During orientation the head of school Dr. T talked about empathy and stated it would be a focus for us as a school/community. This got me thinking. How can I use my subject area, Technology to teach the students I work with to have more empathy? There are differing views as to the ability to use technology to help teach empathy. Can empathy even be taught at all? Some say yes some say no. There are others still who say yes it can be taught but that technology makes people less empathetic. I was deep down certain this statement could not be a universal truth. So I set out to discover for myself if in fact technology could help teach empathy. empathy [em-puh-thee] (noun) the understanding of or the ability to identify with another person’s feelings or experiences. At the 2015 iPad Summit in Boston I got to hear Richard Perry share how he uses Sphero to help teach his 11th Grade students to be empathic towards the migrant workers in Grapes of Wrath in his high school English Class. He essentially builds a mini Serra Nevada Mountain range that students have to program Sphero to navigate over. The students experience a verity of struggles to achieve their goal. Here is a video of the students working on their challenge.
After reading several articles and hearing how other educators tackle the challenge of Empathy in their lessons, I have come to my personal conclusions. I feel that though technology has not historically and perhaps currently been, our first choice it perhaps should be considered more often. Technology can help us simulate situations that help put our students in the shoes of others and begin to understand what another person has experienced.
Online Resources
Random Acts of Kindness (for educators): Resources to support positive behavior goals for preschool to teen years. Herotopia (ages 7 and up)Online world where kids become heroes by combating bullying. It is browser-based, massively multi-player online game that is kid safe and friendly. Half the Sky Movement: The Game (ages 13 and up) This is a Facebook game: The Game is an adventure that aims to raise awareness and donations to empower women and girls around the world. They also have a great website with teacher resources. Darfur is Dying (older kids) is a viral video game for change that provides a
window into the experience of the 2.5 million refugees in the Darfur
region of Sudan. Players must keep their refugee camp functioning in the
face of possible attack by Janjaweed militias. Players can also learn
more about the genocide in Darfur that has taken the lives of 400,000
people, and find ways to get involved to help stop this human rights and
humanitarian crisis. Free Rice (ages 10 and up) a non-profit website that is owned by and supports the United Nations World Food Program. Students answer questions and earn rice for people in developing nations. 3rd World Farmer Run a farm in Africa against the backdrop of poverty and conflict.
Developed by IT students in Copenhagen in 2005, the game continues to
undergo development to keep it current. A Spanish language version was
released late last year. Stop Disasters.
Hurricanes, tsunamis, floods, wildfires, and earthquakes are happening
and you need to prevent disaster from striking. Just like in real life,
there is no right answer, so your game will be different each time you
play. Daniel Tiger's Grr-ific Feelings: (ages 3 and up) Express feelings in safe, healthy ways with Daniel's lead.
Who Am I? Race Awareness Game: (Grade one and up) Fun and educational two-player game that teaches kids to think responsibly about race and diversity!
Cool School: Where Peace Rules: (Grades K-3) Teaches empathy in a way that's sure to be more effective than the
occasional adult lecture that can either confuse kids or make them feel
singled out. In this game, kids learn conflict-resolution skills by
watching animations of realistic situations and seeing the effects of
both good and bad choices. This game moves very slowly.
Apps and Books
Wee You-Things: (ages 3 and up) Apple app that is a colorful, interactive book lets kids celebrate diversity. Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster: (Ages 4 and up) For XBox 360 Engaging and funny interactive adventures are pure joy. It is a very physical game that will require kids to be on their feet and moving around. Positive life lessons, such as friendship, responsibility, and generosity.
A great list of books for various ages that deal with empathy.
For Older Kids
Do Something (High School) Find a cause you're passionate about and learn about how to get involved and make a difference. Karma Tycoon.
(High School) Learn to build non-profits through loans and grants, providing the
non-profits with basics, and saving lives. This strategy game is
non-violent and promotes learning about both business and community. McDonald’s Video Game. (High School) Choose your language, then dive into this game that teaches about the harmful effects of fast food with a heavy dose of irony. This is a fairly involved game that I could see being used with high school student to begin a discussion on many different topics.
