Developing empathy and open-mindedness by Teacher Academy

Marcela, Italy

2016-09-19 13:16:25 UTC

As I wrote before, I used this film in my "Sur le chemin de l'école" in order to develop empathy and open-mindedness, to travel together with them in a virtual way in other school realities, to make them understand that they have the opportunity to be in a SCHOOL and not everybody has the same opportunity.

Marianthi Arvanitidou -Greece

1canislupus22 — 2016-09-19 13:19:22 UTC

An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy.

“It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.” He continued, “The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?”

The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

Gordon, Malta

2016-09-19 13:26:23 UTC

When students emphatize they foster insight into different perspectives and promotes genuine open-mindedness thus discouraging belief rigidity. This in turns encourages cognitive and personal flexibility. This will promote a sense of community.

Eugenia-Ioana Vlad, Romania

2016-09-19 13:28:21 UTC

Well I develop empaty all the time because we develop many activities in different center of teenagers and the closing and discussing their problem is a whaite ball for a teacher

Barbara Trivell

dotriv — 2016-09-19 13:54:44 UTC

Barbara Trivelli

dotriv — 2016-09-19 13:54:51 UTC

Pupils a

Barbara Trivelli

dotriv — 2016-09-19 13:54:59 UTC

Pupils are very ampathic

Barbara Trivelli

dotriv — 2016-09-19 13:55:10 UTC

Pupils are very empathic by nature, bu

Barbara Trivelli

dotriv — 2016-09-19 13:55:13 UTC

Pupils are very empathic by nature, but I al

Barbara Trivelli

dotriv — 2016-09-19 13:55:20 UTC

Pupils are very empathic by nature, but I always try to make them understand how our actions affect on others' feelings

Uğur TÜRK, TURKEY

ugurogretmen — 2016-09-19 14:31:38 UTC

Well I develop empaty all the time because we develop many activities in different center of teenagers and the closing and discussing their problem is a whaite ball for a teacher

Rosa Gaspar/Portugal

2016-09-19 14:58:29 UTC

I like very much the video, it´s very instructional and I will use in my class some similar activities to develop open minded, critical thinking and empathy for sure.
The diversity exercise called Step Forward/Step Back, can go fairly deep considering it doesn't take much time and this can be a powerful exercise to help childrenunderstand their rank and privilege or lack of it.

Paola B., Italy

2016-09-19 15:07:00 UTC

I try to develop empathy and open-mindedness by finding the time to discuss about general issues who have an impact on young people's lives.

Nadya, Bulgaria

nstankova68 — 2016-09-19 15:11:56 UTC

I usually try to do some activities which make students develop their empaty, open-mindedness and tolerance. Some times I can learn very useful ideas from them.

Xanthi, Greece

xalbanaki — 2016-09-19 15:21:46 UTC

The term "empathy" means the ability to see through the eyes of another person. The school classroom works as a theatrical scene where teacher and students are exposed and evaluated daily. So, I try to give toour students the opportunity to take a step "behind" the roles they play everyday and see from a distance the acts and their consequences in order to understand each other and otherness. with educational drama techniques and collaborative learning. My goal is not just to compose a guide for drama techniques but to make clear that these techniques help our students not only to "see each other" but mainly "see through each other".

Ida, Italy

DT22 — 2016-09-19 15:52:08 UTC

I try to induce empathy using the debate method, strarting from selected subjects

Benedetta, Italy

bettabulli — 2016-09-19 16:07:37 UTC

I like these examples of activities. I'll try to apply them in my classrooms. The video shows concretely the difference between students. It's also important to share their emotions and feelings. It's very important to undestand other's felleings too. Empathy and not-verbal communication are crucial to stregthen the group identity.

Iliyana, Bulgaria

2016-09-19 16:11:10 UTC

In my school there are often events students can take part in and create something to use in charity community dates. Pupils and me talk about empathy, about how we can show it, who needs it, how they feel if other classmates or people show empathy to them. They learn to really open their mind towards others and I can say they really understand what empathy is.

Ana Nojkovska

spasovska_ana — 2016-09-19 16:19:33 UTC

I really like the examples. I have been trying to boost empathy amongst my students, mainly using the method of debate. Being able to understand people's emotions and feelings and react according to them is an important segment of the development of the students. more attention should be paid to non - verbal communication. Working to strengthen the relationships within the group and the group cohesiveness should be crucial in school education

Olga, Czech

2016-09-19 17:25:31 UTC

Diese Aktivität finde ich sehr anregend. Danke

Clara, Portugal

claraabegao — 2016-09-19 18:29:48 UTC

I am so glad to have seen this project. I will definitely put it into practice with my students!

I promote debates using this videos made by a famous Portuguese television presenter, based on a mission she developed in the Portuguese former colonies and countries in need, where students can compare the different concepts of happiness, health and wealth, depending on the country to which it belongs. The documentary is "Princípes do nada".

Some exercises and activities I use to do with my students to develop empathy and open mindedness are in this website.

Sónia Rocha, Porto, Portugal

soniacmr18 — 2016-09-19 19:30:00 UTC

Thanks for sharing this. So good. I was willing to implement in my classes and my students.
I think there is still much work to open the minds of my students, but I hope to do it.

Sonia, Spain

2016-09-19 19:47:07 UTC

having empathy with our students will help for the whole school year, they feel more comfortable and open their minds too

Despoina Amarantidou, Greece

damarant — 2016-09-19 19:54:53 UTC

It is important to show to children that equality is a human right. Through collaboration, integration, projects students can learn to coexist. I have found the video really interesing!

Federica Italiy

2016-09-19 20:08:25 UTC

I'm very lucky. My student are open minded and empathic becuse they have many different background, some different neeed, but thei all want to work with the people. thay learn taking care of babies, and elder people and inhabil people. They teach me to open my mind. When I started teaching in my school I was less empathic and open minded than now. I was afraid about different people but now I can understand my students better. Some of them wear in a weird way, but now I know I have to watch besides the dresses. Theese things influence my way of teaching. I would like to do "What's privilege" activity in my class group. I think they would have a lot of intersting things to say.

maria cristina baleani

2016-09-19 22:10:04 UTC

I usually apply cooperative learning in almost my lessons.working in group, sharing difficulties, success and experiences, creates empathy and let students open to the other classmates. they are confident and open mindedness to the other

Moula Evangelia, Gree

2016-09-20 05:27:22 UTC

I was really astonished to see that an idea I had used by myself, having adapted a learning material form Actionaid about water, to my own aims, is already in use and is also suggested as a proper way to develop empathy. I have already my own role cards, which I use with my students or educators (when I conduct such a seminar). I think its a very well aimed activity and Im glad its being shared here.

Christina, Greece

christinaefm — 2016-09-20 06:40:04 UTC

I developed empathy and open-mindedness mostly when I went to Denmark and I had to interact with foreign people from all over the world, inside my work place and outside in the social life.

Marco, Italy

pianotti_marco — 2016-09-20 06:45:03 UTC

It's important to have empathy with our students because it will help because they feel more comfortable and open their minds too

Ilaria,Italy

2016-09-20 08:01:38 UTC

Empathy is important to empathize with the other and understanding that they are living, or their world. I always try to develop it in my students

Guner, Turkey

gunerozen — 2016-09-20 08:11:29 UTC

We can use some methods to get awareness about the others like project based learning, interviews, creative drama, creative reading, verbal history studies etc. They are good ways to think about ourselves, about human rights, to develop empathy. Only obeying the cirriculum doesn't give us a chance to see the whole world.

Colomba, Italy

2016-09-20 08:29:21 UTC

I always try to develop empathy in my students because I think it's important

katia - italy

il_cerchiomagico — 2016-09-20 13:11:15 UTC

opend mindedness and empathy are at the base of positive results in education. to develop positive feelings and positive relationship is one of the most important aims a teacher must have towards their students. i always ask for dialogue among them. words are wonderful "weapons" to solve any kind of problem. every teacher has to teach respect and cooperation before any subject contents

pintastra — 2016-09-20 13:31:56 UTC

These kinf of activities aree very usefull. Sometimes I try to apply them in my classrooms to let share their emotions and feelings but above all iIt's very important to let them undestand other's felleings. Empathy and not-verbal communication are crucial to stregthen the group identity.

Anne Fischer, Berlin

2016-09-20 13:32:46 UTC

my own open-mindedness and empathy has taken years to perfect and is still not perfect. I believe, the more situations we are put in that allows us to experience different cultures and backgrounds fosters our empathy and open-mindedness. I've been fortunate to travel a lot and have lived in many places which has added to my understanding of others. I use this experience in my classroom through our weekly class meetings- I try to get students to share something special about themselves, their family, etc. We then discuss their viewpoints and the uniqueness of each student.
In regards to adapting the video- I would first show my students the video. A couple of years ago I was involved in a 'dinner around the world' activity. Everyone expected to sit down and eat international food. What we got was an eye opening experience into how many people are at a disadvantaged when it comes to food and nutrition (the American table with a full 3 course meal was next to the table from Ethopia where they had a few grains of rice and 'dirty' water). It was an eye opening experience for many people and it opened their eyes to many of the disadvantages in the world.

Cinzia, Ital

nicomd — 2016-09-20 13:43:23 UTC

The video and reading suggested are very interesting. The activity suggested is very good but as my students are 11-14 years old I need to adapt it to their age level. I'll try to do it because I think that empathy and the ability to communicate with other people and in particular with our students is the first step towards motivation and the activation of the process of learning. I try to do activities and projects that promote empathy with others who are different ( with CLIL activities on different cultures in the geographical continents that we study, for example) , in order to arise awareness about the inequality of opportunities in different societies. All this in order to foster an understanding of possible personal consequences of belonging to certain social minorities or cultural groups.
Sometimes it is hard to have some students understand all this, they are closed in their prejudices or privileges, they are not openminded.

Annalisa. Italy

isaese77 — 2016-09-20 14:16:43 UTC

I involve students to know each other with discussions and circle time activities.

Patrizia, Italy

2016-09-20 15:13:22 UTC

Empathy is "an intentional process, where you get into deep relationship with each other without losing their own identity, a kind of understanding in which the boundaries between self and other, although furniture remain defined . In intercultural relations, empathy can be considered a condition founder, a base that makes possible the meeting in a situation of difference and that leads to develop the communication skills needed in the interaction. In fact, the empathic sharing is not learned in the abstract, but is developed through communication and is aimed at understanding "(Santerini, 2010). To develop empathy is essential listening.
Intercultural strategies avoid separating individuals into autonomous cultural worlds
and waterproof, promoting instead the confrontation, dialogue and even the mutual transformation, to make possible the coexistence and address the resulting conflicts.

Simona, italy

2016-09-20 15:17:02 UTC

Wonderful

πε

pegstefan — 2016-09-20 15:38:45 UTC

peggy stefanidou GREECE

pegstefan — 2016-09-20 15:38:46 UTC

so extremely interesting

ARIANNA,ITALY

ariannasinisi85 — 2016-09-20 16:18:29 UTC

The proposed video was really interesting. I think it would be very useful to propose it in a multiethnic class, so that children can see how many privileges have ripetto children of the other parts of the world, they could do simple questions, from food to giochi.anche this puàò born empathy: Work every day to create occasions and game sharing moments that make the birth of joyful sharing situations.

