This course will introduce empathy and explore mindfulness and meditation as tools to develop empathy. Learners will explore the relevance and importance of empathy for educators, practice perspective-taking, identify one’s positionality, explore barriers and obstacles to empathy and perspective-taking, and be introduced to mindfulness and meditation as a tool to foster and develop empathy. Over six weeks, learners will develop a personal mindfulness practice, read and reflect on empathy and perspective-taking with a community of learners, and make connections between empathy and working in education through discussion boards and written reflections.
Course Texts:
Radical Compassion by Tara Brach
Real Happiness at Work: Meditations for Accomplishment, Achievement, and Peace by Sharon Salzberg
Learning Objectives
By the conclusion of the course, students will be able to:
- define empathy and mindfulness;
- understand the relationship between empathy and mindfulness;
- identify barriers and obstacles to empathy and perspective-taking;
- practice perspective-taking;
- develop mindfulness strategies to overcome barriers to empathy; and,
- develop or foster a meditation and mindfulness practice.
Topical Outline:
The course will be delivered virtually with live, online 1-hour virtual calls (Thursdays at 10 am CST the length of the course) and content to be completed on one’s own time via Learndash. If you are unable to join the weekly calls, each call will be recorded for later viewing.
Organized by learning objectives, the course will cover the following topics:
Week 1: Defining empathy and mindfulness (3 hours)
Week 2: Understanding the relationship between mindfulness and empathy (5 hours)
Week 3: Identifying barriers and obstacles to empathy and perspective-taking and their impact(s) on education practitioners (5 hours)
Week 4: Developing strategies to overcome barriers to empathy by practicing perspective-taking (5 hours)
Week 5: Developing a regular mindfulness practice (5 hours)
Week 6: Final reflection (3 hours)
Course Requirements:
- Weekly Discussion Board Posts & Peer Responses (6)
- Weekly Meditation Reflections (Written or Recorded) (6)
Participation in the Spring 2024 Cohort is completely free. We ask that you reserve 4-5 hours weekly for coursework and provide feedback on your experience via weekly surveys.
Course launch: April 22, 2024. Weekly meetings will be held on Thursdays at 10 am CST. The first live call will be Thursday, April 25 at 10 am CST.
To sign up, complete the following form:
Meditation and this course are not substitutes for mental health treatment. Please consult with your mental health care professional before beginning any meditation practice and at any time throughout this course when you need support.
The Empathy Classroom 