Sep 21, 2022 — Atlanta, GA

Elle Wang, an AI-ALOE and Research Scientist with EdPlus at Arizona State University is taking readers on an exploration with new book: Social and Emotional Learning and Complex Skills Assessment, An Inclusive Learning Analytics Perspective. Wang, the lead editor of the book said Ashok Goel, Director of AI-ALOE and a Professor of Computer Science and Human-Centered Computing, contributed a chapter along with his team.

Wang, Q., Camacho, I., & Goel, A. K. (2022). Investigating the Potential of AI-Based Social Matching Systems to Facilitate Social Interaction Among Online Learners. In Social and Emotional Learning and Complex Skills Assessment (pp. 279-298). Springer, Cham.

Book Cover

The book focuses on studies that provide objective, unobtrusive and innovative measures of SEL skills that rely on learning analytics methods and approaches that would potentially allow for expanding the assessment of SEL skills and competencies at scale.

“What makes the position of learning analytics pivotal in this endeavor to redefine measurement of SEL skills are constant changes and advancements in learning environments and the quality and quantity of data collected about learners and the process of learning,” Wang describes. “Contemporary learning environments that utilize virtual and augmented reality to enhance learning opportunities accommodate for designing tasks and activities that allow learners to elicit behaviors (either in face-to-face or online context) not being captured in traditional educational settings.”

In the book, novel ideas are explored through diverse types of learning contexts and learner populations.

Specifically, the book addresses relevant and emerging theories and frameworks (in various disciplines such as education, psychology, or workforce) that inform assessments of SEL skills and competencies. With that, the book maps the landscape of the novel learning analytics methods and approaches, along with their application in the SEL assessment for K-12 learners as well as adult learners.

Key components to the SEL assessment are data sources, which the book outlines where and how data related to learners’ 21st century skills and competencies can be measured and collected.

Linking theory to data, the book further discusses tools and methods that are being used to operationalize SEL and link relevant skills and competencies with cognitive assessment. Finally, the book addresses aspects of generalizability and applicability, showing promising approaches for translating research findings into actionable insights that would inform various stakeholders (e.g., learners, instructors, administrators, policy makers).

You can purchase “Social and Emotional Learning and Complex Skills Assessment” online here.