| By Lemma Shomali, Senior Director, Product Management & Strategy |
Social and emotional learning (SEL) has never been more important. Educators recognize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students’ emotional health and are taking action to help them find support and build the resilience they need to navigate uncertainty. Emphasizing social development helps students succeed academically. A meta-analysis of 213 studies found that standardized test scores improved by an average of 11 percentage points for those who participated in SEL programs. And SEL programs can also help them develop the skills employers are seeking most.1
As a trusted partner to K-12 schools and districts, Gale understands and shares educators’ mission of building positive student learning outcomes that will lead to success in school and in life. That’s why schools have turned to Gale for supplemental curriculum solutions for more than 60 years—and why Gale products can be found in 77 percent of U.S. schools nationwide.2
Today we’re expanding the reach of our solutions to help our school partners address the urgent need for engaging curriculum to support students’ social and emotional development and the building of soft skills needed for twenty-first-century careers.
We’re pleased to announce that Gale Presents: Imago is available to K-12 schools.
Gale Presents: Imago is an online, video-based curriculum platform that provides digital lessons in three critical areas: social and emotional learning, career readiness, and soft skills. Video lessons engage and educate K-12 students, helping them unlock their full potential to thrive in their life and career.
A Critical Gap to Close
Our world is complex and constantly changing, and the skills we need to succeed involve emotional intelligence. It’s the foundation to help all students be their best and ultimately thrive in their life and career. In fact, 71 percent of U.S. hiring managers valued emotional competencies over IQ in employees. And 59 percent of employers said they would not hire someone with a high IQ but low emotional competencies.3 The behaviors that result from emotional competencies (things like saying “please” and “thank you,” understanding other people’s body language, effective listening, or arriving on time) are used daily at school, at work, and at home.
Student-Centered Curriculum Drives Learning Engagement
Asking students to learn information or a skill for a far-distant future is a challenging request. The answer to the question, “When am I going to use this?” must be tailored for today.
Students who are presented an SEL curriculum will better understand their future options, will be able to apply the skills they have learned immediately, and will have more motivation to learn.
In the Gale Presents: Imago platform, students can view video modules (lessons) on SEL topics (aka Mindsets) and respond to study guide questions. Mindsets lessons were designed to operationally define IMAGO’s six-component SEL model: self-awareness, relationship skills, social awareness, ethical decision making, global awareness, and self-management. These core competencies are defined by CASEL. All of the Mindsets lessons are in-line with the CASEL core competencies.
Easy Classroom Integration
The Gale Presents: Imago platform is designed to reduce teacher prep time and help educators quickly get up and running so they can focus on meeting students’ needs. Lessons come with facilitator guides that include all of the activities, questions, and additional resources a teacher needs to teach lessons in class or remotely. Lessons can be self-study or facilitator-led, depending on teacher preference. Learner responses to these study guide questions provide insight into their perspectives and current skills as well as the impact of lessons on the learners.
Gale Presents: Imago also provides professional learning, with topics such as effective online engagement and modeling social and emotional behaviors, so teachers can feel confident. Teaching the curriculum is only one learning component. Modeling behaviors is the second, and sometimes, the most important.
Diversity and Inclusion
Lessons found in Gale Presents: Imago help schools foster a culture of diversity and inclusion. For example, lessons on empathy, adaptability, and diverse perspectives help students develop the social awareness and relationship skills they need to be part of a diverse school community that promotes belonging and acceptance for all.
Track Record of Success
IMAGO has partnered with over 100 school districts (and counting!) to help students with social and emotional learning. The best part? Their SEL curriculum works.
Students who use the Gale Presents: Imago lessons report that:4
- 63% better understand their future options.
- 84% are able to apply their skills immediately.
- 86% have more motivation to learn.
Learn how you can offer a video-based SEL & career-readiness curriculum. Request more information.
About the Author
Lemma Shomali is Sr. Director of Product Management and Strategy at Gale and has more than 15 years’ experience developing and managing ed-tech products in the K-12 library market. When she needs a break from the fast-paced world of educational technology, you can find her at the nearest CrossFit class, whipping up cookies for friends and family, or playing endless board games with her two daughters..