Curriculum Resources
Developing Empathy From the Teaching Tolerance website, a project of the southern poverty law center.
I have been using virtual field trips since I began teaching internationally in 2007. That first year I wanted to help my Egyptian students learn about American Thanksgiving and about where I came from (my family heritage). The students had so much acting as historians on their virtual field trip that I was eager to make this more a permanent thing in my teaching. However, it took several years and several continents/countries for me to start to compile and organize a comprehensive list of Virtual Field Trips! How great is it to be able to take our student to different times and places to experience aspect of life? You can in San Diego in the morning checking in on some polar bears and in the afternoon you could be at Ellis Island. The opportunities abound with technology today students can interact with history, culture and nature without leaving school!
United States
Plimoth Plantation: You be the historian, through this interactive program students can learn about life on the Plantation and as a Wampanoags in 1621 Mayflower II: The journey of the Mayflower from Plymouth, England to North America The Liberty Bell: Washington, D.C.: The capital city of the United States of America -Lincoln Memorial:Interactive walk through, and listen to park rangers share it's history -U.S. Capitol: A virtual tour, "an interactive, user friendly, comprehensive and integrated multimedia tour" -The White House: "Watch exclusive 'Inside the White House' videos; Tour the West Wing, Residence, East Wing and South Lawn" -The Lincoln Memorial: an interactive look at one of the United States most well known landmarks. Statue of Liberty: "This unique experience will enable a global audience with equal and
unprecedented access to one of the world's best known, beloved and
inspiring symbols" Ellis Island: Virtual tour set up as book, quite a bit of reading good for older elementary kids. Ellis Island: Put out by PBS kids and the parks service, very kid friendly. Ellis Island: Interactive tour created by Scholastic, very informative but for older elementary kids. Monticello: Explore the home of Thomas Jefferson in a variety of ways. Jamestown: Explore and learn about Early New World Colonies & Eastern Europe. Jamestown: "Biographical Sketches of Algonquian Leaders, Interpretive Essay by Crandall Shifflett, Interpretive Essay and Powerpoint on Statehouse Development" and more. Mount Vernon: Virtually visit one of the most iconic homes in the world and the home on George Washington. Colonial Williamsburg: Tour the old town of Williamsburg; explore The Revolutionary City. Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, William Dawes and Dr. Prescott: Created by the Paul Revere House, this interactive map gives us a glance at what happened that night long ago. The Midnight Rider Virtual Museum: "is designed to be visited in order, beginning with
Hall One. This will build your knowledge of Paul Revere and his
Midnight Ride step by step." Karl C Harrison museum of George Washington: This "collection focuses on art and artifacts from the colonial period through 1865." Virtual Marching Tour of the American Revolution: "From Rebels to Mature Army" experience how the US Army become what it was during the Revolution. Daniel Boone's Homestead: Scroll to the bottom of the page, to experience the home of Daniel Boone. Clara Barton National Historic Site: "Clara Barton National Historic Site was the first National Historic Site dedicated to the accomplishments of an American woman" You can explore twelve restored rooms, this historic house was the first home to the American Red Cross. Denali, Alaska: "Explore some of the research happening in Denali, paired with striking images of plants and landscapes in the park." Grand Teton: "Experience a hike around String Lake, travel the Moose-Wilson corridor, or scramble to the summit of the Grand Teton" Yellowstone: There are several Virtual Tours of Yellowstone! History Tours- Fort Yellowstone; Nature Tours- Fountain Paint Pot, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Mammoth Hot Springs; Old Faithful Area-Upper Geyser Basin Video Tour; Interactive Tour- West Thumb Geyser Basin Tour (Requires AdobeFlash Player); Visitor Center Tours
