Technology revolutionizes Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) in education through diverse tools like educational apps, digital curricula embedding SEL into subjects, and platforms fostering collaboration. It facilitates digital storytelling, VR/AR experiences, and online communities for empathy and social skill development. Mindfulness apps aid stress management while data analytics enable personalized feedback on SEL progress. Technology empowers educators with professional development opportunities. Its thoughtful integration alongside comprehensive strategies ensures inclusive environments, emphasizing emotional growth alongside academics, pivotal for nurturing well-rounded, empathetic learners in today's interconnected world.

Dear Habiba Sundus

Indeed: the role of educational technology in enhancing social and emotional learning (SEL) programs and providing resources for students and educators is still evolving. However, especially in the context of SEL, it seems decidedly important to me not to conceptualize educational technology in reductionist terms and not to rely on an instrumental and/or instructional conceptualization and programming.

Essential impulses could be taken from models and practices of cooperative or collaborative learning. In contrast to many traditional ideas of knowledge transfer and acquisition or teaching and learning, the goals of cooperative knowledge communication and sharing are creatively productive and oriented. Even if the group works together to achieve results, the activities ultimately serve the learning and knowledge of the individual. The jointly generated product is a means to the end of learning and knowledge.

A well-known concept of function orientation in groups is the TIP theory by Joseph E. McGrath. The abbreviation stands for 'Time', 'Interaction' and 'Performance'. The TIP theory states that group relationships or group members are integrated into social and organizational systems at the same time. According to McGrath's approach, group processes and dynamics only emerge against the common contextual background. Due to their location in a shared socio-organizational context, group members perform three functions simultaneously during a learning or work process.

These functions are:

- Production function: this refers to contributions to the organization in which the group members are involved

- Group Well-being function: means effects on the group as such by ensuring an intact and sustainable and worthy social structure

- Member support function: aims to strengthen the individual group members.

According to TIP theory, groups can be engaged in four different modes within the above functions or, more precisely, in performing them. These are: Inception, Technical or Operational Problem Solving, Psychosocial Conflict Resolution, and Execution.