Student support for SEL using AI is currently used effectively to support students’ learning in some schools. This is because many students’ mental health needs are outgrowing what schools can provide. Teachers struggle to balance students’ needs with the need to cover academics. They need to find an appropriate balance between supporting students’ emotional needs and meeting the classroom’s academic needs.
AI can help teachers face social-emotional problems in the classroom. As emotional emergencies arise, teachers can consult AI and a library of clinical research and pedagogical best practices for appropriate plans and interventions. Teachers can also connect students through AI with resources that help them manage stress, as well as other needs.
SEL and Student Support
More students attend school today, filling classrooms. Some teachers in the upper elementary grade levels teach multiple classes of students. They face different learning needs. Teachers need to choose how and where to focus on a curriculum while keeping students motivated to learn.
Through AI, teachers have the ability to create individualized lessons for SEL students. The lessons provide teachers with feedback on their learning. However, the ‘magic’ of AI doesn’t guarantee good teaching and learning practices. Technology isn’t always the cure-all and isn’t regulated. Educators must use evidence-based resources from AI that are proven to work and avoid wasting time or money. It must improve learning with tailored instruction, community involvement, and effective reading instruction.
AI, SEL, Students, and the Problem
Today’s students understand social media and websites. Students find it easier to text than to speak face-to-face. Working with AI, students find it easier than explaining emotions face-to-face. Using AI eliminates a person’s facial expressions and judgments. Students also do not need an appointment.
AI is still in its research stage. Risking its use to educate or help students can overshadow the benefits, according to a study by the Brookings Institution’s Center for Universal Education. The study states it can “undermine children’s foundational development” and that “the damages it has already caused are daunting,” though “fixable.” This study also includes the pros and cons of using AI.
Considering the advantages and disadvantages of AI, it’s best to use it cautiously in the classroom with students. Human interaction is important for a student’s social and emotional development. It can potentially lead to unrealistic expectations of help. A holistic approach involving school personnel, parents, and the community is the best course of action.