Maria Paola, Italy

2016-09-20 16:24:44 UTC

I always try to teach empathy to my students but many times

Maria Paola, Italy

2016-09-20 16:24:49 UTC

I always try to teach empathy to my students because I think that it is a life's lesson, but many times I can learn it from them. I improve and reward an inclusion and hospitality behaviour, remembering that I can be a positive examples for them

Triantafyllia

sivakatr — 2016-09-20 17:12:51 UTC

I try to introduce empathy in my teaching, playing roles with my students.

Mary, Italy

mrformichelli — 2016-09-20 17:37:37 UTC

Empathy is important to create, balance, and sustain an empathic mindset in classes. As teachers we should be able to put in evidence our students’ uniqueness, striving to understand differences, and setting goals for embracing the cultures of all them.

Francesca, Italy

pacenca — 2016-09-20 17:40:05 UTC

Empathy is everything!

Maria, Italia

mariagranatiero — 2016-09-20 17:49:40 UTC

emphasize the game and introduced by questions coming, like snakes and ladders.

Helen, Ireland

helen_p_english — 2016-09-20 18:04:03 UTC

Empathy begins with listening - really listening to and being interested in the stories of others.
The video was very effective in driving home the message of the arbitrariness of advantage & disadvantage.

antonio P. italy

2016-09-20 18:07:01 UTC

maybe i will do this game. it's very intelligent and make them understand every one is different. wonderful

Irini, Greece

pougounia — 2016-09-20 19:06:00 UTC

games and case studies can cultivate empathy to our students to a great extent

Athina, Ginoudi

aginoudi — 2016-09-20 20:07:36 UTC

Through activities, games , drama, arts, role play and case studies.

Antonietta, Italy

2016-09-20 20:09:57 UTC

I think that games, drama and innovative technologies can establish and develop empathy. But it's not a simply task to accomplish

Lino Milita - Italy

lino_milita — 2016-09-20 20:43:24 UTC

I saw the video on the privileges: it is impressive. I will propose to my fellow teachers. Let me explain: I propose this experiment my colleagues, and I with them, then I will propose to the students.

Daniela Stefania Pagano - Italy

2016-09-20 21:06:02 UTC

My students have not yet developed entirely empathy. The best way to develop it is to do the activities in which they can identify. See a movie or read books on a topic that touches them closely.

Maria Grazia, Italy

giambigia — 2016-09-20 22:18:27 UTC

It’s very important to have empathy with our students and I usually use cooperative learning activities form them working in group, sharing difficulties, making successful experiences creates strong bonds of empathy that consolidate the relationship.

Ioanna

2016-09-20 22:32:34 UTC

Foster empathy with the introduction of innovative methods at school: role playing, theater, games, new technologies, case studies, collaboration

Miguel Canora

orientacion_iespalomares — 2016-09-21 09:01:00 UTC

I like starting a class smiling. Then my pupils are ready to listen to me. Teachers tend to forget the smile as an educational resource.

after

2016-09-21 09:27:00 UTC

afr

2016-09-21 09:27:00 UTC

massimo, italy

2016-09-21 09:27:00 UTC

The first video is quite clear, to me and, as a teacher, one of the key aspects is the motivation, and sometimes the lack of it. How to cope with that? How to foster the sense of self-effectiveness?

Marcella, Italy

marfu7 — 2016-09-21 11:00:30 UTC

I'm a very sensitive nature person,and sometimes i tend to identify myself too much in the problems and emotions of my pupils.Anyway, unfortunately I found that today's children are not always empathetic towards those nearby,as they are very focused on themselves. I always use in classroom  my way to be, even more than my experiences because i really believe that examples teach better than simple lessons. The activity that i usually do for developing empathy are based on role playing, so the students easily identify themselves.
Surely I will try to adapt the " What is privilege " activity in my next teaching practices

Sabrina Vespier, Italy

sabrina_vespier — 2016-09-21 11:18:56 UTC

I've got a sunny character and i convey feelings, sensation on all people i have around. I develop this privilege being in contact with young people that have an open mind because they live the best age. So my job is my privilege

Edit, Hungary

tothedit0610 — 2016-09-21 12:36:27 UTC

I am quite an emotionalal type of person besides being rational. I think developing students' emotional intelligence is vital for making them capable of becoming tolerant adults considering accepting different cultural backgrounds, gender preference or difficult life situations like being mentally or physically ill. Most of my primary students are not mature enough, there are several conflicts like bullying, cyberbullying day by day. The secondary age group is a way better. I think every teacher can educate kids on his/her lessons by talking about these issues in a proper way. The best forums for this are ethics or literature lessons. As an English teacher I have a lot of opportunities to deal with these topic: films, books, extracts, role-play or just by conversations aiming at giving opinions. "What is privilege?" video was fantastic, but I would not dare to try it with these questions in class as it could cause problems. It could be adapted for classroom use as for example: "How successful or happy do you feel you are?" with instructions like step one forward if you are satisfied with your grades, or if you feel you are loved, you have friends, you are very good at something.

Irene Confalone-Italy

confalone — 2016-09-21 12:54:33 UTC

I 'm a very emotional person and sometimes my collegues tell me that I'm too tender with my students. I try to develop empathy and open-mindedness by discussing about subjects that have an impact on young people's lives. Even more I try to make the pupils : confident , happy , positive because if you are happy you learn with joy , and it's easier!

Mariangela, Italy

2016-09-21 12:55:28 UTC

Not all the young students are open-minded because family attitudes towards migrants have a strong influence on pupils and, unfortunately, they are not always positive. So it is important to develop a positive attitude in the classroom, school and possibly community to make them feel part of the same context and enhance empathy. All the examples shown by Erica and Alicia aims at this.

LUIGI, ITALY

2016-09-21 13:31:47 UTC

Games and technologies can be very useful for reaching empathy

Francesca, Italy

francesca_lombardi1973 — 2016-09-21 13:43:43 UTC

Empathy affect a lot the learning process and this is the reason I always try to cultivate it in my classroom. I personally practice during my lessons many role-playing games to encourage students to take the role of an other.

Rosalinda Di Mauro, Italy

rosalindadimauro — 2016-09-21 14:48:15 UTC

I’ve very often practiced empathy games “If I were you….” or “walk in another’s shoes…” in my classroom or activities that encourage the students to work together (cooperative learning) with peers supports. I think these activities are the best solution for social and interpersonal interaction. But there's a common belief that "you are how you are" interacting with other people, and thus, there's little or nothing you can do about it.

Ispir Iuliana-Florentina, Romania

ispiriuliana — 2016-09-21 15:18:26 UTC

At the beginning of the first groups of preschool children we do own a presentation that takes several days, due to age the children. Some are shy, others talkative. At first they tend to laugh: the daring of the most shy. Here we come to a balance of emotions. We try to temper for a while to the bold and talkative and motivate the timid. Emotions are always present. I cry, laugh, quarrel or gets angry. But in the end everyone socializes.

Angelamaria Galderisi, Italy

2016-09-21 15:25:44 UTC

Empathy and open-mindedness are important aspects of developing intercultural competences: if students research and reflect on other personalities and emotions , they will develop a sense of understanding of the huge diversity of livelihoods and backgrounds of our society and also raise awareness how culture can influence our understanding of body language and other emotional markers.
I think it’s difficult to develop open-mindedness and empathy nowadays. I like talking to my students in order to create a familiar and relaxed atmosphere in the classroom and sometimes I speak about my experiences. So pupils are encouraged to express their feelings and ideas and this favour their understanding of each other’s emotions and learn to read the body language of their peers. To develop students’ empathy and open-mindedness, it would be useful to adapt the "What is privilege" activity to each classroom. The purpose of the Privilege Walk Activity is to learn to recognize how disadvantages and privileges can affect our lives even when we are not aware it is happening. The purpose is not to blame anyone for having more privileges or for receiving more help in achieving goals, but to have an opportunity to identify both obstacles and benefits experienced in our life. To “play”, students form a straight line across the room about an arm’s length apart, leaving space in front and behind. First they listen to some statements, and follow the instructions given. For example, when I read “If you are a boy, take one step forward,” only boy will move and everyone else will stand still. The statements could be adapted to develop intercultural competences : examples of privilege walk statements could be: “If you feel good about how your identified culture is portrayed by the media take one step forward” or “If you have been the victim of physical violence based on your ethnicity or culture take one step backward”.

Maria Grazia, Italy

mgstefanelli — 2016-09-21 15:26:30 UTC

Empathy is really important for a great classroom culture. Through empathy, students learn to understand and know each other, and it helps them to build friendships based on a positive relationship of trust. It is so absolutely necessary to have empathy within your classroom, you need to model what empathy looks like. Teaching your students to be empathetic to one another teaches them to care about others. This allows them to go into society and make a positive difference because they care about the well being of others. An empathic classroom helps to create a positive classroom community where all students feel loved and cared for.

Sabrina, Italy

2016-09-21 16:10:15 UTC

My students are actually a bit young for this kind of exercise, but I really liked it!
I think this could be done with older students, in order to undestand the meaning of privilege. Young children cannot understand it, as they are "selfish". Moreover, talking about privilege could hurt someone's feelings, as they notice differences between each other. When all the children are willing to tell the teacher about their holidays and one little child whispers she did not go on holiday, that means she is suffering, she understands what a privilege is, but she is suffering.

Maria Maddalena Italy

mariamaddalena_pallotta1 — 2016-09-21 16:53:55 UTC

Maria Maddalena Italy

mariamaddalena_pallotta1 — 2016-09-21 16:54:42 UTC

my pupils are too small for this kind of activity. But I think it's very important to educate to empathy all'inetrno of each community. I often do the role play, or open debates in quai they can freely express their ideas and emotions to make them Share by others.

Louise, Malta

chircoplouise — 2016-09-21 17:12:11 UTC

Perhaps my open-mindedness and empathy developed in the course of time as my extended family is quite diverse. A good number of uncles and aunts are migrants themselves. Other experiences also helped to develop my open-mindedness. I used poetry, and stories to help my students develop empathy. Role -play also helps.

Nikos, Greece

2016-09-21 18:03:54 UTC

Empathy and open-mindedness are really important to build a great classroom culture. I think role playing ,games and team activities can help us and be very useful.

Maria Panou/ Kalymnos, Greece

maria_themelis — 2016-09-21 18:43:49 UTC

We've taken part at a competition with subject : friendship with different diversity. Here are our results. We've taken a qualtiy label for this. The comic story is about a man from another country who helped a greek one who was affraid of him because he was a foreign man. They became two best friends.

Ы

2016-09-21 19:13:22 UTC

Svetlana (Estonia)

2016-09-21 19:13:22 UTC

I liked video very much. I with to try the same workshop. I always try to develop empathy and open-mindedness. I consider my students needs.

Pietra, Italy

pietra_sellaro — 2016-09-21 20:03:46 UTC

I think is important develop my students open-mindedness and empathy throught songs, dance, cinema, theathre, dialogues and different plays.

Maria

maria_sorvillo_rosaria — 2016-09-21 20:06:27 UTC

Maria, Italy

maria_sorvillo_rosaria — 2016-09-21 20:06:28 UTC

As stated C.Rogers, the school is not only the place where you learn, but it is also the environment in which we let our emotionsand our esperienze; the active listening skills, understanding of group dynamics and the willngness to get involved must be between the main skills of the teacher.The teacher has to reveal his human face, encouraging the student to open up through empathetic listening and ispiring them on their journey of discovery and self-knowledge.I think that the teaching laboratory and cooperative learning can develop empaty and open-mindedness.

