🏷️ Concept
Social-Emotional Learning
Social-emotional learning (SEL) — the process of developing the competencies that enable individuals to synchronize thoughts, emotions, and actions to foster positive interactions with oneself and others: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making (the CASEL framework). In AI in education, SEL is increasingly recognized as critical because the rapid integration of generative AI into learning raises questions about students' well-being, sociability, empathy, and trust — and because technical AI literacy alone is insufficient for navigating AI-mediated learning environments.
Social-emotional learning is closely related to, but distinct from, emotional intelligence (EI): SEL/SEC (social-emotional competencies) encompasses the ability to synchronize thoughts, emotions, and actions for positive interactions, while EI is an individual's capacity to process emotional information (conceptualized through ability models — reasoning and problem-solving — or trait models — emotional dispositions and behaviours). In the AI era, SEL matters because AI can reshape learning in ways that affect students' relational and emotional development, and because educators need both technological skill and emotional intelligence to support learners effectively.
How SEL appears in the research
SEL as a complement to AI literacy
A recurring theme in the wiki's research is that AI literacy should not be reduced to technical skill. Integrating social-emotional competencies into AI literacy supports a holistic approach where digital and relational competencies are equally valued: AI-driven personalisation can enhance relational dynamics if designed carefully, educators can focus more on students' emotional and cognitive development as AI automates administrative tasks, and ethical literacy (data privacy, bias, equity, responsible decision-making) overlaps with SEL's emphasis on social awareness and responsible decision-making.
Connections to related concepts
SEL connects to AI Literacy (as a complement that makes AI literacy relational and ethical), Affective Computing and Well Being (the affective dimensions of AI), Self Regulated Learning (self-management), Ethics (responsible decision-making), Teacher AI Competency (educators' capacity to support SEL), and Student Experience (well-being and belonging). It relates to Higher Ed and K 12 as the settings where SEL-infused AI literacy is cultivated.