How AI Can Help with Social and Emotional Learning

• In Event: Using AI to Improve Foundational Literacy and Numeracy

Proposal

At the Emotions Foundation, our mission is to make a global impact on mental health. We aim to achieve this by bolstering social-emotional learning (SEL) for children, parents, and teachers. Recognising the urgency of this need, especially in underserved communities, we are piloting an innovative, AI-driven counselling solution at Elezer School, a rural institution in Rwanda serving 400 students, 750 parents, and 20 teachers.

Our AI solution is designed with simplicity and accessibility in mind. Users initiate a conversation by calling a designated WhatsApp number, where they interact with an AI bot. This bot isn't merely sophisticated AI - it's a conversational companion trained to focus on social-emotional learning, providing responses to a diverse range of queries and concerns. The bot's responses are curated and approved by experienced psychologists, ensuring that the advice provided is sound, beneficial, and safe.

In many societies, including the Rwandan community surrounding Elezer School, discussing emotions is often considered taboo, a sign of vulnerability or weakness. This reluctance to explore and express feelings is deeply rooted and influenced largely by cultural norms. Acknowledging the powerful role culture plays in shaping our approach to emotions is crucial. Our AI solution aims to bridge this cultural gap, promoting a healthier dialogue about emotions and gradually shifting societal norms. It offers a private, safe space for individuals to discuss their feelings, empowering them to break free from traditional cultural constraints. By integrating AI into SEL, we democratise access to emotional support and challenge and reshape the cultural narrative surrounding emotional health and expression.

Our solution overcomes traditional boundaries such as geographical isolation, limited resources, and the stigma around seeking help, which are common challenges in rural settings like Elezer School. Our AI tool offers unlimited scalability and is accessible anytime, providing support to all members of the school community, regardless of their circumstances.

This AI-driven approach has several unique advantages. The AI bot acts as a neutral and non-judgmental listener, providing a safe space for users to express their feelings. It uses a vast amount of data to tailor its responses to each unique situation, offering consistent, bias-free advice. Furthermore, it identifies critical situations that require professional intervention, complementing the work of human psychologists rather than replacing them.

By integrating our AI solution within a widely used platform like WhatsApp, we ensure that our services are easily accessible where people are already active. This approach eliminates the need for users to navigate unfamiliar technology or apps, bringing SEL support directly to people that need it.

This project offers a tremendous opportunity to democratise access to SEL support and education, especially in underserved regions. By utilising AI, we can provide consistent, vetted, and personalised counselling to a broad audience, ensuring that no one is left behind in the quest for emotional well-being. As we pilot this initiative at Elezer School, we aspire to model a path forward for social-emotional learning, one where technology plays a transformative role.

Author

• Brian Baptista, COPUBLICA