Daniela, Italy

gea68_dp — 2016-09-21 20:25:24 UTC

My mother has not studied much, but she taught me to be open minded and I think it was the best thing she did for me. I'm sure that it is basic to help our students to became open minded adults. I teach law and for me is important to transfer to my students ideals of equality and freedom. If I find a kind of racism in my classroom (related to foreign people or other forms of racism) I rise firmly to stop this behavior. I think that a good teacher must forget books and notions if it is necessary to act to help students became better citizens.

Cecilia, Germany

2016-09-21 20:50:03 UTC

While studying I traveled a lot during the summer holidays to learn English and in general I had familiar problems that helped me developing more empathy. I was born in an international city and I moved to Berlin, an even bigger and more multicultural city. I would like to travel more for my open-mindedness. My students are adults, so I don't know how much I can influence them. Some of them are neither open-minded nor emphatic. How would I adapt the "privilege" activity to my students? With the themes of racism and lack of respect during the lessons.

Tiziana Italy

Tizianateacher — 2016-09-21 21:12:37 UTC

Like many people in the MOOC I have learnt a lot because I have visited other countries and I have studied abroad. My open-mindedness developed when I started learning languages and met people from other countries.
Most of my students are aware of the difficulties we face in today's society. It is important to be open, to learn and continue learning and meeting other people and thinking about the problems we have is the first step to help our learners.

Marilia-Portugal

g_marilia_santos — 2016-09-21 22:01:24 UTC

At home with my parents I've learnt to be open-minded, tolerant and empathetic. My students in general are not very open-minded and have some difficulty in understanding other people's problems.
During the school year I develop some activities making them put on other people's shoes. Thank you for sharing with us the link to the SALTO Cultural Diversity Resource Centre.

Sunay Efe-Turkey

sunayefe — 2016-09-21 22:30:28 UTC

Very very good,I liked video very much. I with to try the same workshop. I always try to develop empathy and open-mindedness. I consider my students needs.

Nevruze Erkan Erkoç - Turkey

2016-09-22 07:28:47 UTC

I liked video very much. It was meaningful.

Cinzia

2016-09-22 07:34:51 UTC

I try to help my students to develop open mindedness through activities that allow them to know the others' point of view and to put themselves in others'shoes. I like literature so often I read with my students novels that tell about different point of view. Songs, cinema, theatre, role playing are useful to develop empathy.

Rosa/Italy

rosadilonardo — 2016-09-22 10:17:12 UTC

I find very interesting the videos. Teaching in my school I learnt that is very important to create a class identity. I try to buoild the feeling of class belonging through pair/group works, cooperative learning, learning by doing. Working in pair or in group the students help themselves to reach a common aim

Ljiljana Lez-Drnjevic

LjiljanaLD — 2016-09-22 10:33:48 UTC

ENABLE in Zagreb
https://www.eiseverywhere.com/ehome/enable/agenda/. Interesting and useful. I've participated on the Enable workshop, held by my colleagues Lidija Kralj, Danijela Lokmer and Danijel Forjan.

Cinzia,

2016-09-22 14:08:31 UTC

Valeria Orazi, Italy

marito31813 — 2016-09-22 14:10:06 UTC

I'm agree with my collague Sabrina, these activities are very interesting but not right for my pupils aged 3-6 years. I develop empathy and open-mindedness with simple games, for example showing cards with people with different feelings (sad, happy, angry, ecc.) and ask them what does he/she feel, or what they feel in a particular situation.
I liked very much the video "what is privilege?" but I think that it's an activity that could to be done with adults but not with young pupils because they'll suffering about their disadvantages.
I believe that such a kind of activity could be done from teacher that can value by him/herself privileges and disadvantages of his/her students, in order to better know his/her pupils situation.

Giada, Italy

giadapantuosco — 2016-09-22 14:23:22 UTC

I think that the topic of privilege is a very deep one. I guess a lot of what students think it depends on their families beliefs, so they are just influenced by them. How could be otherwise?

Vasiliki Psaridou/Greece

psaridou — 2016-09-22 15:16:08 UTC

Empathy and open-mindness can be developed in class and are very important. I usually try to organize role games since my students are young (6-7 years old). Cartoons can also help them understand the meanings and can be enjoyable as well.

Olga Martins, Portugal

olgacarvalhomartins — 2016-09-22 15:34:27 UTC

Empathy is really a very important issue. Teachers should feel empathy with the class, the class should feel empathy with the teacher, the students should feel empathy with each other, otherwise all we have been discussing here as class identity and belonging will be not a reality but a dream.

Dimitris Zisimopoulos, Greece,

dzisimopp2 — 2016-09-22 15:41:24 UTC

Quite interesting video that helps everyone to develop his/her open-mindness and empathy about a concept like ''privilege'' because as a reflection process rarely happens to everyone. I think that the activity can be adapted for my students if we use instead of the privileges mentioned the children's fundamental rights.

Lina, Italy

didinomosca63 — 2016-09-22 15:43:40 UTC

I try to develop my open-mindedness and empathy by kwowladge personality of all persons around me. I alway respect them and I ask to my students to do same. We comunicate a lot, if there is a problem we discuss about. Unfrtunatly teacher is often alone, students don’t discuss in family, they are not able to solve a problem by discussion.

Angelo, Italy

angelo_boezi — 2016-09-22 15:53:35 UTC

As I said, I teach letterature, Latin and Italian, from the fourth century BC until our time. If you study a Latin tombstone inscription or a XIV century poet, you are doing an exercise about diversity and open-mindedness. My students are well trained under this point of view. Litterature is a powerful tool box from which you can choose the means you need to orient and educate.
About priviledge: it is self-evident. You don't need a special training. We live in a culture of priviledge statement. If I show the last model of a mobile phone, I am priviledged.
We all suffer the massive pressure of a media system which is based on the priviledge as value. Students are trained from childhood to recognize the signs of priviledge. The star-system, to say, the "celebrities" system: does just that. If you bring with you in class the last model of i-thing, you are priviledged.It's a fact of our life.
We, the teachers, belong to the priviledge-system. We wish to take with us the last model of i-thing. As in the video: hundreds of thousands bucks of recording material to reflect about priviledge. Please, define irony.
So: how can we correct the perception of priviledge in our students?

Silvia, Ital

silvia_gradi — 2016-09-22 16:20:20 UTC

Empathy in a class is essential. It allows you to base relations on mutual respect. In one of my classes I have adapted the proposed activities by impersonating boys of roles: the Italian boy followed and appreciated by the family, the student who does not feel appreciated by teachers, peers, parents, the student just arrived from a distant land.

VasilicaGazdac,Romania

vasilicagazdac — 2016-09-22 16:39:49 UTC

Here are some more tips for an empathic conversation:

Pay attention, physically and mentally, to what's happening.
Listen carefully, and note the key words and phrases that people use.
Respond encouragingly to the central message.
Be flexible – prepare to change direction as the other person's thoughts and feelings also change.
Look for cues that you're on target

Sonia Galderisi, Italy

sonia_galderisi — 2016-09-22 17:12:27 UTC

Sonia Galderisi, Italy

sonia_galderisi — 2016-09-22 17:13:39 UTC

Empathy is the ability to recognize another’s emotions or more simply put—being able to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes. I think that it's important the kind of language we use, how we describe others, if we are understanding or judgmental, tolerant or shaming because these are all things children are copying. I try to develop empathy with my students not talking badly about others in front of them and saying things like ‘She is mean,’ ‘He is selfish,’ ‘She is so annoying’, because it isn’t recognizing the emotions behind the action. Luckily my students have developed good feelings towards their foreign mates and are happy to listen my lessons in which they can compare and learn the cultural diversity. Moreover I use readings, films, songs, games and cartoons about friendship, sympathy, mutual love between people from different cultures to increase students' empathy. As regarding the game "What's the privilege " , I could use it to individuate some conflicts that may rise in the classroom.

gabriella S. Northern Italy

2016-09-22 17:58:44 UTC

I really want to do this game with my class. Maybe they will understand that we are all different

Diva, Italy

diva_dinanni — 2016-09-22 18:00:29 UTC

It is important to empathize with their students to better understand their reality, so they can make choices, as a true reference cultural leaders, they are not conditioned solely from its own point of view, which too often is severely limited. Through this empathic dimension it is unable to have the absolute control of the group class that recognizes the cultural leadership of the teacher, and in consequence cooperate to learn any discipline, without suffering the passage of class hours.

Patrizia V., Italy

vinci_patrizia — 2016-09-22 18:53:00 UTC

A privilege, in my opinion in a multicultural class, is to share your own culture with the others and the only weay a teacher has to do it is to promote and stimulate cooperation and collaboration through group works, underlining the concepts of solidarity, explaining that "diverse" is a positive value for the common growth.

Carmela Perri I trry to create a genuine relationship, to exploit the difference as opportunity. To reinforce the resource of each, to analyze values and defects, to understand the prejudices and changing pont of wiev. A class is a meeting of humanity , solidarity and common growth.

perri_carmela — 2016-09-22 18:56:58 UTC

Maria Nikolova

2016-09-22 18:57:44 UTC

Great! I'll conduct such a lesson with my students very soon.

Dimitra Arampatzi, Belgium

darabazi — 2016-09-22 19:07:45 UTC

It is very important to help our pupils to show empathy, to recognize others' emotions. Especially when we are talking about very young pupils it is something you have to work with for a long time. You start with the basic feelings of the children themselves. They need to learn to recognize them, as well as to deal with their own unpleasant feelings (to show acceptable behaviours). As they are egocentric it is very difficult to put themselves in the place of the others. You need to work very hard on this point, as this is the most appropriate age to develop basic skills and build the basis for open-mindness and empathy.

Maria Lisitsina, Armenia

marialisitsina17 — 2016-09-22 19:38:39 UTC

GREAT!!! I want to try this game with my students!!!! Thank You so much!!!!

Elisabetta, Italy

elysweet — 2016-09-22 20:03:39 UTC

My advice to help develop empathy in children:
-Treat them as individuals with minds of their own, and talk to them about the ways that our feelings influence our behaviour.
-Seize everyday opportunities to model and induce sympathetic feelings for other people (for instance when reading a story).
-Help them discover what they have in common with other children.
-Help them explore other roles and perspectives: "What is the world like when experienced from another person’s point of view?".

Stories from books or television are opportunities for children to practice perspective-taking skills. What do the characters think, believe, want, or feel? And how do we know it?

Doina Andrei, Romania

2016-09-22 20:25:15 UTC

Being able to explain and advocate for a position different from their own can help students develop an open-minded perspective, build tolerance and empathy, and improve the accuracy and depth of understanding of their own beliefs, values, plans, or goals.

Rossella Francesconi, Italy

francesconi_ros — 2016-09-22 20:27:01 UTC

The game is an excellent method to undertake empathy with our pupils, by the game it's possible to put into play our social competence. I Like very much video's proposal..

Laura Mongiò, Torino

2016-09-22 21:13:13 UTC

What a beautiful game... as always , game is the better way to understand ...

