+ Openness

"For example, empathy training has led to increased willingness on the part of older students to be open and self-revealing (Haynes and Avery 1979) "

(Cotton 1992)*

Why Empathy Holds the Key to Transforming 21st Century Learning

By Thom Markham

NOVEMBER 16, 2016

Empathy ‘opens’ us up

"The frontal lobes of the brain, at least as much as we know now, are the seat of planning, execution, problem solving and creativity—and when the frontal lobes are working well, so are we. In that well-documented ‘flow state,’ humans function at their peak, moving into a whole-body feeling of openness, relaxed focus, and creative possibility. If we know empathy activates the frontal lobes, why can’t we imagine intentional lessons about empathy and openness designed to put students in an optimal state for learning?"