Microsoft Adds SEL Elements to Teams and OneNote for Teachers

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 10/07/20

Microsoft has added new features for Teams and OneNote that are designed to help educators promote social-emotional learning and transparency through their remote and hybrid instructional practices. Among the new functions are "praise badges" in Teams to acknowledge moments of SEL growth; a reflect tool in Teams that makes emotional check-ins a daily routine; and an SEL "sticker pack" for OneNote to provide a way to give feedback.

According to Mark Sparvell, director of Microsoft Education, the praise badges can be used by teachers to point out students' social skills, expand their emotional vocabulary and recognize "daily "wins" in their learning. The badges recognize the pursuit of goals, respect, thoughtfulness and nine other skill practices. They're intended to be used with students ages 10 to 15. They're available for use in chats and class team channels.

Microsoft Adds SEL Elements to Teams and OneNote for Teachers

The new reflection tool allows educators to use questions and polls to guide students to reflect on how they're feeling and promote their self-awareness.

The sticker pack for OneNote recognizes the same 12 skills displayed through the praise badges. In an article about the new features, Sparvell wrote that they're intended to be used in OneNote Class Notebook alongside other features, such as audio and video recordings, typed notes and inking as a feedback mechanism for helping students learn.

Microsoft Adds SEL Elements to Teams and OneNote for Teachers

The company said that the SEL callouts were developed using a human-centered design approach, with input from teachers and students. The new features need to be enabled by the district or school IT administrator who manages Microsoft applications.

More information and links to implementation guides are available on the Microsoft Education website.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • Case Systems makerspace

    Case Systems Launches Line of K–12 Makerspace Installations

    Case Systems recently announced the launch of SALTO, a line of classroom fixtures and installations for K–12 learning spaces like STEM labs, art rooms, and makerspaces. The product line is designed to provide teachers with flexibility and adaptability, enabling them to shift between collaborative and individual learning environments.

  • stylized illustration of two children engaged in engineering activities, one using a tablet and the other assembling mechanical parts like gears and pulleys, set against a colorful background with abstract shapes

    Applications Open for DiscoverE STEM Grant Opportunities

    Discover Engineering is accepting applications for Engineers Week and Girl Day 2025, two grant opportunities dedicated to inspiring the next generation of innovators through experiential learning in the field of engineering.

  • Geometric illustration of colorful robotic toys with distinct features like heads, arms, wheels, and antennas on a light gradient background

    KinderLab Robotics Expands Curriculum to Serve Upper Elementary Students

    KinderLab Robotics has expanded its STEAM robotics offerings with a new curriculum to develop computational thinking and computer science skills for students in grades 3-5.

  • teacher and children working with a LEGO Education Science kit

    LEGO Education Debuts Science Kits for Hands-on Learning

    LEGO Education has announced a new learning solution to engage students in hands-on science learning. Available in three kits by grade band, LEGO Education Science provides 120-plus standards-aligned science lessons, teacher materials, and select LEGO bricks and hardware.