Kasia,Poland

katerinaki62 — 2016-09-22 22:50:12 UTC

Wow! I was shocked at the simplicity of the game and complexity of its message. Really I will adapt this game to my PBL lessons during which I usually observe how young people struggle to constitute a collaborating unit. We must be very careful to start this game with kids but in my opinion it would be good to start every question with the words "Do you think that......" That will allow distancing the children from possible suffering but will definitely signal the problem. Also the questions may be more attached to their world rather than to deep psychological problems. With older students that version from the film will be appropriate.
I would like to say that of course we should use our experience to tell students stories as then they look at us as someone close and similar to them without having this sense of vertical hierarchy. Hierarchy is not so bad but not when it comes to emotions.

The best way to develop open-mindedness and empathy is through experience- the task extremely risky and difficult for a teacher. For example: before recording an audio book for blind children, you should try being blind for a couple of minutes. If not much at least this experience will make you try to survive thus think. More in a diary soon

Vali, Romania

2016-09-23 06:03:54 UTC

I think that my students show empathy in a lot of ways: for people in need they donate money, they make gifts on holidays, they help their colleagues when those are ill. I have one student who has a bright mind but has issues at home. Another student helps her discrete, with her family by hosting and sharing a lot of life together. That way the seeds of anger in social injustice that could became violence.

Stamatia Stamati, Ioannina-Greece

stamatiast — 2016-09-23 06:36:22 UTC

Excellent game. It is so meaningful. Empathy and open-mindedness are strengthen via games, activities, dialogue.

Simona C, Italy

simoneva_2000 — 2016-09-23 08:49:20 UTC

I think the topic of privilege is very important to discuss in class. The step game showed in the video was meaningful in its simplicity. I think I will use it at school. On many occasions in class, even starting from current news, we discuss about disadvantages or advantages of different situations, for example education opportunities, food or ways of living in other countries. We compare, share experiences closed to us and reflect on fundamental values we all have to respect, appreciating what we have. So students are constantly used to develop a critical thinking and sensibility towards diversity.

Giulia Italy

2016-09-23 08:54:08 UTC

We rarely think what are our privileges and our students do the same. We must learn them that they don't live the same life and have the same experience. Some games like the one we have just seen can be useful and we can try to apply in our class in the ours when there are topics that allow it

Miriam,Italy

aleemattia — 2016-09-23 09:15:54 UTC

The game presented in the video feature simple and clear a way to deal even with the kids to school the subject of the privilege giving way to each developed their own critical thinking

Gabriella, Italy

2016-09-23 09:38:50 UTC

Gabriella, Italy

2016-09-23 09:38:50 UTC

The “What is privilege” activity is an interesting and touching activity that can be suitable also for children because it gives a perfect idea of the situation. In a Primary school this would be a beautiful work, but I think teachers could have to introduce the theme: it’s important because also children at the age of 9 listen to news and make question about how the world goes. Furthermore, presenting the theme as a game helps the children understanding better.

I think that reflection on our own privileges (if the reflection is guided, with kids) could help being open-minded.

Isabella Santoro, Italy

issabella1 — 2016-09-23 12:11:38 UTC

For me the empathy begins with a smile: every morning I try to smile much..so the students can be more positive, more collaborative, more sure when they say their opinions. I try also to develop empathy by debating about many subjects.

Graziana, Italy

beinatgraziana — 2016-09-23 13:57:34 UTC

I think that the movie Inside Out and the activities my pupils did before watching it, helped them understand their and their classmates’ body language, and the range of emotions we express through it. I absolutely agree that we have to teach our pupils recognize emotions in order to help them become more empathetic inside and outside the school.

Marzia, Italy

marziast — 2016-09-23 14:07:42 UTC

Thanks for sharing these activities from ENABLE. They're very interesting and inspiring. Recognising our own emotions and ways to express them is a good way to put into conact with other people, with their emotions which may be the same as ours, even if they are expressed in a different way. For example, a student may express his embarassment with a shy silence, another one may appear a boaster...and it may only be a way to hide his personality to other people. Teachers should help them know emotions and manage them. It's not easy, because teachers have emotions,too. And sometimes "difficult" pupils defy teachers with their behaviour.
The privilege walk might be a nice way to let pupils know each others and reflect upon their diversity

Marilena, Greece

becsa1 — 2016-09-23 14:12:09 UTC

I personally try to participate in various seminars, concerning communication, team building, psychology, human rights, bullying etc. In fact, last year, in a human rights seminar for teachers, we did the activity “privilege” mentioned in the above video. So, I have accumulated material, for students’ activities, so that they can better understand themselves, communicate with others in a positive way, recognize emotions, develop empathy, etc. However, these activities are not applicable to the subject I teach. So, in my classes, I try to get them more open-minded, by examining and listening to musical pieces of different genres and from different countries, having the students sing as a group songs from different cultures, showing the evolvement of music through the ages and the universal wealth that this diversity brings.

Valentina

valentinabertazzoli77 — 2016-09-23 14:30:30 UTC

The "What is privilege" activity is interesting and I think that i could use it with my students. It is important thinking about privilege.

Thomas, Austria

t_baldauf — 2016-09-23 15:11:56 UTC

Being part of a minority helps you to open your mindset and have a broader view

Valeria Benatti - Italy

vally_benatti — 2016-09-23 16:51:36 UTC

One of the basic thing about being a good teacher is trying to be a good person, so that you set an example for your student. That's why it is essential to keep your eyes opened onto reality, and try to give your contribution even as a private citizen. By doing so, it becomes even easier to develop projects and activities in which your students reflect on current issues and are progressively lead to understand that cultural differences exist, but they should consider them a PRIVILEGE, not an obstacle.
Starting from this point of view, a possible adaptation of the activity suggested in the video should be to focus on different cultures. Students can be asked about their traditions and habits, and the teacher provides that they gain a considerable distance among each other. After this, students can work in couple with somebody who was very distant from them, and they might interview each other on their cultures. Starting from what the teacher has asked, students should be curious to deepen their knowledge about their mates' habits. At the end of the lesson, however, the teacher should ask students to go back to their "distant" positions, and let them become closer by making them realise that, despite differences, they also share lot of similarities, so that coexistence is possible, and even valuable.

Raffaella, Italy

2016-09-23 17:34:32 UTC

Hello everyone, I like the proposed activities! I'm from southern Italy and in the past, when I was a child, I often known Northern guys who told me: Terrona! but I do not know what it meant this word ... Growing up I learned what is the tolerance and empathy. Now, as a teacher and adult, I apply my experiences in a conscious way. I enjoyed the Privilege. It would have a strong impact on the pupils! I think I could use role play with the pupils. For example, they can compare the privileges of northern peoples of the world with those in the south. I think the students would discover many truths. Also regarding themselves.
I have to study a lot for apply the strategy to use.

Lina ( Italy)

2016-09-23 18:10:46 UTC

Angelina Alberico, Italy

2016-09-23 18:35:42 UTC

Teacher empathic dimension is very important. It's about understanding the student and his training needs. But we must also love their pupils. The classroom experience for both students and for teachers is mainly an experience relational. A true teaching empathic indicates that the teacher is able to understand the needs of the child, fitting to having it be a stimulus and enrichment for its development. Teaching empathic works both at the cognitive level as knowledge of the learning level at which the child has come to be emotionally as understanding of feeling pupil. The two components are often intertwined and a teacher able to empower children and to create a positive atmosphere in the class is able to pursue both emotional well-being goals that learning objectives.

Elisabetta, Italy

welcomenew — 2016-09-23 18:59:47 UTC

I think most students want to be open-minded but they do not have the right means to defend their opinions. Discussion about cultural diversity is not really encouraged. I feel my personal experiences would be too linked to my values and biased by my opinions and reactions, so I really appreciate the contribution of staff that collect and share a variety of material.
The privilege activity is very interesting and I would like to try it in the classroom making it more delicate maybe because I teach adolescents and some reflections could be too difficult for them to face.

Caterina Fantini, Italy

cate_67 — 2016-09-23 19:06:28 UTC

I've got a multiethnic class. My students, 8-9 years old, haven't got a fixed place in class, they have to learn to stay near to every mate. It's a good way to know each others and develop emphaty and open - minded.

Sandra, Northern Germany

2016-09-23 21:29:05 UTC

The paths of how you can broaden your perspective and open your mind are well trodden ;-)!
It always helps a lot to share the live and work of different communities. Spend your holidays there, work together with people, get involved in their problem solving in how they view their history.
Maybe it happens so that you fall in love with something or someone?
And then: step out or aside again (mentally?), so that you can see the broader picture again. Opening up requires switching mental modes.
Tony Buzan pointed to a nice way of conceptualizing the switching between different mental modes. Buzan referred to thinking hats. One could envisage a thinking hat just for opening your mind and switching back to normal working mode again.
And sometimes it just so happens that this complicated process of negotiating meaning internally and externally goes awry ;-).
A nice song by furniture which also applies to a community of one shared language.
No deep philosophical approach required.

Evangelia Triantafyllou, Greece

evatria — 2016-09-23 21:32:59 UTC

Travelling abroad and finding myself in multinational learning/social contexts have both helped me develop my own open-mindedness. When I discuss with my students, realise they are not really open-minded. As for being empathic, they are not really not only to students from other national backgrounds but also to their classmates who they hang out with.
The Privilege activity was really great and I admit i would like to be one of the participants in the video! I would also find it interesting to give each group of students photos of some people who live in several parts of the world and ask them to describe a day in their lives!

Georgia Konstantia Karagianni, Greece

jimfayo806 — 2016-09-24 06:20:10 UTC

My first real exposure to open-mindedness was when i was a university student, studying English and American literature and civilization. I was in touch with different ideas than the ones i had been raised with and that really changed my way of thinking. Later on, i made many english-speaking friends, travelled in many countries and that was a new window to the world for me. Empathy was really developed later on when i studied psychology and found it really interesting to learn how to read people's feelings, their body languages etc. Personal experiences also helped me develop empathy to a great extent and this is extremely important both in establishing a good relationship with your students and colleagues and in resolving conflicts when needed. ''What is privilege'' is an interesting activity but not suitable for children or teenagers because it has a psychodynamic effect and it pressuposes that the individuals involved have come to terms with many ''inner issues'' which is most unlikely in school children.

Ivana, Italy

Ivana91 — 2016-09-24 06:37:29 UTC

develop empathy and openness is of fundamental importance not only in schools, but above all in everyday life. As explained by Goleman often personal success of people it does not depend on their cognitive intelligence, but by their ability to manage emotions and to empathize with others, that is, from their high emotional intelligence.

Elena Azzurra, Italy

2016-09-24 10:12:48 UTC

I work at secondary school and I’ve noticed at this age it is very difficult for students to show their ways of thinking because they are afraid not to be accepted from the others. This fear often leads them to hide their real point of view in order to conform themselves to the “group” and, at the same time, to impede empathy from developing.

I find this activity a wonderful mean in order to make them aware of the existence of different personal situations and as a consequence, of different points of view. I would propose this activity in class by showing this video and then asking students to write one statement “for me privilege is….” so that they will participate actively in the creation of their activity.

Konstantinos, Greece

kostavask68 — 2016-09-24 13:00:52 UTC

I try to be in touch with new tools and strategies about empathy. Sometimes I believe that my students are more open-mindend than us, their teachers. I'm trying to learn something from them too.

