Episode 64
The Future of Social Emotional Learning: Access, Agency, and Action
Brief description of the episode
In this episode of Tech in EdTech, Sean Strathy sits down with Jason Kahn, Founder and Chief Science Officer at Mightier, to explore how digital play can power real emotional growth in children. They dive into timely topics like the urgency for SEL programs in schools, the impact of the pandemic on social development, the difference between gamification and true play, and how to design digital tools with therapeutic value. The conversation also covers screen time balance, the SEL policy landscape, and the importance of involving parents in the emotional health journey.
Key Takeaways:
- Schools are now better at identifying mental health needs through more assessments and screenings.
- The identified needs have increased, but the tools to support students haven’t scaled accordingly.
- Teachers, pediatricians, and others are expected to manage issues they aren’t always trained to handle.
- The pandemic disrupted social development for many children, especially during critical learning years.
- Schools are now addressing the lasting impact of that disruption, creating a long-term demand for SEL support.
- Great games create a natural feedback loop where mastery and progress are self-driven by the player.
- Many educational games miss the mark by prioritizing instruction over engagement, like using flashcards instead of gameplay.
- Emotional regulation should be embedded directly into the gameplay mechanics, not as a separate skill.
- A child’s ability to stay calm and in control affects the difficulty of the game itself, reinforcing emotional learning through play.
- Instead of instructing children on emotional regulation, the game should reward them for practicing it in real time.
- Embedding therapeutic goals into core game mechanics makes learning feel organic, playful, and more likely to stick.
- The key to managing screen time is intentionality. Every digital activity should serve a clear purpose.
- Games designed to teach emotional regulation should be treated differently from entertainment.
- A healthy “screen time diet” balances learning, fun, family time, and offline experiences.
- Parents should set clear expectations and help children understand the purpose of different types of screen use.
- Treating all screen time the same can lead to unnecessary conflict and missed developmental opportunities.
- Unlike core academic subjects, there are no universally accepted standards for measuring SEL across schools.
- Researchers often rely on evolving tools like the Child Flourishing Index to measure traits like curiosity, focus, and self-control.
- Schools without state-level guidance are often left to navigate SEL measurement on their own.
- The SEL field is still relatively young and changes rapidly, making it hard to lock in fixed standards.
- Definitions of emotional and behavioral health conditions continue to shift, reflecting new research.
- Emerging insights are linking externalizing behaviors (like acting out) with internalizing ones (like anxiety), adding complexity to SEL tracking.
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