Janine Teo shares her personal journey and insights on the crucial role of social and emotional learning in education. Discover how she and her team at Solve Education! are making quality education accessible to underprivileged youth worldwide, transforming lives through innovative learning approaches
Highlights
Who is Janine Teo?
Janine Teo, the CEO of Solve Education!, is dedicated to making quality education accessible to underprivileged children and youth globally. Through her leadership, Solve Education! leverages technology to provide engaging and effective learning experiences. In this article, Janine Teo shares her personal experiences and insights on the importance of social and emotional learning (SEL), reflecting on her journey and the innovative approaches Solve Education! is taking to integrate SEL into their programs.
Early Experiences and Emotional Well-being
Social and emotional learning was a foreign concept when I was growing up. My mum focused solely on the school curriculum, with the singular goal of achieving good grades. It was all about academics, leaving little room for anything else.
I vividly remember when I was 13 and had a significant growth spurt. My mum had this brilliant idea of buying XXL shorts, even though my size was M at that point. Her reasoning was pragmatic: this pair of shorts would last me four years until the end of secondary school. I felt a deep sense of embarrassment every time I wore those shorts for sports classes. They were so big that they reached my knees, and I had to use pins to make them fit around my waist. I often wonder if that experience contributed to my dislike for sports – a feeling that persists to this day.
Reflecting on my education journey and my mental state, it’s clear that my grades were closely tied to my emotional well-being. This connection is probably not surprising in hindsight. Emotional and social factors play a crucial role in how we learn and perform academically.
The Rise of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Fast-forward to today, and social and emotional learning (SEL) is finally gaining the recognition it deserves. However, many still view these topics as “woo woo,” largely due to the perceived lack of measurable impact. This skepticism is understandable.
At Solve Education!, we decided to dive deep into the data to explore this further. We analyzed over 2 million data points and discovered something fascinating: learners who participated in group learning were four times more likely to become successful learners. On our platform, learners have the option to form groups and support each other, and the results were compelling. Those who engaged in group learning demonstrated much stronger learning outcomes compared to those who learned alone.
Empowering Through Group Learning
This insight led us to roll out our Youth Ambassadors Program. In this program, youth leaders form learning communities to support each other throughout their educational journeys. The response has been overwhelmingly positive. These learning communities not only enhance academic performance but also foster a sense of belonging and emotional support among participants.
The correlation between mental state and learning effectiveness is now evident. Learners cannot achieve their full potential if they are not in the right mental space. Knowing this, the next question is: how do we do more?
Looking Ahead: Expanding SEL Initiatives
At Solve Education!, we are committed to expanding our efforts in this space. We are developing new initiatives to further integrate social and emotional learning into our programs. By creating supportive and nurturing learning environments, we aim to empower learners to achieve their best, both academically and emotionally.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue this important work. We believe that by prioritizing social and emotional learning, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of learners around the world. And we would love to hear your thoughts too – how can we better support the emotional and social well-being of our learners? Together, we can create a more holistic and effective approach to education.