Gaia, Italy

gaialombardi69 — 2016-09-24 13:55:50 UTC

It's maybe easier to develop empathy and open-mindedness with younger pupils, who instinctively enact friendship relations. Pupils are often more open-minded than teachers, even if they sometimes absorb distrust and prejudices from the external world or from their family. In this case, the teachers first must be themselves free from prejudices and preconceptions; they also must be able to create positive relationship with all the pupils.
Foreign pupils are often afraid of expressing their ideas or points of view because they are worried of their mates' opinion. Creating a good collaboration climate and a strong team environment in the class prevents pupils from being conformist to be accepted by the group, on a hand, and rom bullying on the other hand, giving each pupil the opportunity to feel respected and understood.

Elsa Pereira, PT

elsammhp — 2016-09-24 14:25:23 UTC

I try to help my students to develop open mindedness through activities that allow them to know the other's point of view. Reading litterature, listening songs, and seeing cinema are useful to develops emphty but also to develop critical thinking.

Cristina Gila, Romania

2016-09-24 15:40:59 UTC

Having an open mind has always been a priority of mine as I do believe that possessing this trait helps everyone understand the world and the society they live in better. Being a teacher and listening to the stories of students coming from different backgrounds and families has really made an impact on myself both mentally and emotionally as I could finally grasped the concept of being empathetic and open, forgetting what judgment meant. Students are usually more open-minded than teachers just because they tend to lack expecting things from other people, therefore they talk, play and communicate freely, without minding the social boundaries an adult is used to. I believe that sharing stories, watching educational films and incorporating them into classes could be a great method of understanding empathy and open-mindedness, students enjoying the informal feel of the lesson.

2016-09-24 15:52:40 UTC

Rosalba,Italy
I think it's a huge challenge developing empathy and open mindedness with people. It's to easier to get it with students, than elders. However students are affected by beliefs from their family or prejudices from the external world and from the social network.

So a teacher can help his/her students addressing them to discuss on this issue after reading litterature, seeing cinema, taking part on multicultural meetings. All these activities help students to share their experiences and to develop a critical and open mind.

Stefania,Italy

2016-09-24 16:15:18 UTC

This kind of actvities are very interesting,I think I can try "What is a privilege with my students.

Vicky Archondi, Greece

vicky_archondi — 2016-09-24 16:50:24 UTC

My students and I 'put ourselves into the others' shoes' by organising a culture day every month. During that day, we may embrace a number of activities such as story telling, role playing, body language recognition and movie watching. By doing so, we cultivate understanding of otherness and become more appreciative and respectful towards it.

Anna, Italy

pastorino_anna — 2016-09-24 17:24:57 UTC

I feel myself to be a person fortunta but I complain about useless things, and when this happens it prevents me to build empathy with others. To know others we must first know ourselves. The exercise in the video is useful to realize how lucky we are

Rossella

RossellaR — 2016-09-24 19:08:24 UTC

Empathy considers openness toward the other as a necessary condition and fundamental to being able to exist. We must make sure not to put any emotional obstacles. What this means with more different types of people we interact on a daily basis, and more we understand the degree different personality. Training the mind to open up a different perspective, it will help us better understand emotions and points of view from our diversification. We must help students to this open-mindedness, because they are often influenced by prejudices. The dialogue, the comparison group work can aiure the strudenti to grow in an open and critical

Maria Anna Casoria

goli291174 — 2016-09-24 19:19:39 UTC

This activity reminds me a scene of the film "The freedom writers".
A very good activity to develop empathy and open-mindedness.

Clara, Italy

claragulino — 2016-09-24 19:20:48 UTC

Great Experiment about Privilege: Learning through the others' point of view or experiences. I've found it really interesting and I reflected when the hands which, as I see it, were symbol of equality, were forced to leave each other.

Eleonora, Italy

eleonora_mauriello19 — 2016-09-24 19:55:04 UTC

I think open-mindness and empathy should be taught since primary school. They play a key role in suspending judgement, understanding other people's point of view and in looking for a common ground between the speaker and the listener.
I think the Privilege activity is quite interesting to let some hidden aspects come to surface, but I would change the statements if I had to address this activity to my students, as there are some topics that could easily hit them from a psychological perspective.

Patrizia, Italy

2016-09-24 20:00:46 UTC

I think that to develop open-mindedness and empathy you have to know people and be able to put yourself in their shoes. The more you learn about people, the less you fear them. Understanding differences removes the threat and anxiety born of the fear of the unknown. Communication brings people together and makes them sensitive to others. “What is privilege” shows this very well: I think I will try this activity with my adult students.

Elena S. Italy

esperanzon — 2016-09-24 20:09:19 UTC

I found the "What is privilege" activity absolutely shocking and would never do it with my students. The emotion I could read, at the end of it, was pain all over. I find it could be appropriate as some sort of starter in a drama course, to get people started with feelings, group, space and body. And facing new challenges etc. But handling that in a classroom, without qualified psychological support, would just not be safe. Not with the sort of pupils I work with, anyway. The gap would be huge, the pain unbearable.
How would I adapt it? I wouldn't, it still would not be appriapriate. There is a certain point to which you can push emotions in a school activity and beyond which you should not go. It's not taboo, it's just that bringing up very painful feelings, needs, creates situations that you, as an adult, must be able to handle, but you simply won't unless you're a psychologist.
As for developing empathy, at my school I have been taught by a senior collegue a way of raising awareness of other people feelings and needs that can be useful when welcoming a new class in their first year (14 year olds). We would normally get them to sit in a circle, moving desks against the walls, in order to be able to face eache other. Pupils would then start responding to a prompt, or answering a question, about their previos school experience, their hobbies, their family, their house and so on. Once the discussione is open, topics might move a bit further, talking about everyone's expectations, worries, desires. Pupils at this point are often ready to raise deeper concerns that might move from 'school' to more general things and they sometimes come up with very personal accounts of their lives. Others are always prepared to help, because most of them are then feeling the same way, because the school is new to everybody... this way, in the following days, they will not regard each other just as 'another pupil' and 'yet another pupil', but as persons who are going through similar feelings as them... gradually, this can develop a good class empathy.

Amélia Vilarinho, Belgium

2016-09-24 21:26:36 UTC

One Christmas, some time ago, we tried to embraced a different project. Instead of simply making crafts to sell in our school Christmas Market, we would do something else. Every day we hear about the "refugees crisis", so I've decided to talk a little bit about this with our Primary children.

After watching my PowerPoint presentation about "Helping Refugees", I asked them about the images they have seen. The first answer was "happy children". From there we started a very interesting discussion about war, about children away from their homes, and about what could be done to bring smiles to these children living in refugees camps.

My idea was to create Christmas cards, to give to their parents, with a small message, written by them, about helping the ones in need. In this card we would include the Happy Pack address, from UNICEF.

Unfortunately this last activity didn't take place because I didn't get permission from my Working Group to go forward with the project... :-(

Francesco M. Manno, Perugia, Italy

franzmanno — 2016-09-24 21:35:35 UTC

Very interesting and inspiring video! It could be useful to use it in one of my classrooms. As far as the open-mindedness is concerned it actually depend on the single students, as well as the classroom or the context where it is set.

Matteo D;, Italy

damatt — 2016-09-24 22:37:51 UTC

Very interesting activity. I don't know if it could be proposed to my class. I don't thik all my students are open-minded: it's a hard work and may be not always possible.

Gülşen Korucu,Turkey

gulsenkorucu — 2016-09-24 23:46:34 UTC

It is really impressive activity to underline the diversity in the community,different background, different opportunity,different economic situation and different preferences.It tells us to tolerate and remember cultural diversity t build a happier world.We lead our students to think rationally and keep alive their human values.so My students are open minded and supportive for other people because of our humanist and intercultural approach throughout the process of education

Nancy Papachristou, Gree

2016-09-25 06:11:50 UTC

I think that the activity described to the video is an excellent way to develop empathy among students. Many times in my classes of language or history I use role playing techniques in order to build open-mindedness and tolerance to the “other”. I strongly believe that it is very useful teachers to play as well this kind of games in order to help them know better themselves.

Clelia, from Italy

dccclasses — 2016-09-25 08:21:05 UTC

I think my students are too young for this kind of activity. I think I can work on this important and fondamental issue in different ways. First of all, I stimulate in my students the sense of tollerance between them, I help them to speak one a time because their voice and their thoughts are important for me and for others, I let them to konw each other withouth express negative comments on what someone is telling.

Maria/Greece

110961mp — 2016-09-25 08:42:52 UTC

This video was very interesting! I think it's very important to develop our own and students open-mindness and empathy. Moving to Greece and living here was my way to develop my own open-mindness since I was born and grew up in Finland. I have tried to help my students to develop their empathy and open-mindness through different kind of projects (e.g. eTwinning), drama and role playing.

Manana Jakeli, Georgia

mmmjakeli — 2016-09-25 09:04:20 UTC

Very interesting activities, thanks a lot ! I'll try to use it with my students. I think it will be very interesting and useful for my students...

Stathis, Greece

slikidis — 2016-09-25 10:20:07 UTC

I think that empathy and open-mindedness are skills and characteristics that students have to get from the very early years they attend a school. "Putin ourselves into the others' shoes" give us the chance to create a relationship among the students in the classes based on respect and friendship. Working in groups, role playing, watching a movie are some activities that enhance these two important skills.

Ester, Italy

2016-09-25 10:32:08 UTC

I think it's important to train students to understand emotions and body language as to build the awareness that culture can influence those aspects in order to avoid misunderstandings. It's quite common that people from different cultural backgrounds don't understand really each other generating in this way prejudices, tensions and conflicts for reasons which could be easily cleared up.
The Privilege activity is quite interesting. I think it's possible to use it also with younger pupils. Of course I would change the kind of priviliges with some more general issues: do you have water to drink, food to eat, can you go to school and I would ask students to represent characters from different parts of the world they have researched before.

Aristea, Greece

afpigiaki — 2016-09-25 10:40:13 UTC

A very impressive activity about what “privilege” is with shocking results. I guess we should all reconsider the meaning of this word. I’ll definitely try to do it in my classroom making the required adaptations.

I believe that in order to develop empathy and open-mindedness you should first need to learn yourself. Then, when you meet people from different cultural backgrounds you become more tolerate and willing to respect them.

An effective technique to develop empathy and open-mindedness for my students is role-plays. In such activities students have the chance to communicate and collaborate creatively. If they can be in other’s shoes and experience their feelings and thoughts, they will surely raise awareness, mutual understanding and solidarity.

Stavroula Lada, Greece

pde4424 — 2016-09-25 10:41:10 UTC

I think I have developed my open-mindedness and empathy with the MOOCs I have been part of, the learning events and webinars I follow all these years. Plus, my masters is on school psycology, so I believe it has helped me a lot. But the most important role for my mindset is the needs of my students, when I see how they need to be in a safe and caring environment. As for them, I try to have empathy with them, so they learn by my example. It's not what we say to our students, but what we actually do in the end.

Jasna Šojer/Croatia

jasna_sojer — 2016-09-25 11:22:34 UTC

I like a lot Enable project and I was attending their conference in Zagreb few days ago. When it comes to empathy, as developmental bibliotherapy trainer I work with teachers to use books in developing empathy as well as all other aspects of social and emotional intelligence

Georgia Alexouda, Greece

alexouda — 2016-09-25 12:45:22 UTC

I was born and I grew up in a foreign country. I am familiar with multicultural environments. As a child a had to develop intercultural competences. I have found the “What is privilege” activity very interesting.

