Learner Variability: The Critical Role of SEL

Learner Variability: Th e Cr it ica l Role of SEL Dr. Susanne Nobles

Partnerships Director, Learner Variability Project

Vic Vuchic

Chief Innovation Officer, Digital Promise Executive Director, Learner Variability Project

Our mission is to spur innovation in education and improve the opportunity to learn for ALL through technology and research.

We work at the intersections of educators, researchers, and developers.

Objectives ● Part 1: The theory of learner variability ● Part 2: The critical connection between SEL and learner variability ● Part 3: Supporting learner variability in SEL: ○ Emotion ○ Motivation ○ Social Awareness & Relationship Skills ○ Stereotype Threat

Part 1:

The Theory of Learner Variability

Learner Diversity in the U.S. Past

Present

Low SES

14.4% of people under 18 in poverty

21.1% of people under 18 in poverty

Diagnosed Disability

8.3% of people age 3-21

14.0% of K-12 students

Learning Differences

<No comparable data available>

20.0%+ (est.) of K-12 students

ELL

4.0% of people age 5-18

9.2% of K-12 students

Gifted / Talented

4.06% pre-K - 12 students

6.7% of K-12 Students

Trauma

<No comparable data available>

37.3% of children and youth experience physical assault

Learner Variability is about the whole child.

When we understand learner variability in this way, classroom challenges become a design problem, not a student problem.

Part 2:

The Critical Connection between SEL and Learner Variability

How could the most intelligent and flexible creatures on the planet have so few uniquely human genes with which to specify abilities?

Image courtesy of TED Ed

We are each our own garden with SEL as our climate and how we are tended.

“Just as a garden grows differently in different climates and with different plants, styles of gardening, and use, a person’s brain develops differently depending on age, predispositions, priorities, experiences, and environment.”

The Brain Basis for Integrated Social, Emotional, and Academic Development: How Emotions and Social Development Drive Learning from the Aspen Institute

Part 3:

Supporting Learner Variability in SEL

How do the SEL factors of emotion, motivation, relationships, & stereotype threat impact student learning?

What are the research-based strategies teachers can use to design for SEL & student learning?

Our Tool: The Learner Variability Navigator lvp.digitalpromiseglobal.org

Questions, Comments, Fina l Thoughts?

Please reach out with any further questions: susanne@digitalpromise.org vic@digitalpromise.org