Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) for Educators Online Course – Intro to SEL Module
Online Professional Learning for Educators at the Friday Institute
Social-emotional learning (SEL) refers to the process through which individuals develop the ability to recognize, understand and manage their own thoughts and emotions, as well as the reactions and emotions of others. It involves learning to build relationships, make responsible decisions and handle challenging situations in constructive ways.
This module is part of a series of online professional learning modules for K12 educators developed by the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation to support and expand the implementation of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) in schools and districts. The module series is organized in alignment with the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) framework for social emotional learning, which is anchored in five core competencies that are integral to student learning and lifelong success:
- Responsible decision making
- Self-awareness
- Self-management
- Social awareness
- Relationship skills
This anchor module will introduce you to social emotional learning, helping you begin to understand its importance through key resources, classroom examples, activities, and discussions. Additionally, this module will help you identify which competency to explore next. You are welcome to explore an area of particular interest or engage in them all. In each module, you will build a foundational understanding of how each social and emotional learning (SEL) competency is essential to, and inseparable from, student learning.
| Course Available | Open now |
| Course Access Ends | 365 days after you register |
| Certificate Requirements Due | Within 365 days of your registration |
| Registration Closes | March 31, 2027 |
| Duration | 4 sections |
| Cost | Free |
| Primary Audience | Educators Instructional Coaches Instructional Support Teams Administrators |
| Certificate of Completion | Yes |
| Professional Development Hours | 5 |
| Related Modules | Self-Awareness Self-Management Social Awareness Relationship Skills Responsible Decision Making |
Introduction to SEL Module Objectives
- Understand that better developed SEL skills allow students to participate positively in school, to learn and to develop healthy relationships
- Begin developing an understanding of CASEL’s five core SEL competencies
- Learn and apply key instructional practices that support your students’ SEL development
- Recognize that these competencies are skills that are learned rather than traits that are inherited
Learn more
Certificate/CEU Information
In order to successfully earn a certificate of completion for 5 hours of professional development in the Introduction to SEL Module, participants must:
- Complete an initial survey about your background, organization and goals for taking the module through registration.
- Engage in the materials and course activities as suits your learning needs. Review selected background materials (videos, webcasts, readings), follow personalized pathways that suit your needs and engage in activities to help illustrate core concepts.
- Contribute to the module forum by asking questions, responding to others’ questions and sharing ideas in the discussion forums; agreeing with or identifying comments as insightful; suggesting resources that will be useful to others; and sharing your expertise in other ways. A certificate of completion requires at least one new discussion and two replies to peers in the forum.
- Reflect with your students on what strategies worked to support their SEL competency and what they could try next to identify lessons learned from student feedback.
- Complete a survey about the module at the end and provide suggestions for improving it in the future.
You can submit the certificate to your local agency with a request for CEUs. Granting of CEUs will be subject to the policies and procedures of your state and local agency.
Project Team
Jaclyn Stevens
Jaclyn Stevens is a senior research scholar at the Friday Institute. In her work, she supports and coaches educators and leaders in adaptive student-centered approaches to provide concrete, quality, purposeful, reflective and on-the-ground personalized learning supported through technology to support all learners. Her mantra is to adapt, not adopt. Jaclyn is currently licensed and certified as an instructional specialist, an instructional technology facilitator, a secondary media arts educator, a secondary language arts educator and holds a special endorsement in computer education. [email protected] | @jaclynbstevens
Amy Walter
Amy Walter is a lifelong learner and teacher, and her passion for education is evident in her dedication to creating a future where every teacher is a master of their craft, sparking a love of learning in every student and driving academic excellence through innovative and dynamic professional development designed and delivered with passion. She is a research scholar at the Friday Institute, part of the NC State College of Education.
How to Register
Before you can register for the course, you’ll need an NC State Brickyard account. If you don’t already have one, you can create one in a few steps:
- Go to the REPORTER registration system landing page at go.ncsu.edu/reporter.
- Click the Create New Account button.
- Enter your email and click Send Email Confirmation.
- Note the code that has been emailed to you and enter it in the Confirmation Code field.
- Enter your First Name, Last Name, and Password.
- Click Create Brickyard Account at the bottom. Your account will be created and you should be redirected to REPORTER to log in.
Need help?
For screen shots, troubleshooting tips, and step-by-step instructions for creating your Brickyard account or updating your name or email address, see the Brickyard Account Management Guide.
For help with changing your password, visit go.ncsu.edu/brickyard-reset-pw.
Have questions or need additional assistance? Contact Friday Institute Online Professional Learning Support and let us know how we can help.