Caterina Musmeci, Italy

kmusmeci — 2016-09-25 12:58:00 UTC

I think my own open mindedness and empathy is a process that you should not stop or completed never. Study best practices, confront peer, upgrade the professionalism, but especially get involved in classroom are the main requirements. If the teacher has open mindedness and empathy students have also. "What is privilege" activity is a good practice but not suitable for pupils

Janice. Barcelona

janicegutierrez19 — 2016-09-25 13:07:46 UTC

It is very insteresting. Of course you have to adapt it for students. To be on "other one shoes" it's not easy to teach, so rolls will be a useful way.

Giovanna, Italy

2016-09-25 13:47:26 UTC

I have developed my own open-mindedness and empathy studying cultural anthropology at university, travelling and trying different things such as: being reflective on what happens around the world focusing on life stories, tasting different foods, watching films on various social and cultural themes, listening to different point of views on a topic. Adapting “What is privilege” as suggested could be an interesting way to develop open-mindedness and empathy in the students.

Daniela Millini, Italy

2016-09-25 14:03:39 UTC

Well, I think that empathy and open-mindness are 'human qualities' rather than competences, and if we have them we largely owe it to our family education and to a number of good teachers we met at school. And even if you were lucky both with your family and your teachers, it's not always easy to keep on, especially as regards empathy, while you grow up. Anyway, lots of my present kinds do not seem to have had a real support from their families' education, both as regards empathy or open-mindness. In spite of the fact that we are obviously living in a more and more Global world, many people seem to work in the opposite direction, building walls instead of opening doors, living in their own individual little spaces - and teach their children to do the same.
I think School has, will have a big responsability and a fundamental role in changing this . And a different kind of collaboration with the students' families is also desirable because we need to sing the same tune if we really want to help our kids grow...better than they are.

Lucia - Italy

2016-09-25 14:10:21 UTC

I admit, personally, not to be much extroverted, and I don’t like to force friendship between my students. In fact, if two students don’t like each other, or a student is very shy, I absolutely don’t force them to be friend. Told that, I try to read my students needs into their facial expressions, their body language, and I usually ask them, from the beginning, to try to consider their classmates as they want to be considered, to think to other’s needs.

IDA, ITALY

idadinatale — 2016-09-25 14:26:21 UTC

I think that we can attend courses, master, conferences about empathy and open-mindedness but the best pathway is having the curiosity and the desire of discovering the others, knowing that the others are on opportunity. So we have to travel, eat international food, read book on foreign life story, and so on.

Daniela Millini, Italy

2016-09-25 14:34:57 UTC

I really liked the lesson plan about "Reading Emotions", and as a matter of fact I'm going to implement a similar activity with my own students.
I'm not so sure the "What is Privilege?" activity could be proposed to my students, even if adapted as suggested. They are too young, and sometimes even too proud to be/feel privileged. Even if we gave them characters to play out, I'm not sure it would work out in positive way. I was wondering if it might be a possible option to give them 'characters' related to different historical periods so that nobody will identify directly with the less privileged people

Giovanna Wiplinger Croce

2016-09-25 17:01:48 UTC

Empathy and open-mindedness are required to live in harmony anywhere in a social context.
To my students I would propose the identification of emotions from other's faces and gestures. I wouldn't possible do the activity on privilege, because it could embarassed those students who aren't so privileged.
In any case I found extremely important that school might help students to become aware of their own emotions and those of others.

Claudia, Italy

claudia_conca81 — 2016-09-25 17:40:09 UTC

In my view, empathy and open-mindedness are fundamental for human being. I think I’m an open-minded person and I like to establish a friendship with my students. In my classroom often I ask students to identified emotions by observing other’s gestures and facial expressions. This activity is very interesting and, obviously, we have to adapt it for each class.

Augusto, Italy

augusto_tedesco — 2016-09-25 17:46:44 UTC

Empathy and open-mindedness are evidently of fundamental importance to build a positive classroom culture. In fact it is only through both these elements that students can really learn to know, understand and respect each other, Empathy and open-mindedness also help them build friendly relationships based on mutual trust and self-confidence. They are absolutely necessary in every classroom, but we as teachers are always to model what they both should be like. Teaching our students to be empathetic and open-minded will automatically get them to accept the others and to care about them: this will allow them to enter society making a positive difference as better citizens. An empathetic and open-minded classroom helps create a positive and peaceful community, where each student can feel respected and cared for.

Alex_PT

teacheralex_dua — 2016-09-25 18:11:51 UTC

What a great activity!! So visual, so clear! Being an EFL teacher, I usually incorporate movie excerpts in my classes either to introduce and / or explore grammar points or ideas. Though I’ve never done anything like the activity in the video, I did use a similar one to show my secondary sts – an excerpt from a favourite movie I believe I have already mentioned “Freedom Writers” which indeed has a lot to do with privilege (better, underprivileged kids), racism, discrimination within that multicultural and multilingual school and within that class in particular. The excerpt can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYYf-mUmPqI and just like the clip on privilege, the instructor kicks off with very innocent questions and the sts’ mood gradually starts to shift…by the end of the film, the teacher has managed to create a very positive, open-minded and empathic group of once "outcasts" in which all are accepted, respected and cherished.

Floriana, Italy

florianalarovere — 2016-09-25 18:14:00 UTC

Empathy is a central component of the classroom instruction and as educators, incorporating it into instruction can have positive results. Empathy and open-mindedness are the heart of a great classroom culture.Through empathy students learn to understand each other, which helps them to build friendships based on positive relationships of trust. To practice empathy for exemple classroom setup should be student centered or students should be involved in setting classroom norms to generate buy-in.

Angelo, Rivoli, Italy

Angelo — 2016-09-25 19:21:22 UTC

I think empathy and open-mindedness are two essential qualities and two large cross learning goals that I have set for myself and my students. Personally, I have developed them with volunteers and with the attention to the problems of the world, especially the so-called Third World.
Having to teach literature I try to develop in my students these two dimensions relative to the poets and writers we study, reading their writings. An effective tool for working in this direction are the six facets of understanding by Wiggins & McTighe.

Anna Bormida, Genova, Italy

annabormida — 2016-09-25 20:03:51 UTC

I 've tried to develop my own emphaty and open mindedness in different ways , I 've participated to many European projects since 1985, when I was in Prague with a sport exchange. I try everyday to know new people and to work in order to give my students the possibility to share ideas and to have common goals.
I use my students' works to improve their knowledge and to give them the possibility to exchange ideas and listen what the others think. I work with 6-11 years old students so I try everyday to build rules together , to recognize what everyone feelings in the classroom, to share different emotions.
I don't think to use The privilege, but I think about it and the meanings that can have with my students.

Drazena, Croatia

drazena_potocki — 2016-09-25 21:24:03 UTC

I think empathy and open-mindedness

Olga, Finland

2016-09-26 02:09:34 UTC

This week we're developing open-mindedness by celebrating European Day of Languages. Students are participating in a various projects and share their knowledge of own culture and language. One way to broaden students' mind about different cultures is to allow them to be dressed on that day in a national costumes or have some certain things on that belong to their culture.

Mafalda L. - Italy

2016-09-26 05:24:06 UTC

In Italy, teenagers are told to be "lethargic" and shallow minded but they're empathic and willing to be open-minded as much as they're afraid that "reality" and life could hurt their feelings. Nowaday the world seems to be a scary place: war, hatred, terrorism, unemployment, emigration, political scandals. But that's just one side of the coin. Who started a war and why? Who benefits from terrorist attacks? Why people risk their life to leave their country and reach Europe?
My lessons have always a break up time open to free speech, students are allowed to talk about anything (and it's not always on videogames or tv series or "teenagers' stuff" as an adult could imagine). They have all media to communicate with other but so few chances to talk to "reral people" in a real (non virtual) world.
They know I'm on their side as I introduce them to uneasy topics and they know I will not judge or patronize them.
On my first lesson I ask them to look what's on the label sewed on the inside of their t-shirt. Very often, they read "Made in Bangladesh" or "Made in China" (or some other foreign country): did they know that somewhere else teenagers or children would work up to 18 hours to make that very t-shirt?
Every lesson ends with a question (such as): do they know that most of the immigrants reaching Italy (or Europe) are escaping from heavy bombings or torture (and they're not "simply" willing to "steal our jobs")?

Anyway, I will surely propose the "What is privilege?" game (adapting statements to their background).

Mariagrazia, Sicily

2016-09-26 07:56:13 UTC

I thing the activity "What is privilege" is very appealing and useful, even if I should change something to adapt my students' ages. As to empathy, I guess that making students play roles and wear the shoes of immigrants or less privileged people could make them identify and understand their lives better

Noelia Fernandez Rull, Italy

noeliafernandez_rull — 2016-09-26 10:03:58 UTC

Donka Slavcheva, Bulgaria

dkirovska — 2016-09-26 11:41:52 UTC

Development of empathy in students can talk when this process begin from early childhood development. The lessons of the diversity of other people are important from kindergarten and first grade. So less painful adjustment is provided to each child. So develop children's sensitivity, tolerance and empathy.

Laura T, ITALY

laura_tosi75 — 2016-09-26 12:30:00 UTC

Empathy and open-mindedness should be the base for any learning and teaching process and as Alicia said in Module 2.1 "Empathy can be supported, taught and developed".

I think they are natural human features and we should use these aspects together with students' natural curiosity to promote activities such as roleplays, games, drama in which students can experience and share different feelings in different situations such as joy, fear, rage, pride, shame..

Francesco, Italy

2016-09-26 12:36:21 UTC

Very interesting, especially the video about privileges. Understanding social emotions is in my opinion one the skills that most of the teachers still lack in every level of educational institutions, at least in my country. This will be the next big achievement for the future of education in Europe.

Chiara

chiarapastore91 — 2016-09-26 13:26:17 UTC

Everyday in classroom I teach the respect for each other and I punish bullying. I think it is the only way to improve their empathy

Maria M., Italy

2016-09-26 13:41:49 UTC

Very interesting activity! I like the video about societal privileges, but I think that it is not easy do something similar in my classroom because my students are young. I think that I can use characters’ identity cards to create imaginary people.

I think that to develop empathy in myself and in my students is very important. I usually do activity with my students in which we have to be one in the part of the other and we have to imagine the other’s feelings.

Elena FP, Italy

2016-09-26 14:14:40 UTC

My open-mindedness on multicultural issues started to develop decades ago, when my main hobby became letter-writing! I used to have tens of penpals from around the world and from very different backgrounds (still have some!) and discuss with them about their lifestyles, traditions, local news... I have learnt so much from them and since then, I've always been fond of foreign cultures, travelling and anthropology (my major at Uni, by the way). I always to try to convey my enthusiasm to my students, sharing my experiences and encouraging them to do the same, using the Net for a meaningful purpose - for example.

Andrea, Italy

andrearaccagni8 — 2016-09-26 15:39:38 UTC

I seriously think that teachers should be trained on body language. Body language is a universal language and understand it could lead to the resolution of many problems before they can expand. Consequently it might be easier to transmit to students the ability empathic necessary to understand each other.
As for the open-mindedness, as school, we need the help of families. I try every day to raise awareness among my students to respect everything surrounds us, but it is also necessary that the family does the same, to avoid incurring in Penelope's web.

Cláudia Rolo, Portugal

claudiarolo12 — 2016-09-26 15:45:44 UTC

Good sugestion! I think an activity like "What is privilege?" mutatis mutandis is possible in my classroom while students are very young. I think the message of the activity is more meaningful this way.

