Empathy courses aren’t new, but they are becoming more popular among teachers as a way to better understand their students and manage the classroom environment.
#1 Encourages perspective
One of the primary goals of empathy courses is to encourage teachers to take a step out of their experience and consider situations through the eyes of their students. An FPU Teaching Empathy Course will help teachers approach the classroom with utter subjectivity, putting them in their student’s shoes and fostering a deeper pupil/teacher understanding. By viewing education from someone else’s perspective you’ll be able to assess whether your students are performing at their best, what elements of teaching you might change, and you can even tailor lessons towards individuals in the class who may be struggling.
#2 Teaches communication
The end goal of an empathy course is to help teachers help students. This involves communication, but the course teaches a specific type of communication. Rather than telling students what they’re doing wrong or how they need to improve, teachers who have undergone empathy training employ more reflective phrases. Instead of directly telling students what needs to be done, you’ll be able to help them towards that conclusion themselves, fostering a more proactive classroom where individuals can learn independently. Empathy training does this by teaching you to put aside your initial, emotional reaction, analyze the problem, reflect and then communicate.
#3 Stops rash judgments
No matter how hard you try, it can be difficult to avoid jumping to conclusions based on the evidence immediately available. This is especially true in a classroom environment. With a group of students under your care, it’s easy to assess situations in the blink of an eye, based on emotion and immediacy. Empathy training teaches you to take a step back, and in doing so assess. Weighing the evidence with a clear mind allows you to reach a fairer, more reasonable conclusion and one that addresses underlying causes. That, of course, has big benefits in the classroom.
#4 Helps students who learn differently
Not every student learns in the same way, but some students can be more difficult to break through to than others. Empathy courses encourage teachers to think as the student would, understanding their difficulties and how they might be solved. This couldn’t be more important with individuals who think or learn in a non traditional manner. By empathizing with them, teachers gain a better understanding of how their minds work.
#5 Helps you understand your students’ emotions
Any teacher knows that the job is about far more than education. You care for your students, become invested in their wellbeing and want the best for them. If a student is distressed or needs assistance, empathy courses can really help. They’ll teach you to dive into your own experiences and use them to empathize with the student. That can make a big difference. More than just bringing emotional comfort it can encourage students to open up about their problems, allowing you to take the appropriate action.
