Social and emotional learning (SEL) is often seen as a critical component in education; it links academics to transferable life skills. There are several studies that examine the role of social and emotional learning through the vehicles of self- efficacy, emotional intelligence, and Locus of Control (Elias, 2006; Wang et al., 2011;and Thompson et al., 2020). Research on cognitive behavior indicated that journaling positively impacted self-growth, critical thinking skills, and self-introspection (Fogarty and McTighe, 1993; Perkins et al., 1990, and Clarke et al., 1993). One method of introspection is the use of written and oral journaling. Journaling is a tool that stimulates reflective thinking, stimulates creativity, critical self-analysis, and increases student engagement.
The use of social-emotional learning introduces another level of skill development in students including self-introspection and critical thinking. These practices increase self-efficacy based on the social cognitive and resiliency theories. A primary focus of social cognitive theory deals with self-efficacy or beliefs about one’s ability to perform a specific behavior. Academic resilience is “the process and results that are part of the life story of an individual who has been academically successful, despite obstacles'' (Morales and Trotman, 2011, p. 8).
Through a pilot study of undergraduate students in research focused courses, I found the use of video journaling eased the anxiety of conducting research, enhancing writing and presentation skills. Early in the pilot study, students expressed concerns with the “math and statistics” involved in the final project. At the end of the study students were asked to reflect on the course and their skills. This was followed by a review of their course recordings. Responses included the confidence they gained in not only the research process but in tackling career-related tasks post-graduation. Others commented on the use of “video confessions“ as a therapeutic outlet in completing a challenging course.
I look forward to expanding the research to examine the longitudinal impact of SEL interwoven into undergraduate courses. I posit that providing an avenue to identify and express self reflections during the learning process will aid in academic and career performance, self-efficacy, and resilience.
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