What transforms a classroom into a socially and emotionally supportive space where learners thrive? At its heart, it's connection—the relationships that make students feel seen, supported, and valued.

Research consistently shows that students excel when they trust their teachers and feel a sense of belonging with their peers. These bonds fuel engagement, emotional growth, and academic success.

As educators, you already know the power of relationships. But in today's classrooms, technology is also shaping how we connect, teach, and learn. In fact, roughly nine in ten K-12 educators in the U.S. believe education technology positively impacts student engagement and use it in their classrooms (Zipdo, 2023). The potential for tech to enhance learning is immense—but how can it be used thoughtfully to strengthen the relationships and skills at the core of social and emotional learning (SEL)?

In the "SEL and Technology" chapter of the newly released Second Edition of the Handbook of Social and Emotional Learning, co-authors Susan Rivers and Michelle Bertoli of iThrive Games/History Co:Lab, alongside Urban Assembly's David Adams and Eaton Middle School's Letha Mellman, explore how technology, by design, "must value and center learners in all their diversity of capacities, interests, motivations, contexts, and experiences." They emphasize that social and emotional learning (SEL) technology should "center and enable meaningful relationships between learners and the adults involved in their learning, as well as with themselves, other learners, and the larger community and planet."

To fully harness the potential of SEL tech, educators must intentionally choose technology that will support relationship building in classrooms. Doing so ensures that learning environments remain human-centered and that learning remains relationally driven.

SEL TECH USE IN THE CLASSROOM: FIVE CRITICAL CONSIDERATIONS

SEL tech offers tools to foster connection, amplify engagement, and help students practice essential skills like empathy, self-regulation, and collaboration. However, realizing its promise requires intentional integration. Educators, here are a set of five questions to ask yourself when evaluating and using SEL tech that help ensure it supports a meaningful, learner-centered classroom.

1. How does it strengthen relationships?

Technology should enhance, not replace, human interaction. Tools that create opportunities for meaningful teacher-student and peer-to-peer relationships can deepen trust and foster collaboration. Tools like OKO provide a platform for students to build knowledge together, engage in creative problem-solving, and make learning a shared experience supportive of connection and care in classrooms.

2. Does it prioritize ethical data use and privacy?

Many SEL tools collect sensitive information, such as students' emotions or behavior patterns. Protecting this data is critical to maintaining trust and establishing emotional safety. Educators should assess terms of service and privacy policies to ensure that any tool they use is transparent about its data practices, protects student data and is used solely for their benefit. Common Sense Privacy Program offers helpful resources for rating and reviewing the privacy standards of ed-tech tools.

3. How does the technology offer accessibility for all learners?

Technology should bridge gaps, not widen them. SEL tools must be designed to serve students of all abilities, backgrounds, and contexts. When choosing a tool for your classroom, evaluate its inclusivity and accessibility. Use CAST's Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles as a guide to ensure the SEL tech you integrate supports diverse learning needs and fosters equity in every learning experience.

4. How does the technology support emotional readiness and safe engagement?

SEL tech should help students learn how to manage their emotions and prepare for meaningful learning by fostering calm and focus. Tools that include emotion-regulation exercises or gamified experiences can help students build self-awareness and manage stress effectively. For example, apps like Calm teach students strategies to regulate emotions, enhance focus and navigate social dynamics in collaborative learning environments.

5. How does the technology provide opportunities for practice and feedback?

Interactive tools are uniquely positioned to offer repeated practice and immediate feedback—essential for helping students actively refine their SEL skills and master SEL competencies. Apps, simulations, and games can help students develop skills like empathy, decision-making, and collaboration in dynamic, low-risk scenarios. For instance, iThrive Sim, our award-winning digital platform that hosts a library of tech-supported, role-playing simulation games, lets students role-play real-world challenges, giving them a chance to practice SEL skills in a safe and engaging environment.

RELATIONSHIPS FOSTER GROWTH

Technology is a powerful tool, but it is relationships—with and between teachers, students, and communities—that drive true growth. To be effective, SEL tech needs to support and amplify relationships that make classrooms thrive, not replace them. As Rivers, Adams, Bertoli, and Mellman highlight in the Handbook of Social and Emotional Learning, "Caring relationships are the lever, driver, and home-base of successful SEL,and technology must be designed and deployed in service of the warm and supportive connections that nurture, sustain, and motivate each learner." 

Achieving this vision for SEL tech means designing to support optimal learning conditions for all learners and "putting learners and their relationships at the center." By integrating SEL tech in ways that  prioritize human connection, educators contribute to this vision, creating classrooms where students feel valued, engaged, and ready to thrive.

Explore iThrive Games' free library of game-based and tech-supported social and emotional learning resources to enrich your classroom, and sign up for our mailing list to stay informed about our new tools and updates!

The chapter SEL and Tech can be found in Handbook of Social and Emotional Learning, Second Edition, edited by Joseph A. Durlak, Celene E. Domitrovich, and Joseph L. Mahoney, published by Guilford Press.