Giving Compass' Take:

• The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation shares findings from the report: From a Nation at Risk to a Nation at Hope: Recommendations from the National Commission on Social, Emotional, and Academic Development.  

• How will social-emotional learning impact workforce development programs?

• Read about what ways we can improve social-emotional learning. 

In January, I had the honor of attending an event in Washington DC  for the release of an important, new report: From a Nation at Risk to a Nation at Hope: Recommendations from the National Commission on Social, Emotional, and Academic Development.

For the last two years, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has collaborated closely with a group of foundations that have supported the Commission whose membership includes leaders from education, research, policy, business, and the military as well as educators, researchers, students, and families.

In reaffirming that learning is social, emotional, and cognitive, the Commission identified the following dimensions of development that are critical to the long-term success of students:

  • Social, Emotional, and Cognitive Skills and Competencies include cognitive elements such as executive function, perseverance, and goal-setting, social and interpersonal elements such as navigating social situations, conflict resolution, and cooperation, and emotional elements such as emotional regulation, stress management, and empathy towards others.
  • Attitudes, Beliefs, and Mindsets include children’s and youth’s attitudes and beliefs about themselves, others, and their own circumstances.
  • Character and Values represent ways of thinking and habits that support children and youth to work together as friends, family, and community.

As part of Commission, the Council of Distinguished Scientists worked to synthesize over two decades of interdisciplinary research and concluded that, “the social, emotional, and cognitive dimensions of learning are deeply linked. These skills grow and change over time, based on children’s environment and experiences, and can be taught.” The evidence from their review suggests that these skills, competencies, and mindsets can have a positive impact on academic success and educational attainment, civic and community engagement, physical, family, and emotional well-being, and workforce and career readiness.

Read the full article about social-emotional learning by Nicola Hyland at Gates Foundation.