The Emotion Equation: Why Happy Students Make Better Learners

Let’s assume a classroom scenario. You, a perfect teacher, enter the class with your meticulously designed Lesson Plan with every step planned constructively in it. You begin your class with a lot of expectations, enthusiasm and sincerity with a goal to achieve the learning outcome of the planned topic. But as you proceed, you notice that things are not going as they were expected to be – some students seem lost, some paying attention but not understanding, some giving a blank expression, and one sleeping !! sounds familiar? Must have happened with all of us teachers at some point of time, right? ?and more so in the post lockdown times. What could have gone wrong?

In the teacher training curriculum, all teachers are taught to follow the Bloom’s Taxonomy – to take care of the learning needs in a hierarchical order, ranging from simpler to complex skills (remembering, understanding, applying, analysing, evaluating, and creating) through thoughts, emotions, and actions (cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains respectively).

From pre-schools to advanced specialized academics, Bloom’s Taxonomy proves to be useful for all phases and types of learning and has been widely followed in almost all educational institutions.

So, why are teachers, at times, failing to reach the learning objectives if after a meticulous plan? The answer probably lies in a widely used phrase called “Maslow before Bloom”.

Who/ What is Maslow??

Abraham Maslow was an American psychologist who proposed the idea of Maslow's hierarchy of needs?in his 1943 paper "A Theory of Human Motivation". In 1970, Maslow built upon his original hierarchy to include three additional needs at the top of his pyramid, making the total eight.

Maslow emphasized that people must satisfy their lower-level needs before moving on to higher levels. In a school scenario, this would mean that one must address students' basic physiological and safety needs before focusing on cognitive development

Let’s see how this works in a school set up

Psychologists suggest that people prioritize their immediate actions based on the immediate needs. In simple words, it means that when the students are worried about any type of basic needs, they focus more on those needs and get distracted and can not focus on the topics being taught.

?Let’s discuss the emotional needs one at a time and analyse how they affect the leaching learning process-

1.???? Physiological needs -These needs include food, clothing, adequate sleep, and a place to live in. For example - A student might fall asleep in class because they did not get enough sleep the previous night and would naturally prioritize sleep over studies. If a student has not had breakfast, they may not be able to pay attention in class. ?

2.???? Safety needs - Safety needs include a student’s home / school environment, and any other environment they’re a part of. If the student is having personal issues at home (for example, arguing parents etc.) or they are being bullied in school or being abused, they will have difficulty learning because their basic safety needs have not been met. Also, if they don’t receive positive vibes from their teacher or peer group, they are bound to struggle to learn and complete their work.?

3.???? Belonging and Love - When a person does not feel loved or does not feel like they belong, they crave affection and that may lead to attention seeking behavioural issues. Family, friends and relationships are important social needs. Unless a student feels comfortable in their social surrounding, they will not be ready to learn. This lack of interest was commonly seen during the online classes in lockdown period, where the students showed lesser interest, likely because of the lack of social interaction. (According to a study on lockdown-induced distant learning published in MDPI, students reported missing on learner–learner and learner–instructor interaction and up to one third of surveyed students showed diminished motivation alongside less satisfaction with content).

A student also may develop their sense of belonging by feeling an important part of the class/ hobby clubs or student council.

4.???? Self-esteem- It involves individuality, respect for others, accomplishment, and confidence. It has 2 aspects- 1. ?people love accomplishment, 2. they love the feeling of being important, getting appreciated or acknowledged. If these conditions are not met by the teachers, students feel demotivated and hence uninterested in what is being taught in class.

If these needs are not satisfied, the gaps will push people to focus on meeting their highest-priority needs rather than focussing on what’s happening in the classroom.

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So, what can the educators do?

1.???? Be Predictable - Students who are mentally prepared for class and know what to expect from the day’s schedule are able to be more attentive and focused on course material – says a study by Harvard University. Have a structured timetable and let the students know about the Learning Objectives before you begin.

2.???? Create a personal bond -The first and foremost thing that a teacher needs to do is to create a personal connect with each student. It is a well proven fact that when students develop a bond with the teacher, they pay better attention in class and subsequently learn better. Your presence and attention as a teacher can be a source of confidence for a child dealing with difficult life circumstances.

3.???? Develop a good rapport with parents

Certain needs such as food and clothing may be beyond the reach of the educators, but once the students confide in the teacher, the teacher can be in constant communication with the parents and help accordingly.

4.???? Acknowledge, Appreciate and Encourage - Providing positive attention is crucial for nurturing students' self-image and overall development. As you guide them, focus on building trust and reassuring them of your support. Some learners may require extra assistance to boost their confidence and sense of security. Create a learning environment that is sensitive and responsive to their social and emotional needs. Strive to foster a safe and supportive atmosphere where students feel comfortable expressing themselves. Ensure that corporal punishment is not employed, promoting a respectful and compassionate approach to discipline.

5.???? Work on developing their Emotional Quotient - Teach children how to recognize their and other people’s emotions. Validate their emotions and create a space where they feel free to share emotions. Provide children with strategies they can use when they are angry or upset, such as squeezing a stress ball, squishing playdough, etc.

6.???? Help them make friends - Encourage the use of a buddy system to foster support and collaboration. For example, if a student faces difficulties in a specific subject, pair them with someone who has good knowledge in that area to provide assistance and guidance.

Implement group work settings for students. This approach helps them learn working with and appreciating work of peers, hone leadership abilities, and identify their strengths to actively contribute to the group's efforts.

7.???? Teach them how to accept mistakes/failure in a dignified way -???Students must be made to understand that it is ok to make mistakes as long as we can learn from them. ?They should be taught that rather than struggling with the feelings, it can be more helpful to allow them to be and allow themselves the time to experience it, remembering that failure happens in everyone’s life journey and it is important to acknowledge it, learn from it, and move on.

?In conclusion, prioritizing emotional well-being is fundamental for fostering a more effective teaching and learning process. When students' emotional needs are acknowledged and addressed, they can develop a positive self-image, build stronger connections with educators, and engage more actively in their academic journey.

Let’s not forget, emotional well-being is important not only for the students, it is also equally important for the educator too as it is rightly said, “you cannot pour from an empty cup”. It is high time we work towards ensuring a happy and positive classroom, leading to improved academic performance and overall well-being.

References:

https://www.evelynlearning.com/the-blooms-taxonomy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs

https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-maslows-hierarchy-of-needs-4136760