Decolonizing Social Emotional Learning: Redefining and Reclaiming SEL

Session Type: Invited Speaker Session

Abstract

This panel is a space for dialogue, connection, and honoring cultural systems and practices that have been co-opted into a global “white-washed” (Simmons, 2017) incarnation of social-emotional learning (SEL). The panel includes participants representing POC, intersectional, lead and rising scholars and activists in the fields of teacher education, social justice, psychology, and technology to discuss alternatives to “color-blind” SEL frameworks. The conversation brings a critical lens that should be considered as curriculum, standard/assessment systems, and technological games/apps are developed to “support” student SEL world-wide. Together, we can find connections that can shape research and teacher education programs with the ultimate goal of creating learning spaces that celebrate and value students as socially, emotionally, and culturally complex individuals.

Sub Unit

• AERA Presidential Session

Chair

• Daniel Soodjinda, California State University Stanislaus

Participants

• Patrick Camangian, University of San Francisco

• Stephanie Cariaga, California State University - Dominguez Hills

• Gholnecsar E. Muhammad, Georgia State University

• Lorea Martínez, HEART in Mind/Teachers College, Columbia University

• Deborah Rivas-Drake, University of Michigan

• Dena Simmons, LiberatED

• Zoe Higheagle Strong, Washington State University - Pullman

Discussant

• Lara E. Ervin-Kassab, San Jose State University