Social and emotional learning is the process through which children and adults understand and manage emotions, set and achieve goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain fulfilling relationships, and make responsible decisions (CASEL, 2013). Simply put, SEL provides individuals with an opportunity to explore their internal experiences, understand themselves in relationships, be more aware of the world, and be more mindful actors.

SEL usually contains 5 major aspects: 1) Self-awareness, 2) Self-management, 3) Social Awareness, 4) Relationship skills, and 5) Responsible decision making

Research has found SEL to be largely beneficial, even though the full extent of its impact is challenging to study. Students with SEL competencies can build a better sense of self and community, social behaviours, and academic engagement and motivation. On the other hand, a decrease in emotional distress, drug abuse, and aggression is also observed as SEL provides students with knowledge and resources to deal with such challenges. In the long run, students tend to have better mental health and life outcomes as a result of SEL.

SEL is often seen as “the missing piece” in education. Schools are well-equipped to teach students about academics and the external world. However, opportunities to understand themselves and their experiences with the same depth and structure are often lacking. Giving students the chance to engage their curiosity and gain these SEL competencies can help them function better in an increasingly complicated world.

Students spend approximately a third of their day in school, which makes it an effective space for learning and practising SEL competencies. Integrating SEL into classrooms can change how students feel in these spaces, contributing positively to their academic and social development, and school adjustment and performance. Since SEL programs often integrate students’ experiences into the learning, it helps them build intrinsic motivation and problem-solving skills.

Understanding oneself and others can help students make more informed decisions, have successful interactions, and regulate their behaviours in social settings. In classrooms, this translates to better relationships with peers and teachers, leading to improved mood, engagement, and motivation. This enables students to be more social and thus, more capable of building better academic support, resources, and performance for themselves. SEL programs also strive to build self-regulation, self-efficacy, and goal-setting skills, which are highly associated with academic success.

SEL contributes to the positive development of emotional and social skills, alongside self-concept and decision-making. Therefore, it can contribute to building resilience in students. It is also said to improve cognitive functioning, which can further help students cope with difficult circumstances. Furthermore, research has shown that SEL skills are associated with the prevention of mental health issues like depression and anxiety, and promote the health and life prospects of adolescents.

We at Baadal recognise that SEL resources are largely dominated by Western culture and values. The language used in these resources and the representations feel alien to students in India as it does not reflect our societal and cultural norms. This makes it challenging for the learner to engage with the material. Students learn best when they can contextualise learning to their personal lives and experiences. This is where Baadal operates, co-creating knowledge with the students to ensure that they learn effectively within their own contexts.

We believe self-directed, experiential learning is more effective than rote or directed learning. Therefore, our work, primarily, is to create an environment that fosters the natural curiosity that students have about themselves and the world.