SEL expert Dr. Daniel Goleman on SEE Learning

Summary

The speaker reflects on the development of social-emotional learning (SEL) since 1994, emphasizing its impact on students by cultivating self-awareness, empathy, and social skills. SEL has proven effective in reducing negative behaviors and enhancing academic performance. The speaker connects SEL with the Dalai Lama’s vision of an 'education of the heart' and introduces the C Learning framework developed with Emory University, which integrates compassion, ethical learning, and discernment. The hope is that C Learning will continue to benefit students globally, representing an evolution of SEL into its next phase, SEL 2.0.

Takeaways

• 📘 Emotional and social skills are crucial for students' development, as argued in the book *Emotional Intelligence* (1994).
• 🧠 Programs addressing student issues like violence, drug abuse, and depression successfully promote self-awareness, self-management, empathy, and social skills.
• 🌍 The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) was founded to spread the importance of these skills worldwide.
• 📊 Research shows that SEL (Social-Emotional Learning) reduces anti-social behavior by 10%, improves pro-social attitudes like liking school by 10%, and raises academic achievement by 11%.
• 🎓 SEL aligns with the Dalai Lama's vision of 'education of the heart,' promoting compassion and emotional growth.
• 📚 The C-Learning framework developed with Emory University expands on SEL by adding skills like attention training, care, compassion, systems learning, and ethical development.
• 💡 Compassion combined with discernment is essential for effective social and emotional learning.
• 🌱 SEL 2.0, represented by C-Learning, seeks to integrate wisdom and compassion to meet modern educational needs.
• 🎉 C-Learning is the result of over 20 years of collaboration between Emory University and the Dalai Lama, launched globally to benefit future generations.
• 🔍 SEL 2.0 emphasizes a holistic approach to education, combining academic, social, emotional, and ethical learning for students.

Q & A

What was the author's argument in their 1994 work on emotional intelligence?

The author argued for educating students in emotional and social skills, stating that successful programs addressing issues like violence, drug abuse, and depression focused on self-awareness, self-management, empathy, and social skills.

What inspired the author to advocate for emotional and social skills education?

The author was inspired by findings that effective programs for addressing student problems, such as violence and dropouts, all emphasized the same foundational skills: self-awareness, self-management, empathy, and social skills.

What is SEL, and how has it evolved?

SEL, or Social-Emotional Learning, is a movement focused on developing students' emotional and social skills. It started with a small group of educators, including the author and Linda Lantieri, and has grown into a global movement.

What have studies shown about the effectiveness of SEL programs?

Research on SEL programs has shown a 10% decrease in anti-social behavior, a 10% increase in pro-social attitudes like liking school, and an 11% boost in academic achievement scores among students.

How does the author’s book, 'A Force for Good,' connect to SEL?

In 'A Force for Good,' written for the Dalai Lama's 80th birthday, the author connects SEL with the Dalai Lama's vision of an 'education of the heart,' which emphasizes compassion and discernment.

What is the C Learning framework, and how does it complement SEL?

The C Learning framework, developed in collaboration with Emory University, complements SEL by adding skills like attention training, care and compassion, systems learning, and the development of an ethical outlook.

What are the key elements emphasized in C Learning that are missing from traditional SEL programs?

C Learning emphasizes skills such as attention training, care and compassion, systems thinking, and the development of an ethical outlook, which are seen as crucial but often missing in traditional SEL programs.

Why does the author believe combining wisdom and compassion is essential?

The author believes that combining wisdom and compassion is essential because compassion without discernment is 'blind,' while discernment without compassion is like a 'dried-up fruit tree,' implying that both qualities are needed for balanced decision-making.

How does the author hope C Learning will impact students in the future?

The author hopes that C Learning will be widely adopted and help more students develop crucial life skills, fostering wisdom and compassion, which they believe the world needs now.

What does the author mean by SEL 2.0 in the context of C Learning?

SEL 2.0 refers to an evolved version of social-emotional learning, where C Learning builds upon traditional SEL by adding new dimensions like compassion, systems thinking, and ethical development.