Overview
The DESSA assessments measure social and emotional competencies in children, with the goal of increasing social and emotional learning (SEL). This article defines social and emotional learning.
What is Social and Emotional Learning?
Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show caring and concern for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions (CASEL, 2012).
The field of SEL has been led by CASEL, or the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (www.casel.org). Among their many contributions to SEL is the development of the graphic in Image 1: the CASEL Framework.
Image 1
This framework displays the five key skills that have been found to be critical for successful outcomes, both in school, and as we enter college and the workforce: Self Awareness, Self-Management, Responsible Decision Making, Relationship Skills, and Social Awareness. The CASEL framework is being used across the country in state SEL standards, and also serves as the model for many SEL programs developed to teach and reinforce these important skills. The DESSA was developed to align with this framework. Together, these five competencies make up the social-emotional skills acquired through the process of SEL.