Wolfgang; Austria

oelzant — 2016-09-26 15:55:47 UTC

When talking about poverty and third world topics I always ask my students: What would have happend if you had been born 4ooo km more sotuhern? It is a previleg to be born in Austria, ta have a a bed, something to eat,....I am working since more than 35 yeras with people from different culturs. I can tell them a lot about my contacts, travels, other countires. The most important thing is to tell them that every people you met is a new, single human beeing and you have to face them without prejudices.

Paweł, Poland

pawelszywalski — 2016-09-26 16:13:43 UTC

I’m generally very interested in questions of tolerance, respect for differences, cultural diversity in social life and cross-culture communication. In my country we seriously need a general public debate of these questions. But now, there exist practically none kind of support from government for it (this is so hard to understand!). So, social progress on this field depends on non profit organizations and individual activities. Personally I have involved in such activities from many years and I don’t imagine to be closed for it.

Polish society and our school-system are very, very conservative. However our students can travel through the world, learn languages, meet different people and systems of values. In a consequence they are influenced new ideas more and more. In this way they are changing our country step by step. I think, the teachers must open their mind much more than youth! We should still hold a lot of new educational activities dedicated just teachers.I can use my knowlege and experience in my everyday work. Every teacher can use. But in my country they haven't been opened for such kind of activities sufficiently yet.

gabriella t. - italy

gabrita2003 — 2016-09-26 16:25:04 UTC

It' s very important for a teacher teach empathy and open-mindedness to his students. I think the activity proposed could be adapted to my young pupils. But I believe that using different photos expressing emotions and through a short test it's possible to reflect on the topics. I know that an immage can express more than a lot of words.

Nils / Germany

2016-09-26 16:58:40 UTC

We hope to take part in an Erasmus+ project next year. Our students and teachers should get to know other cultures because many of them are not really open-minded.

Susana Landgrebe, Austria

s_landgrebe — 2016-09-26 17:25:39 UTC

I think it's also a privilege to work with so different and interested and interesting children as i do. I like to confront different cultures and different manners from all of the world

Luigi, Italy

luigi_grifone1 — 2016-09-26 17:27:26 UTC

I did this a couple of year ago with my students and it was a very interesting experience for them and for me too, of course. Sometimes I use examples and real situation to work on empathy and open-mindedness: it's really important to work more on it!

Ang3, Italy

2016-09-26 17:37:04 UTC

Etwinning and Erasmus+ activities are really interesting as activities that can develop open-mindedness and empathy. My students are accostumed to accept the diversity. I travel all around the world and I have a lot of foreign friends, so I try to pass down my students the same love for different cultures.

Melahrini Chalkidiki Grece

mpapardeli — 2016-09-26 18:35:12 UTC

Privilege is to be healty and live free.Working with children is a privilege for me.
I always like bring my pupils close to differernt cultures working etwinning projects.During past 7 years I have noticed that my pupils became more openminded and this gives me hope for the future.

Maria Assunta, Italy

susy_arte — 2016-09-26 18:54:23 UTC

These activities are very interesting and I think the children can learn in a fun way.

Kristina - Vienna

k_gugerbauer — 2016-09-26 19:02:05 UTC

I am a teacher in Vienna now, but before I worked as a journalist. I guess that being open-minded is part of my personality. I was very lucky and could spend one year as a Fulbright Teaching Assistant @ the German Department of Emory University in Atlanta, USA. This year changed my life. Meeting so many inspiring and open-minded people who were willing to share their knowledge and culture, was incredible. I also studied in Spain and in Finland and based on my personal experience, I would suggest that all teachers are encouraged and supported to study abroad during their training and even in further-education.

In our coaching lessons we talk about privilege. Sometimes the kids complain that some students are 'lazy', don't bring their homework, act differently, say nasty things. I try to make them understand that those kids probably are not as lucky as they are, considering their family background. We try to switch roles and imagine the life of some students at home. We discuss how we would feel, if we had to deal with problems like violence, tragedies, etc. This makes the kids reflect and at least they do not judge without thinking about it.

I am also a big fan of eTwinning and each semester I invite the international students from the University of Teacher Education to our school, to engage with my students, communicate in English, and learn about different cultures . Bringing international friends and students to school gives them the opportunity to practice not only the language, but provides them with the opportunity to experience openness.

Loredana, Romania

loredanamandru — 2016-09-26 19:38:12 UTC

I do games every week to make them realize how important tolerance and acceptance is. I loved the "What is privilege" activity very much and I want to adapt the questions for the kids, i n order to realize how different we are.

Maria Pia C.

conte_marp — 2016-09-26 19:39:52 UTC

I think the personality of the teacher is essential to open mind and not just his own experience

Nuria Martínez, Spain

2016-09-26 20:08:02 UTC

In my opinion, empathy is a quality and social skill that can be developed and strengthened, which is present in all, though not always to the same degree.

However, empathic abilities can also enhance and develop:

1. Listen with an open mind and without prejudice. Be respectful of others.

2. Pay attention and show interest in what they are telling you, because it is not enough to know what the other feels, but we have to prove it.

3. Do not interrupt while we're talking and avoid becoming engaged experts to give advice, rather than trying to feel what the other feels.

4. Learn to discover, recognize and reward the qualities and achievements of others. This will contribute not only to build their capacities, but also discover our concern and interest in them.

5. When we have to give our opinion about what we are expecting, it is very important to do so constructively, be honest and try not to offend with our comments.

6. Have willingness to accept the differences with others, be tolerant and patient with those around us and ourselves.

Maria Cristina , Italy

mcristinabevila — 2016-09-26 20:17:04 UTC

Curiosity, open-mindfulness and optimism are the basis for empathy.Teacher should be a mirror in wich each student can reflect to think about his/her behaviour.
I think is not so an easy skill to learn, but learn to listen to others, with no prejudices is the first step.

Ana Fonseca, Portugal

2016-09-26 20:39:27 UTC

I really enjoyed the activity of the video, because it showed us clearly the concept of priviledge, and I thinK I will use it with my older students. This year I am teaching a 5th grade class, and English is level 1, so I'm really beginning to teach them a new language. In fact, I have an English boy in the class and communication with peers is not alwways very good because he doesn't speak Portuguese well. So I try to create an environment in which my student can present his cultural background to the Portuguese students and these show him our reality. This is a kind os cross-culture information and I think it's working because they all are broadening their perspectivies and being more open-minded in relation to each othe's' cultures.

viki doga, greece

2016-09-28 02:35:27 UTC

nice video, I think I don't use this in class

Carmen G., Italy

carmen_garau00 — 2016-09-28 07:09:38 UTC

Anna CAvallo, Italy

luica771 — 2016-09-28 09:37:42 UTC

I really try to be an open-minded teacher, but sometimes this is not so easy: how various are perspectives in the world! so i follow my students: they make my mind wider every year, and this could be very good. children can be great teacher in these if they lived in open contexts. my youngest children are fantastic in this: curious and disposable. more difficult is to treat with oldest pupils.

Georgia Greece

georgiavou46 — 2016-09-28 12:31:36 UTC

I loved the "What is privilege " activity but my students are very young to understand it.I am trying to be open-minded and the work with children is very challeging.Every day i learn new things from them and deal with different situations.Diversity is very important to me because as a child i was a little bit "different" and my classmates and teachers weren't so openminded.

Jessica Bruini, Italy

bruinijessica — 2016-09-28 13:05:57 UTC

Well, I think open-mindedness grows along with one's experiences. The most you learn, see, live, travel, know, the most you become open-minded.
So, one way to grow our students' openmindedness is letting them have a lot of experience... School outside the school walls, this is what I mean. Bring them out of school, make them know the town they are growing, make them learn the history of their origins, letting them meet other people from other countries. Exchange programs (eTwinning or Erasmus) are really good chances to enrich our students' point of views.

Lara, Italy

laracol71 — 2016-09-28 13:49:01 UTC

I think that the simplest way to develop open-mindedness is through movies. To watch a movie with characters of different cultures make us feel what they feel immediately without reasoning. We are in their shoes. I taught as a special education teacher for six years and I learnt that to integrate people you must touch their feelings. To travel is expensive but to travel with your mind through movies, Internet, drama is cheap and you can teach your students to pay attention to others. I think I could adapt the "What is privilege" activity. I'll think about that. I always make my students watch "Taare Zameen Par" in Italian "Stelle sulla terra". It is a movie about a dyslexic child. A deeper integration...

Priscilla, Italy

2016-09-28 13:58:51 UTC

In my opinion the best way to teach empathy is make someone wearing someone else’s shoes. The activity showed is a clear way to see differences, and to develop empathy or consciousness of other people’s conditions. I’m quite empathic, it’s my nature, and I try to teach it to my students showing patience and helpfulness and asking them to do the same.

Simona De Paola, Italy

simonadepaola22 — 2016-09-28 14:48:51 UTC

can share that person’s thoughts

One of the most important social skills involved in class cohesion is empathy––understanding and responding with caring to what others think and feel. Children are less likely to hurt and more likely to help someone if they can imagine themselves in that person’s place and

and feelings.
A useful activity is:
Activity 1: Labeling Feelings

Ask children to describe and label how they might feel in these three different situations:

If they saw someone being discriminated
If they were being discriminated or bullied themselves
If they discriminated someone

Cinzia, Italy

2016-09-28 15:14:43 UTC

My students are just 11-14 years old, but I'm working hard with/on them to develop their open mindedness, because i think it's avery important skill in our multicultural society.
The "What is privilege" activity is very interesting, and in my school, where there are many stranger pupils and pupils with handicaps it would represent an interesting experiment to reflect of the importance of the 'person' as a unique persone, with different feeling, phisical characrters, ecc.

Ionela Lazea, Romania

kameeliah16bis — 2016-09-28 15:55:12 UTC

My students are just 5 or 6 years old and I always tell them that in my group we are all friends and we should all help each other. This is my third year with them and I can say that they are tolerant, acceptant and have good social behavior.

Gabriela Vanda Cortez, Romania

sandofcarbonriver — 2016-09-28 16:29:00 UTC

Knowing each other's traditions, customs, language, religion, lead to the development of empathy. The attitude of tolerance and open-mimdedness of a  teacher, the interest that it accords to another culture will positively influence students.

Alice Cabrelle, Italy

alice_cabrelle — 2016-09-28 16:41:53 UTC

I try develop empathy by asking my students to write a story where they are someone else and they have to face a difficult situation, also I make them reflect everyday on their behaviour and the other's feedback and feelings about it.

Clapou Crina / Romania

clapou_crina — 2016-09-28 16:54:30 UTC

I encourage my children to accept and help each other al the time.

keratso,Greece

2016-09-28 17:29:27 UTC

I believe that I have been open minded due to the way my parents approached their Muslim friends during the past in the city of Komotini. It is not easy living and growing up in a society where half of the population were hidden in their houses, children were dropped offschools and were sent to Turkey to study and never appeared in state schools. As a matter of fact I never had a Muslim classmate during the six years of high school(1978-1984). But after 1989 something happened and things started changing in our society. I started learning Turkish and I believe I was one of the first teachers in a high school to learn the language in a high level of a university. But by this time this was considered as a conspiracy. Why is she doing this? Nowdays there are hundreds of Greeks learning the Turkish language in private schools and paying for this. If you know the language it is very easy to approach the student as you can understand better the mistakes he/she might do and try to solve them.

