I love practical things. Stuff that serves a purpose and helps you get from point A to point B, or get the job done. Like a backhoe… I so want a backhoe. I could level the yard, fix the pond, move boulders, plant trees, move timber, dig holes, and – I am sure you get the point. I guess that is why I was drawn to the article, “How Do You Teach Empathy? Harvard Pilots Game Simulation,” by Katrina Swartz. Surely you see the connection, backhoe – Harvard game simulation. Too easy.

I have written about where I teach before. It’s a tough environment of locked up juveniles. I could deal with behavior issues from minutes 1 – 90 of each class. As I was reading through the article, I came across this statement, “Taking in social perspective helps people become less ego-centric, decreases use of stereotypes, increases perspectives of similarity, and diminishes social aggression.” My classroom could use a bit less ego-centric behavior, stereotyping, and aggression! For many reasons, empathy and interpersonal skills are not free-flowing and trying to teach those skills has been a great challenge. Harvard students have come up with a game simulation to walk in the “virtual shoes” of others in order to gain perspective, relate, empathize, and compromise. This sounds like a great practical idea for the use of simulations!

The scenario played out between a park ranger and golf course owner who share land but cannot agree on how to use it. They may have to come up with a few different characters for my students to relate. However, learners had a chance to play the role of park ranger, gain insight from his perspective, as well as the golf course owner. Then, as the golf course owner, they had to negotiate with the park ranger to settle the conflict. Each decision had monetary value attached to the outcome to help gage impact.

I can see this as a great tool to use in the classroom. The game simulation aspect would draw them in, with interpersonal skills training taking place in a non-threatening way.  They could gain a better understanding of themselves and others and use that knowledge to be more successful.  

Bellow is an excellent example of an empathy simulator for the healthcare field...