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Disclaimer

This post may be a bit out of place but I it’s the best place to put the information at the minute. Primary purpose of this blog is to service my current organisation and it’s community in the areas of elearning and technology so maybe it’s not that “out there.” Anyway, I push on.

Intro

The overarching concept for the Year 8 Day Program this term (well next term really, we’re getting a head start) is “Community sustainability”. Our focus for today is empathy.
I feel very strongly about this stuff. I believe it to be of great importance and value. If it was a choice between educating/teaching (pick your verb) young people about a “traditional” curriculum area and this stuff (i.e. how to understand, value and appreciate your fellow human beings) I would take this stuff every time. Every time. So if it looks like I’m getting a bit passionate about things today, it’s because I am.
I have attempted to compile some online resources you may find useful to compliment the activities and discussions we’ll have today.

The resources

A keyword search

Quintura (check it out to the right) is a search engine with a difference. It presents the search visually with suggestions of other keywords around them. Have a play around and see what things you find. Share with someone.

A definition and comparison (with some other words/concepts)

Compassion & Empathy – GoodWiki

Empathy is considered a mirroring or vicarious experience of another’s emotions, whether they be sorrow or joy. Sympathy, on the other hand, is a feeling of sorrow associated specifically with the suffering or need of another. These are examples of fellow-feeling, and they require a certain degree of equality in situation or circumstances. This is in contrast to pity, which regards its object not only as suffering, but weak, and hence as inferior. Compassion is much like sympathy in that it stems from the suffering of another, but it also includes the need or desire to alleviate suffering (Eisenberg, 2002).

What do you think of the definitions? Does the comparison help? Do you agree? Post your thoughtful comments to start a discussion.
Have a read here and here for further sympathy vs empathy comparisons and links to “empathic listening”

Something audio and visual

It’s said that if you walk a mile in someone’s shoes at the very least you have their shoes. And you’re a mile away. Are their other benefits?

Filed under: for students, learning | Tagged: commuity, development, empathy, passion, personal, sympathy, understanding