From Digital Literacy to Emotional Digital Literacy: A New Framework for Childhood Education

For decades, two powerful concepts have shaped how we prepare children for the world: Digital Literacy and Emotional Intelligence. In 1997, author Paul Gilster first defined digital literacy not just as the ability to use a computer, but as the mastery of ideas presented through digital formats. Around the same time, the concept of emotional intelligence, coined by psychologists Peter Salovey and John D. Mayer in 1990 and later popularized by Daniel Goleman, established the critical importance of understanding and managing emotions.

For years, these two pillars of modern education have often been taught in parallel. But in a world where children’s social and emotional lives are increasingly lived through screens, a new synthesis is not just beneficial—it is essential. The educational innovation company Emoti Labs is pioneering this fusion, developing and coining the term Emotional Digital Literacy (EDL), a groundbreaking framework set to redefine what it means to be truly fluent in the 21st century.

Building on a Foundational Legacy

The work of Emoti Labs stands on the shoulders of giants. Paul Gilster's foundational concept of digital literacy emphasized critical thinking over mere keystrokes. Simultaneously, Salovey, Mayer, and Goleman revealed that emotional intelligence—the ability to monitor one’s own and others' feelings and use that information to guide thought and action—is a key predictor of success and well-being.

"We recognized that the digital world Gilster described has become the primary arena where the emotional intelligence Salovey, Mayer, and Goleman championed is most urgently needed," says James Catoe, founder of Emoti Labs. "The gap isn't in technology skills; it's in managing the 'Big Feelings' that technology elicits. That is the genesis of Emotional Digital Literacy."

Defining Emotional Digital Literacy

Emoti Labs defines Emotional Digital Literacy (EDL) as the essential capability to recognize, interpret, manage, and thoughtfully express emotions within digital environments, and to critically assess and respond to the emotional content and impact of digital media and online interactions. It is the direct application of emotional intelligence principles to digital life, encompassing four core pillars: emotionally intelligent digital citizenship, emotion-focused media literacy, digital stress management, and digital mental health awareness.

Lurnsters: Bringing EDL to Life

To put this theory into practice, Emoti Labs developed its flagship emotional intelligence program, "Lurnsters: The Big Feeling Monsters." The program centers on the adventures of the Lurnsters, friendly monster characters who attend the magical Emoti-School. Each Lurnster possesses an innate "Big Feeling Power" (like Fear, Impatience, or Courage) that they must learn to master through Emotional Intelligence.

Emoti Labs is now thrilled to announce it will introduce its novel curriculum, "Big Feelings in a Digital World," beginning with its new pilot school, Koontz Elementary. In short, engaging 5-minute weekly episodes, students will watch the Lurnsters tackle specific "Emoti-Tasks" that mirror real-world digital challenges. When a Lurnster learns to manage their Impatience Power before sending an angry online message, or uses their Fear Power constructively to question misinformation, they are modeling core EDL skills for students.

"The Lurnsters' journey of mastering their Big Feeling Power directly parallels a child's journey of learning to manage their own emotions online," Catoe explains. "The program gives children a fun, narrative-based language and a set of practical, 3-step skills to build resilience, empathy, and wisdom in their digital lives."

By creating Emotional Digital Literacy, Emoti Labs is not just creating a program; it is charting a necessary course for the future of education—one where the foundational work of Gilster, Salovey, Mayer, and Goleman is evolved to meet the unique emotional demands of the digital age.