Full Professor Chicago State University College of Health Sciences and Pharmacy Chicago, Illinois, United States
Disclosure(s):
Nadeem Fazal, MD, PHD: No financial relationships to disclose
Introduction/Rationale: Understanding and responding to students’ emotional states is becoming an increasingly important part of effective teaching and learning. Monitoring students' moods provides teachers with essential insights into their readiness to learn, emotional health, and the classroom atmosphere. Conversely, positive emotional states can enhance motivation, creativity, and collaboration. By regularly checking students’ moods—through informal check-ins, digital tools, or observational techniques—educators can modify their teaching methods to meet students' emotional and cognitive needs.
Methods: We at Chicago State University used appropriate surveillance methods, such as direct observation, digital monitoring, biometric sensors, and self-reporting tools.
Results: Results showed that assessing mood promotes a culture of empathy and psychological safety. When students feel recognized and understood, they are more likely to participate actively and take academic risks. This approach also helps identify students who may be struggling emotionally early on, allowing for timely interventions that support mental health and academic success. This summary highlights the importance of mood assessment in boosting classroom engagement and creating a supportive learning environment. Mood directly influences cognitive functions like attention, memory, and problem-solving. When students are anxious, disengaged, or emotionally upset, their ability to engage in classroom activities diminishes.
Conclusion: Adding mood checks into classroom routines takes little resources. Simple tools like mood meters, anonymous surveys, or reflective journaling can provide useful information. When used regularly, these tools help teachers adjust lesson speed, groupings, and behavior management on the spot. In summary, measuring students’ mood is not just a pastoral duty but an educational need. It links emotional health with academic achievement, creating a more inclusive, responsive, and engaging learning space.