-Old Faithful Visitor Education Center, Old Faithful Glacier, Montana: From this link you can take eHikes! Grand Canyon, Arizona: "Discover ancient places within Grand Canyon where people lived long ago." Zion, Utah: "It offers a taste of the wonders of Zion—the sounds of birds calling and
the soothing sound of the Virgin River, the sights of pink-hued
sandstone cliffs at sunrise and the grand view from the summit." Canyonlands, Utah: There are about 7 videos of different parts of the part that you can view and experience. Montezuma Castle, Arizona: "On this page you will find two different types of content, Quicktime VR (QTVR) Movies and JPEG Panoramic Images." Prince William Forest, Virginia: "This tour will enable
visitors and potential guests to take an inside look at our historic
cabins that were constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corp during
the 1930's and used by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during
WWII for training." Aztec Ruins, New Mexico: Four links each of the following: Aztec Ruins Photos and Images, Artifacts, and Great Kiva Bryce Canyon, Utah: "Learn what Bryce has to offer." Flight 94 Memorial, Pennsylvania: A series of videos about the events and people and creating of the memorial. Mount Rushmore, South Dakota: "historic photographs, data from the 2010 digital preservation project,
and a virtual tour of the park with 360° close-up views of the
sculpture." Appomattox Court House, Virginia: there are several links on this page they "offer panoramic views of the Appomattox Court House historic village" Wilson's Creek, Missouri: "An 8-stop self-guided auto tour; A museum with over 5,000 artifacts associated with the Civil War west of the Mississippi" Lassen Volcanic, California: "a brief insight into the
Lassen Volcanic experience...offer a taste of the
sights and sounds of Lassen with interactive menus, ranger videos,
picture galleries and more." Tuzigoot, Arizona: "On this page you will find two different types of content, Quicktime VR (QTVR) Movies and JPEG Panoramic Images" Martin Luther King, Jr Birthhome: "We invite you to join us for a tour through a day in the life of the King family in 1939." Pipe Spring, Arizona: Learn what Pipe Spring has to offer, visit the fort (Winsor Castle), The Monument, the museum and Ridge Trail! Fort Donelson, TN: With 11 different stops this tour offers a look at all aspects of life at the fort. John Fitzgerald Kennedy, MA: This virtual tour gives you a closer look at The Rose Kennedy House, Ranger Sarah House, and a walking tour. These tours are also available in other languages. Pony Express, CA, CO, KS, MO, NE, NV, UT, WY: Learn about the Pony Express, view maps and more. Gettysburg: a virtual/interactive tour of the Battlefields. The Constitutional Walking Tour: Download this virtual tour and walk in history's footsteps. Mount Saint Helens: compare Mount St. Helens summit from 2003 to 2011 The West: "This multimedia guided tour proceeds chapter-by-chapter through each
episode in the series, offering selected documentary materials, archival
images and commentary, as well as links to background information and
other resources of the web site." Port of Los Angeles: A virtual history tour including the people, products and more. E-Rock, Texas: "A virtual field trip to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area" Calforniamuseum: State history for California Empire State Building: Explore this NYC sky scraper from the comfort of your classroom. It's is available in several languages. Death Valley: "High definition virtual tours photographed in Death Valley, California by Eye Revolution photographer Will Pearson." Poe: "The Literature, life and times of Edgar Allan Poe...in Baltimore and beyond" America's Story: "Meet amazing Americans, Jump back in time, Explore the states" and more. The Lower Eastside: Tenement Museum virtual trip thirteen: "the first museum in the US to preserve a tenement building and have it designated a National Historic site" go and explore!
North America (other than the USA)
Nova Scotia: From Supernova studios in Canada take a closer look at Nova Scotia World Wonders: presented by Google, take virtual tours of different world wonders.
