SITE STUDIES
Mongolia
SEE Learning Mongolia and The Department of R&D
Mongolia is a sparsely populated and landlocked country in East and Central Asia, nestled between Russia and China. Since the democratic transition in the early 1990s, Mongolia has been reforming its education system to meet the demands of a market economy and global integration. Although there has been progress in expanding access to education, Mongolia still faces challenges in ensuring quality within its education system. Key issues include rural-urban disparities, quality of education, inclusivity and equity, psychological well-being of students and teachers, and teacher recruitment and retention. To address these challenges, Mongolian social entrepreneurs initiated the adaptation of the Social, Emotional, and Ethical Learning (SEEL) program USA, in 2019, into the Mongolian education system. From the outset, research-based decision-making has been prioritized, leading to the establishment of the Department of Research and Development in 2021. The department’s research findings, such as the Implementation and Feasibility Study, have played a crucial role in integrating the SEEL program into the National Core Curriculum.
SEE Learning MNG - Baseline Study
In 2022, a baseline study for the SEEL program was conducted, engaging 1,273 students from grades 5 through 9, their parents, and 320 homeroom teachers over a three-month period.
A dedicated team of 12 researchers from the National University of Mongolia undertook the critical tasks of translating, adapting, and validating research tools. They also conducted extensive field research, compiled and collected materials, entered and meticulously screened data, and performed thorough data analysis to ensure robust results.
The collaboration with participating schools was exceptionally positive. School management and teaching staff demonstrated strong support for the SEEL program, seamlessly integrating it into their curricula. They provided comprehensive access to classrooms and allocated ample time for research activities, which was instrumental in the successful execution and insightful outcomes of the study.
SEE Learning MNG - Endline Study
In 2023, we aimed to include students from the six schools that participated in the initial survey in the final survey of the SEEL program. Ultimately, 970 students and 184 teachers from five schools took part in this concluding phase.
The data collection for the final survey spanned two months. It was a pleasure to reconnect with the students who were originally surveyed, as well as the dedicated teachers and administrators who supported them. They enthusiastically shared with us the positive changes observed in the children following the implementation of the SEEL training.
Anticipating the results of our two years of dedicated work was an exhilarating experience. The opportunity to witness firsthand the impact of the SEEL program and to hear about the tangible benefits experienced by the students was immensely gratifying.
As a result of the full implementation of the SEEL program, several indicators of children’s psychological well-being showed significant improvement. These included their feelings about schoolwork, intrinsic prosocial motivation, empathy, perspective-taking, and attention effectiveness.
The comparative analysis of the SEEL program’s baseline and final survey results was conducted in May and June 2023. These findings were then presented at the “Forthcoming Education” academic conference, organized in collaboration with scientists and researchers from Emory University, on July 4, 2023.
Beyond the primary implementation results, we conducted several additional analyses on the research data. These comprehensive findings are being published in two international journals and four domestic journals, and were also discussed at major academic meetings organized by the Ministry of Education (MOE). The wide dissemination of our results underscores the significant impact and broad interest generated by the SEEL program.
“Happy Teacher” Mobile APP & Website
Based on the research findings, we significantly influenced the integration of social, psychological, and ethical development concepts into the national pre-school and general education curricula.
Our results highlighted a critical insight: without enhancing teachers’ skills and well-being, children’s development suffers. In response, we are developing an app and web platform aimed at supporting teachers’ professional growth and well-being.
Additionally, we conducted a detailed study on the impact of teachers’ roles on children’s learning. This study underscored the importance of teacher development as a cornerstone for fostering effective educational environments and optimizing student outcomes.
Research & Development Team
Researcher Zuchi Lkhamsuren, MS
Lead Researcher Boldsuren Bishkhorloo, MA
Assistant Researcher Anujin Iderbat, BA
Research Articles
- Bishkhorloo, Lkhamsuren, Byambajav and Frazier (2024) Дунд ангийн сурагчийн аз жаргал, амьдралын сэтгэл ханамжийг гэр бүлийн бүтцийн хүчин зүйлээр таамаглах нь [Predicting the Happiness and Life Satisfaction of Middle School Students’ by Family Factors]. Боловсрол судлал 2024 (598), 24(598)
- Bishkhorloo, Ninjbadgar and Lkhamsuren (2024) Хүүхдэд зориулсан сэтгэл хөдлөлийн илэрхийллийн хэмжүүрийн психометрик чанарыг судалсан нь [Exploring the Psychometric Properties of Emotion Expression Scale for Children]. Боловсрол судлал 2024 (598), 24(598)
- Bishkhorloo, Lkhamsuren, Byambajav and Frazier (2024) Дунд ангийн сурагчийн аз жаргалыг таамаглах зарим хүчин зүйлийн судалгаа [A Study of the Predicting Factors of Teenagers’ Happiness]. Боловсролын тулгамдсан асуудал, арга зам, шийдэл [in publication].
- Baatarsuren, Sandag, Bishkhorloo and Lkhamsuren (2024). Эмпати чадварыг тодорхойлох хүн хоорондын хариу үйлдлийн индекс асуулгын сэтгэц хэмжилзүйн шинж чанарыг судалсан нь [Investigating the Psychometric Properties of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index Questionnaire for Empathy]. Боловсрол судлал 2024 [under review].
- Bishkhorloo, Lkhamsuren, Enkhamgalan and Frazier (2024) Хүүхдийн амьдралын сэтгэл ханамжийг хэмжүүрийн Монголын дунд ангийн сурагчид дээр хийсэн нутагшуулалт [Validation of Satisfaction With Life Scale – Children among Middle School Students in Mongolia]. [MANUSCRIPT IN PREPARATION]
- Bishkhorloo, Lkhamsuren, Byambajav and Frazier (2024) Сургууль, ангийн хамтач байдлын хэмжүүрийн баталгаат болон тохироц чанарын судалгаа: туршилт судалгаа [Validity and Reliability of Student- and School-level Sense of Community Scale among Middle School Students: Pilot Study]. [MANUSCRIPT IN PREPARATION]
