole child education the norm, which is expected to boost recovery from the pandemic and help rebuild a better education system.

What are some of the strategies being adopted to support students' social and emotional strengths and needs?

Strategies include diagnostic assessments to inform teachers about students' social and emotional development, as well as the adoption of strategies to bolster children's social and emotional strengths and address their needs.

What is the anticipated outcome of implementing SEL in education policy in Washington, DC?

The anticipated outcome is a significant boost to recovery from the pandemic, helping to rebuild a better education system that supports the whole child, including their social, emotional, and academic development.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Impact of Caring Adults on Academic Success

The first research titled 'Relationships with Caring Adults and Social and Emotional Strengths' explores the Youth Connect theory of change, which posits that supportive relationships with non-family adults are linked to high school academic achievement. Conducted by Child Trends and published on December 15, 2020, the study involved 721 participants, predominantly 11th and 12th graders in Prince George's County, Maryland. With parental consent, academic records were accessed to measure grades, attendance, and suspensions. The research found that students with at least one supportive adult were more likely to exhibit positive social-emotional strengths, better academic self-efficacy, and fewer risky behaviors. It emphasized the significance of non-academic factors in academic outcomes, aligning with the Youth Connect theory that such relationships can lead to higher GPAs and promotion rates.

05:00

🌟 Prioritizing Social and Emotional Learning During the Pandemic

The second research, 'Learning During the Pandemic: Making Social and Emotional Learning Fun and Centered,' focuses on the importance of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study, conducted in Washington D.C., highlights the impact of prolonged lockdowns on students' academic performance and social-emotional well-being. It notes an increase in adversity, including poverty, hunger, and mental health issues among children. The research underscores the critical role of SEL in students' development and academic success, with traits like empathy, resilience, and anxiety management being as important as traditional academic competencies. It calls for the integration of SEL into education policy and the adoption of diagnostic assessments to inform teaching strategies, aiming to support children's social-emotional development and address their needs, which is seen as crucial for recovery from the pandemic's effects on education.

Keywords

💡Social and Emotional Development

Social and emotional development refers to the process through which individuals learn the skills to understand, express, and manage their own emotions, form and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. In the video, this concept is central as it discusses how such development is linked to academic achievement and the importance of caring adults in fostering these skills.

💡Youth Connect Theory of Change

The Youth Connect Theory of Change is a framework that anticipates positive outcomes for students who have supportive relationships with adults. The video highlights research supporting this theory, showing that students with at least one caring adult in their lives are more likely to have higher academic self-efficacy and better school engagement.

💡Caring Adults

Caring adults are non-parental figures who provide support, guidance, and care to young people. The video emphasizes the role of these adults in the social and emotional development of students, suggesting that their presence can lead to positive academic and behavioral outcomes.

💡Academic Achievement

Academic achievement encompasses the success of students in educational settings, often measured by grades, test scores, and graduation rates. The video connects academic achievement with social and emotional strengths, suggesting that the latter can significantly influence the former.

💡Risk Behaviors

Risk behaviors are actions that can potentially lead to negative outcomes, such as substance use or poor academic performance. The video discusses how students who develop positive relationships with caring adults are less likely to engage in such behaviors.

💡Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

Social and Emotional Learning is an educational approach that aims to develop students' skills in areas such as self-awareness, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. The video underscores the importance of SEL, especially during the pandemic, to support students' well-being and academic success.

💡Pandemic Impact

The pandemic impact refers to the various effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on different aspects of life, including education, mental health, and social interactions. The video discusses how the pandemic has exacerbated challenges for students, emphasizing the need for SEL to address these issues.

💡Mental Health

Mental health is the state of well-being in which an individual can cope with the stresses of life, work productively, and contribute to their community. The video points out the increase in mental health-related issues among students during the pandemic, highlighting the need for SEL to address these concerns.

💡Education Policy

Education policy refers to the decisions, regulations, and actions taken by governments and institutions to shape educational systems. The video mentions how the recognition of SEL's importance has led to its inclusion in education policy agendas, aiming to improve student outcomes.

💡Whole Child Education

Whole Child Education is an approach that focuses on meeting all the developmental needs of children, not just academic. The video suggests that by adopting this approach, education systems can better support students' recovery from the pandemic and contribute to a healthier society.

💡Diagnostic Assessment

Diagnostic assessment is a method used to evaluate students' current levels of understanding and skill in a particular area. In the context of the video, it is mentioned as a tool to inform teachers about students' social, emotional, and academic strengths and needs, allowing for more targeted support.

Highlights

Research on relationships with caring adults and social and emotional strengths relates to high school academic achievement.

Youth Connect theory of change is being tested, focusing on integrated student support.

The initiative is implemented in Prince George County, Maryland, in partnership with local government and schools.

721 target participants were involved in the study, with a gender distribution of 60% female and 40% male.

Students' academic records, including grades, attendance, and suspensions, were accessed with parental consent.

Supportive non-family members are linked to positive social, emotional, and academic strengths in students.