Manuel Garcia Naples, Italy

2016-09-28 17:31:57 UTC

I have lived in a number of different countries and therefore have had the pleasure of experiencing different cultural practices and customs. I found that the best way to build empathy between two culturally different individuals is to engage in conversation and attempt to find a common ground. I have found that even though we are all different, there are always certain similarities that exist in different communities. Learning to appreciate each others' differences and looking at the world through the eyes of others is essential to coexist with others and reap the full benefits of our difference by sharing knowledge and using each others' strengths to our mutual advantages.

Gina, Hungary

gina_klomer — 2016-09-28 17:34:14 UTC

I'm already using the adapted version of "What is privilege?" activity during my practice. With my colleagues we call it the "10-steps game. We use it during the attitude shaping programs. We ask the kids to imagine themselves in a place of a kid with physical disability. We give them specific information and help during the game if they are able to step forward or not. They usually really shocked and astonished by the facts that simple activities are so hard for others. Usually we leave some kids in their own role to represent average kids. It's a really powerful activity which makes them thinking about this topic constantly and has its long-term effects. Teenagers like it the most and it's a bit harder to play with kids under the age of 10.

During a conflict solving program for primary school kids I used these two anti-bullying videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWJut7KQhI4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jL9CSuKfeoM

Worth to check and need to talk about it with the students.

Patrizia Giorgi, Italy

patti_giorgi — 2016-09-28 17:38:03 UTC

I think that will help to develop open-mindedness and empathy do in class ensemble and choral music.

Theese activities encourage my pupils to accept and appreciate difference.

Maria Theodoridou, Greece

theod_eled — 2016-09-28 17:54:45 UTC

I honestly believe that being open-minded is not always a piece of cake for both teachers and students. It's always necessary to rethink about it and try to include yourself into the process. I think that the best activities have to do with collaboration and long discussion. Role play is one of my preferable activities.

Blas V., Spain

2016-09-28 18:04:21 UTC

I try to encourage my students to learn about other cultures even if they are not traveling abroad. I think it's a good idea to work in class with activities who make them know about other customs, other uses, and to value the difference.

Fulvia Italy

leardini — 2016-09-28 18:10:44 UTC

I encourage my students to help each other and to spent their free time toghether . For example to go to cinema or theatre toghether.

Francesco, Italy

2016-09-28 18:57:15 UTC

I often like to make use of a peer tutoring, role play and workshops in small groups. It's first time that I see an activity like "What is privilege", I find it very intersting, I'd like to adapt it for my pupils of 8/9 years.....any suggestions!?

cristina, italy

cristina_casanova — 2016-09-28 19:39:16 UTC

I usually promote team work, it's a great way to learn how different cultures can integrate themselves and to enrich our lives.

M Cristiana Cagliari Italy

2016-09-28 20:05:02 UTC

I try to help my students to assume attitudes of acceptance and openness towards others.

mbacita — 2016-09-28 20:40:40 UTC

I think building a group activity could help my students become more open-minded

Federica, Italy

federicaslaviero — 2016-09-28 20:57:04 UTC

To develop empathy I often organize my activities in class around groupwork. Students have to help each other and I emphasize how important it is that each member of the group feels responsible for the success of the others.

Evi Karella-Greece

spevispevi — 2016-09-28 20:58:49 UTC

I always try to support my pupils to feel self-confident, especially children who are too shy, or children who believe that they don't make things right and are reluctant to try.

Buddy, The Netherlands

2016-09-28 21:13:32 UTC

The 'What is privilege' is a beautiful activity to show people what the difference is between people. Not always good differences.

Nube

2016-09-28 21:27:09 UTC

Nu

2016-09-28 21:27:10 UTC

Nube Purpurea, Italy

2016-09-28 21:27:12 UTC

Rocco/Italy

rocco_spano_24 — 2016-09-28 21:27:31 UTC

Usually I tell my students to help each other, but they don't spent their free time together. Tunisian students sometimes take part in Xmas and Easter activities and sing and play in our school choir.

Nube Purpurea, again... Italy

2016-09-28 21:28:25 UTC

A few rules guide our life in the classroom: listen, watch, take care, cooperate and, above all, respect the others as you would like to be respected

Graziella, Italy

tempopienoseconda — 2016-09-28 21:44:24 UTC

I always say to my students protesting: it is not a spy ... they learned to love each other, respect each other and help each other, beyond this are friends...

Graziella, Italy

svgraziella — 2016-09-28 21:51:14 UTC

I always say to my students protesting: it is not a spy ... they learned to love each other, respect each other and help each other, beyond this are friends...

Sibel SAYGIN, TURKEY

2016-09-29 08:02:23 UTC

I encourage my students to share their emotions and explain how do they think, feel..
Students develop empathy and gain the attitues of open minded and tolerance when they understand others feelings and thoughts. pair-work, group work, using drama and playing some specific games are good ways to create a friendly atmosphere in the classroom.

Laura Elia - Italy

2016-09-29 14:50:34 UTC

My students know that they need help and are familiar with the rules of good relations of course, they are still small (seven years) but are beginning to understand. One must know how to collaborate, listen, accept. We often talk a bit and push them to open up and talk about their emotions.

Dhurata /Albania

2016-09-29 14:59:26 UTC

We have problems with the observance of human rights. Social discrimination is a problem. Pupils appreciate the obvious model, do not respect the feelings of others.

Elisabetta, Italy

2016-09-29 16:48:29 UTC

Whenever I face a situation which causes embarass to any one I always try to askthe person who has been the cause of to put himself/herself in the of the other one!!!It's the way I behave whatevr situation I have to face even with my students. I found inspiring the video you showed us and I'll probably repeat it in my classes: it's direct and really strickingly effective.

Simona, Romania

simona_ratan — 2016-09-29 18:32:55 UTC

Students develop empathy and gain the attitues of open minded and tolerance when they understand others feelings and thoughts. pair-work, group work, using drama and playing some specific games are good ways to create a friendly atmosphere in the classroom.

Ozan, Turkey

oznozn_08 — 2016-09-29 20:17:41 UTC

My students are not emphatic enough, since their parents are not either. They can only get this feeling at school with their friends and teachers. Reading biographies and role playing them will help them build emphaty. Motivating the minority will help to change the classroom atmosphere in a good way. What is privilege acticity, although frustrating, may help students to face and admit their identities which is essential to gain intercultural competence.

Giovannella Italy

2016-10-01 14:09:50 UTC

I found it very interesting video that i will bring to class

Leo

2016-10-01 20:09:22 UTC

Leo Italy

2016-10-01 20:09:23 UTC

Privilege is part of our background. If you have built a strong mind and background in this kind of society you can use your skills to teach your children being flexible. Children need teachers who teach them to believe in own possibility.

Maria Rizza / Sicily

rowri — 2016-10-01 23:06:46 UTC

I am a very open-minded person and ery generous. I like helping people especially more disadvantages ones. I have travelled a lot and this has made me more flexible, understanding to other people attitude, behaviour. I like my job because teaching is a very humanitarian work. I am aware that my students future depends also on me, on what I do as teacher , so I try to be always uptodate, to learn as much as possible in order to offer my students the best opportunities. I ma empathetic person and I do not regret it though sometimes I am disappointed and deceived by the people I take care of, but I do not give up because I prefer being as I am . I teach my students to be empathic also by telling them my experience about how to overcome daily difficulties, I give them opportunities to try when they fail. Sometimes I feel sorry when some students abuse my being understanding and patient, some of them want to be mistreated , It is a paradox but it happens ;they have to fear the teachers instead of being respected , fortunately these kind of students are a few.!! As for Privilege I combat them, I want to treat people with equity . I keep telling them that everyone of them for me is important and privileged on condition they respect the others and the rules. The emotional intelligence test is a good tool to help students to control their emotions..

Zenaida, Romania

zenaida_ieremie — 2016-10-02 10:38:47 UTC

In my opinion, empathy and open-mindedness are extremely important qualities, so children should be aware of them and they should try to use them every single day. This is the reason why I involve my pupils in different concrete situations which can make them realize how difficult it is sometimes to be in somebody else's situation. Apart from this, I ask my students to write compositions and to discuss with their colleagues about their onions concerning a certain thing or about their experiences, in order for them to develop an open-minded attitude.

Lorella Schettino, Italy

lorella_schettino — 2016-10-02 14:08:26 UTC

I think that empathy and open-mindedness are basic features for living in a multicultural world. Open your mind to new and know it makes it familiar and does not make us more afraid.

Maria, Italy

dimang_mat13 — 2016-10-02 15:04:59 UTC

Despoina,Greece

despoina_prapa — 2016-10-02 16:42:48 UTC

Generally, i am a discussion-person , i can discuss with everyone and everywhere. I really love discussing with others and learning things about them and from them. I am mostly a good listener and i love people.

We use "The Privilege"activity in our classes and the final silent moment of "Wow" undestanding is valuable. It's THE MOMENT awareness .One alternative activity with the same goal is "Privilege cards". We usually use "Secret stories box" that all studets called to write a personal sad story (from school,workplace,road etc) and someone else has to read that story in class and sheare some thoughts about it.In addition, there's a scenario -role playing activity "If i were in your shoes" that helps students' open-mindedness and empathy

Rossella , Italy

rossy2305 — 2016-10-02 19:26:50 UTC

I believe that in today's society in which we live there are no more borders and communication reach every corner of the planet but yet still mental barriers caused by prejudices and xenophobia do not allow us to be citizens of the world.
It is the task of the educational agencies and, primarily, school get ready the stage for this dialogue so as to make our multicultural society and our mind really open.

Agapi, Greece

a_chouzouraki — 2016-10-02 21:33:02 UTC

I believe that my open-mindedned-ness and empathy derives from my early childhood experiences, as I had the change to mingle with children of different countries. I, therefore, believe that everything in learnig should be experienced, that is enaging in teaching empathy and openmindedness can only come through practise in the classroom. A debate forum, using arguments and feelings in a safe environment could serve this goal.

Mariacristina Guarino, Italy

2016-10-02 21:44:42 UTC

Empathy is the ability to put oneself in someone's shoes. For this reason literature can be an invaluable tool in order to foster it.

Elisa, Italy

2016-10-19 14:33:26 UTC

The school has a crucial role in an individual's formation because through the daily school activities can foster openness to different cultures and thus the integration of the stranger pupil within the class.

Iuliana, Romania

2016-11-06 10:11:16 UTC

I found it very interesting video that i will bring to class

mihaela minca, Romania

coman_mihaela — 2016-11-22 16:47:21 UTC

In my opinion, empathy is a virtue. It is not difficult to understand those around them. You just have to imagine you're the one that often we judge.

Adela Gabriela Muresan, Romania

muresan_gabriela_adela — 2017-10-29 10:55:24 UTC

In my opinion, every person is important, so it is a citizen duty to respect each culture.

Ok

2018-06-17 00:45:27 UTC

+

2020-02-19 17:18:03 UTC

2020-06-11 12:56:08 UTC

Lorio, R.

I help my students develop open mindedness by letting them share what they feel and think about anything under the heat of the sun. Not only that, I also give them the chance to listen to what others would say about one's ideas. Whenever they express their ideas, I give them freedom to present both their positive and negative insights.

I A e III A

svgraziella — 2020-06-27 20:00:14 UTC

Ciao😍
È stato bello stare insieme ed imparare insieme 👍

2021-03-19 03:10:15 UTC