Happy 2023!
We start the year with an incredible discussion on the very frontiers of engineering education - teaching empathy - with Dr Nicola Sochacka from the University of Georgia.
Nicola spent the last decade researching this topic and has created some brilliant resources we can all use to bring the teaching of empathy into our contexts. She believes that engineers should not only understand the end users of engineering designs but should also develop an affinity with those they interact with. She presents a model of empathy in engineering as a teachable and learnable skill, a practice orientation, and a professional way of being,
*detailed show notes including further reflections and tools to take back to your own contexts: https://www.sefi.be/2023/01/16/podcast-episode-5-european-engineering-educators-is-online/ *
Join Dr Neil Cooke (University of Birmingham) and Dr Natalie Wint (University College London) for this informative discussion.
Thanks to Nicola for taking time during vacation to speak with us!
Timestamps:
0.00 Abstract
0.45 Podcast intro
1.18 What we will talk about
1.36 Experiences of teaching empathy from Neil and Natalie
2.48 Nicki’s background
5.20 University of Georgia
7.08 What we mean by empathy skills and why they are important for engineers?
10.48 A model of empathy in engineering: skills, being and orientation
13.31 An example of using the model in the classroom
15.28 The ‘being’ aspect of the model
17.34 Can empathy be taught?
19.17 How to operationalize the theory: research into practice
21.35 Mode switching
25.00 The Empathy Modules Workbook and assessment ideas
27.30 Overcoming challenges
31.05 Teaching neurodiverse students
32.11 What’s next for Nicki: dissemination and propagation of research
33. 44 Final advice from Nicki
35.07 Key takeaways from Natalie and Neil.
Resources:
Model:
https://doi.org/10.1002/jee.20159
Empathy Modules Workbook:
google study:
The paper mentioned in relation to dissemination and propagation:
DOI:10.1080/00091383.2017.1357098
Become a member of the European Society for Engineering Education, SEFI, Europe's largest network of engineering educators: www.sefi.be
Music: Sunrise by ComaStudio https://pixabay.com/users/comastudio-26079283/
Written and produced by Neil Cooke and Natalie Wint
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