Abstract
Considerable evidence demonstrates how children’s social emotional (SE) development plays a significant role
in their academic achievement, behavior, and emotional wellbeing. As the scientific base has grown supporting
the positive impact of social and emotional learning (SEL) instructional practices, efforts to integrate SEL into
academic settings has gained momentum, with teachers increasingly called upon to provide SEL instruction and
foster the SE competencies of their students. Unfortunately, however, teacher education programs typically
provide little, if any, instruction and training specifically in SEL. This SBIR project will address this gap by
developing an innovative and effective technology-driven professional development (PD) product for educators.
In Phase 1, we will develop a software prototype of the e-learning platform, test its feasibility and usability with
elementary grade teachers, and conduct focus groups with administrative stakeholders to determine
acceptability and value of the planned full product. The proposed product will increase educators’ understanding
of SE competencies and SEL instructional practices, and thereby increase the quality and quantity of SEL
instruction delivered to students.