Abstract:

SEL-360 project is a system focused on assessment and development of social and emotional skills for children from 4 to 12 years old. It includes two modules, one for assessment trough serious games and ecological momentary assessment (EMA), and one for feedback and competence development. It has been developed by Centro de Psicología Álava Reyes in collaboration with Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and Centro Universitario Villanueva, aiming the evaluation, monitoring and development of children’s social and emotional competences based on SEL model (self- awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision making).

The system is based in two great innovative aspects: first, the evaluation will be carried out through behavioural markers, meaning that behavioural patterns or the levels of the variables derive straight from what children do in the game. This information is combined with data from parents and teachers (EMA) allowing a 360-degree assessment of social and emotional competences. The second element is training. In this case is based in the combination of two different methodologies, experiential learning and classic methodology of behaviour modification. Both methodologies will be implemented combined in structured action plans, with different versions for school and family settings in order to enhance learning efficiency and generalization through maximization of coherence between both learning contexts.

The system has been validated by three different samples from a total number of 1.350 children between 4 and 12 years old. Results show that the system variables share an important amount of variance with the reference scales, so SEL-360 system can be considered as a valid approach for monitoring social and emotional competence development.

Keywords:

Serious games, SEL, emotional intelligence, self-management, self-regulation.