Youth Connect anticipated that students with positive adult relationships would show higher academic self-efficacy.

Students avoiding risky behaviors and with better anger management skills tend to have better academic outcomes.

The development of relationships with caring adults, social and emotional competencies, and reduction of risky behaviors are interrelated.

Non-academic factors are associated with academic outcomes, as emphasized by the Youth Connect theory.

Research titled 'Learning during the pandemic' focuses on making social and emotional learning fun and central.

The pandemic has led to reduced student performance and limited social and emotional well-being.

Public education is challenged to support students' needs amidst increased child poverty and health problems.

Social and emotional learning (SEL) is critical for student development and academic success.

The pandemic has highlighted the importance of SEL, including empathy, resilience, and coping with anxiety.

Long-term failure to advance whole child development undermines the development of a healthy society.

Washington DC is prioritizing SEL in education policy to boost recovery from the pandemic.

Diagnostic assessments and strategies are being adopted to bolster children's social and emotional strengths.

Implementation of SEL in education is expected to help rebuild a better education system.

Transcripts

as a continuation of our

presentation we have here the current

research and pedagogical application

of social and emotional development

the first research here is titled

relationships with caring adults and

social and emotional strengths

are related to high school academic

achievement and

here they are testing the youth connect

theory of change

this research was extracted

on the website of child trends and

it was published on december 15

2020.

connect is an integrated student support

support initiative

it is developed by vpp or the venture

philanthropy partners

that is being implemented in prince

george county maryland

in partnership with prince george county

government and prince george county

public schools

so in their research they have several

721 target participants

the students 60 of those are female

and forty percent are male they are

either in eleventh or twelfth grade

students and their parents or guardians

gave permission for child trends to

access

their academic records including for

grades

attendance and suspensions

so here we have we will see the

importance of a caring adult

according to the research of his child

friends

those who reported having a supportive

non-family member at all

in their life were more likely to report

several positive

social emotional and academic strengths

and fewer risky behaviors

so it was anticipated by youth connect

theory

that students who have a positive

relationship with at least one adult

would have higher academic self-efficacy

more engaged in school have lower rates

of substance use

and have higher gpas and all

and are more likely to be promoted to

next grade

this research wanted to emphasize that

non-academic factors are associated with

academic outcomes

again as anticipated in youth connect

theory of change

students who avoid risky behaviors have

better anger management skills

more engaged in school and have peers

who want to go to college

have better attendance and higher grades

and are more likely to be promoted to

next grade

findings indicate that the development

of relationships between students

and a caring adult the caring adult

could be

the parents or aunts and uncles

grandparents the pastors the priests

or any adult that is involved in the

student's life

the development of social and emotional

competencies and the reduction of risky

behaviors

are interrelated in ways that the youth

connector of change would predict

importantly they are also associated

with positive academic

outcomes

next one we have another research titled

learning during the pandemic

making social and emotional learning fun

and center

this research is done in washington

washington dc but

i think it is also very visible that

this

also happening in our country okay

the prolonged lockdown since 2020

blocked the students access to basic

school provided supports including

recreation

the pandemic has not only led to reduced

student performance

but also limits the social and emotional

well-being

of children

so many children have experienced

extreme adversity over the past

10 months or more than a year now

so public education is not equipped to

support the needs of

needs to cushion the stress pain and

loss of these students

personal losses of more than four

hundred thousand

it also there is a spike in child

poverty

hunger homelessness and associated

health problems and trauma

so almost 14 million children so these

adversities

includes the almost fortune children

living in a household with child

food insecurity during the week of june

1920

to 23 20. health professionals also

documented the 24

increase in mental health related

emergency rooms

visit among elementary and

31 among middle school and high schooler

asia students

so here we have your sel or social and

emotional learning

in the research they are trying to

emphasize the importance of this one

social and emotional learning is the

patterns of thoughts

feelings and behavior of the child or

the student so sel has long been known

to be important for students development

and academic success

but the pandemic has emphasized the need

to elevate its importance

the children's patterns of thoughts

feelings and behaviors

has been seen as critical as other

academic competencies

through the observation that empathy

resilience

and the ability to cope with anxiety

have major impacts

on children's daily lives

so sadly it took a pandemic to see the

relevance of

seo this long-term failure to properly

advance the development of the whole

child also undermines the development of

a healthy society

and of our social capital that is the

result actually

so finally in washington

washington dc they are finally placing

seo

because of this research they are

finally placing seo prominently

in upcoming education policy agenda

and or making whole child education the

norm

will significantly boost our recovery

from the pandemic and he'll

help rebuild a better education system

another implementation of that

diagnostic assessment that inform

teachers about

where the students are socially

emotionally as well as in the

traditional academic areas

as well as the adoption of strategies to

both bolster

children's social and emotional

strengths and address their social and

emotional needs

so that is the result of this research

it came out good so far

and after this we will have the research

in the philippines it will be national

okay we will have our next reporter