'Service Learning & Empathy' in a nutshell...

The service learning & empathy module focused on defining what those terms mean, how they are being addressed in our current contexts, what further action could be taken to improve the approach being taken by our schools and most significantly why service learning and empathy are such an essential part of learning in all schools today and in the future.

Developing Service Learning Final Project

The following documents are a plan that I created with a peer about the steps to developing 'Service Learning & Empathy' in a school. The slides document is some supporting documents, templated and diagrams to be used in conjunction with our plan.

Reflection

Throughout this whole module there was one extract that stood out to me more than any other which was in Roman Krznaric's article 'Six Habits of Highly Empathic People' :

This paragraph very much reflects education and the need for it to be adapted to suit an ever-changing and ever-advancing world. For many years but this year in particular I have had pointed conversations with my students about how our world does not exist as it is by people being selfish. Great inventions and innovations were not created without collaboration of some kind. Our world relies on people caring about and for one another.

I have had conversations with colleagues about the students prioritising finding themselves, over being of service to others. I agree that students should get to know themselves and what drives them, however there is a danger that in developing this knowledge, unless encouraged by external forces, they will choose to do this in a place of comfort, ease and ego. As students develop a self-identity I think it is equally important for them to understand themselves as a peer, as a member of a community and as a global citizen. To appreciate what it means to serve others not just receive is a lesson that deserves considerable air play in education future generations.

One last thought that came to mind which I have also discussed with my students every year since it penetrated my consciousness, and that is the holistic nature of empathy. Most people equate empathy with wanting to those who are in need or in a less fortunate situation than yourself. Every year I remind my students that empathy isn't only necessary in those situations, it is also necessary in feeling happiness for others when they are. The absence of empathy during these joyous times leads to jealousy which in turn results in more selfish behaviours and desires. I find developing an understanding of this side of empathy particularly essential in the privileged contexts I teach in.