Emotional Intelligence, or EQ, is the capacity to identify, recognize, and manage our own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. By defining EQ as a capability, educators made it possible to decide how teaching and nurturing EQ could enhance students’ learning experience. 

In the last decades, research has shown how much EQ can impact the development of learners. A research study found that kids who can learn to control impulses, delay gratification, and maintain their expression become healthier and more responsible adults. 

The Impact Online Courses Have on EQ

A bit can be done to improve the design of an online course to accommodate the fact that emotions influence learning. Online courses enable learners to develop tactics that can be used to manage their emotions, acknowledging that it is an essential skill used during their lives. 

Self-Awareness

To be self-aware is the capacity to accurately identify your thoughts and emotions and understand how they influence your actions. This includes assessing our strengths and weaknesses, which leads to a grounded sense of optimism and confidence. 

When it comes to eLearning, self-awareness can easily be stimulated by asking your learners, “How do you feel?” and “Why?” For instance, when analyzing literature, try to see how your learners feel about a character. Ask them why they are experiencing those emotions.

This is both useful in online classroom forums and face-to-face communication. Pedagogue is an excellent platform for educators to make virtual classrooms and forums for examining emotional intelligence. 

Motivation

Motivation is one of the many critical skills that a learner can develop, especially in eLearning, where being self-driven and disciplined are key. Motivating learners that are participating in an eLearning ecosystem is not a difficult task. 

Start by asking your learners to write down their goals for the course and place reminders for each phase’s end. It also helps track their progress to see how they meet their goals in a gamified way. 

Compassion

Empathy is a component of emotional intelligence, as it is one’s capacity to take on another individuals’ perspective, especially if they are from a different background. Empathy enables learners to navigate the continuously diversifying world better. 

Setting tasks that require learners to adopt a different role, either in written assignments or debate, can help encourage empathy. Being obligated to argue a position we disagree with is uncomfortable, but it can be incredibly useful in developing a more open-minded worldview. 

Conclusion

Understanding that emotional intelligence is not a trait that some people are born with, but something learned should encourage you as an educator. Know that your less emotionally intelligent learners are not defective and that you can nurture their EQ.