LETTER: Sarah (not her real name) dreads to follow online classes. Her teacher brooks no nonsense when it comes to paying attention in class or in handing in her homework.
He screams at her and her classmates and bullies them into submission. Worse, he does not allow them to express their views.
Because of such troublesome behaviour, Sarah is loath to follow online lessons. She is contemplating leaving school for good, much to the dismay of her parents.
The Covid-19 pandemic and the migration to online learning have given rise to such an emotional state among students.
The American Psychological Association defines emotion as "a complex reaction pattern, involving experiential, behavioural and physiological elements".
Emotions include anxiety, fear, frustration, disappointment, anger, hatred, boredom and loneliness. Neurotransmitters released by these emotions influence students' physical and mental health.
Emotions have an impact on how students learn. Being emotionally balanced can help one develop a sharper mind and a healthier body.
Studies have shown that those with positive emotions demonstrate greater coping skills and are also associated with greater achievement.
Positive emotions facilitate cognitive functions, such as adapting to circumstances, learning, decision-making and creative problem-solving.
Students holding positive emotions demonstrate a lesser fear of failure and are more focused. They are also increasingly engaged in activities that are more productive to their learning.
One of the intervention strategies to develop positive emotions among students is socio-emotional learning.
Here, students understand and manage emotions, set and achieve goals, show empathy to others and make better decisions.
Another is by cultivating emotional intelligence (EI) that allows for greater control over their emotions. Students thus can manage themselves and become self-motivated and confident learners.
However, emotional intelligence alone is insufficient to deal with emotions and learning ability. There is a need for other interventions, such as mindful meditation.
Mindfulness is about being fully in the present. It is about being aware of where we are and what we are doing. That way, one does not overly react or become overwhelmed by what is going on around them.
Educators can encourage our children to practise mindfulness through meditation and mindful-moment practices, like taking time to pause and breathe when their mobile phone rings instead of rushing to answer it.
Children can listen to music, develop stronger bonds with friends or indulge in new hobbies.
When implementing these strategies, one must remember that not every strategy works for everyone. These strategies will differ from one child to another.
Before we manage students' emotions, educators should check their own state of emotions and relationships with students and others.
Here are four strategies to creating an emotionally safe environment for optimum learning.
FIRST, educators should cultivate happiness in the classroom where students feel comfortable and can surmount academic challenges.
The positive emotions displayed by educators and students influence the teacher-student bond, which is crucial for effective teaching and learning;
SECOND, educators should seek to understand the needs of students. Being caring, and showing empathy to them will instil positive emotions. Such empathy will keep students motivated and develop in them a love for learning.
When students have strong relationships with caring teachers, they are more likely to feel engaged and motivated to succeed in their studies;
THIRD, if negative emotions, such as fear and anxiety are exhibited by students, educators should change their teaching methods to reduce these negative emotions.
Educators should have a feedback system to understand and recognise the feelings of students. They can also provide constructive feedback gently so that students improve themselves; and,
FOURTH, educators should be good listeners. They should allow students to express their feelings so that stress and anxiety in them can be reduced and positive emotions are induced.
Educators should offer emotional support and communicate with students to keep them motivated.
As educators, we play a crucial role in educating and shaping our students and preparing them to become tomorrow's leaders.
DR LEELA ANTHONY
Deputy dean,
Faculty of Medicine
AIMST University
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times