Dark Ages: This multi-stop virtual field trip includes Medieval Times, The Middle ages, daily life and much more. Life on the Manor: Life in the Middles Ages, and during Feudalism. Westminster Abbey: Interactive map of the Abbey The Nina: read and learn about one of Columbus' ships the Nina; the most historically accurate replica of a Columbus ship ever built. Holocaust Memorial Center- Zekelman Family Campus: This memorial center is in Farmington Hills, MI gives viewers a walk through their center. Yad Vashem: The Holocaust History Museum, Virtual Tour The State Museum of Auschwitz- Birkenau: This site offers 2 sections to view in a variety of formats. The Center for Holocaust Humanity: "Visit the Mapping Our Tears exhibit from your computer!" Auschwitz: "Virtual Tour of the Camp
and the Town" Vatican: a wide variety of virtual field trips to the major sites in the Vatican Pompeii, Italy: A Google Earth tour of the ruins of this ancient city. Pompeii: An interactive experience with the various structures in Pompeii. Pompeii: "What happened to Pompeii preserved a treasury of information
about life in the ancient Roman Empire. You can begin your exploration of the mystery of Pompeii
and the life of people in the Roman Empire by clicking on enter below. Once you see the map,
you can choose any place to start, but Vesuvius might make the best beginning!" Ancient Rome: in 3D from Google Earth Ephesus:"Ephesus is the best preserved classical city of the Eastern Mediterranean,
and among the best places in the world enabling one to genuinely 'soak in' the atmosphere
of Roman times." Versailles: From Google Earth a tour around the Palace of Versailles Iceland: "We offer you to see the grand tour of Iceland, which is result of our
shooting of Iceland for the last 5 years. The tour includes 82
panoramas. This is our biggest aerial virtual tour at the moment. Some
panoramas have been published already, but another part is published for
the first time." World Wonders: presented by Google, take virtual tours of different world wonders.
Fine Arts and Music
The Metropolitan Museum: online collection of the work to be viewed. National Portrait Gallery: view portraits at larger scale, read about the captions National Gallery: "Take a virtual tour of 18 rooms at the National Gallery." MoMA: Destination art, a very young kid friendly visit to the Museum of Modern Art. Web Gallery of Art: "The Web Gallery of Art is intended to be a free resource of art history
primarily for students and teachers. It is a private initiative not
related to any museums or art institutions" Louvre: "Visit the museum's exhibition rooms and galleries, contemplate the façades of the Louvre..." Galleries include- Egyptian Antiquities, The Remains of the Louvre's Moat, and more! The American Museum of Photography: "A Museum Without Walls... For An Art Without
Boundaries." Prado: Visit the Prado art collection with the help of Google Rothko Panoramic Tour: Thanks to Google again for this great tour. Virtual Museum of Japanese Art: "Which brings all the beauty of Japan's traditional culture to your screen." New York Philharmonic: explore and learn about instruments Google Cultural Institute: Collections of art work to view on line.
Science
The American Museum of Natural History: unique access to this great Museum. The Worldwide Museum of Natural History (WMNH): "An online museum featuring photo galleries
and quality educational products for homes, schools and museums" The Field Museum: "extend science directly into your classroom through LIVE video broadcasts" NASA: Explore NASA's history and accomplishments! The Moon: "Take tours of landing sites, narrated by Apollo astronauts" British Science Museum: "Explore the home of human ingenuity online. Find out about our objects,
arts projects and medical collection, play educational games and
discover climate science. Plus check out our blogs and the latest
contemporary science news from the Antenna team." Oregon Coast Aquarium: Oceanscape- Explore, Experience and Educate; Aquari-Cam; Secrets of Shipwrecks. Vanderbilt Museum: Travel beyond Earth's atmosphere into the final frontier and explore Space! Geology of Mojave National Preserve: "From the swirling sands of Kelso Dunes to Hole
in the Wall's violent volcanic remnants, Mojave National Preserve serves
as a showcase of ancient and modern geologic processes. Rocks here
reveal the stories of prehistoric landscapes as old as 2.7 billion
years - over half the age of the Earth!" Mauna Loa, Decade Volcano: "A website to report research on Earth's largest volcano." The Arctic: "NOAA provides Arctic information and a set of
reputable indicators that describe the present state of the Arctic
ecosystem and climate" Mars: Tour around Mars with the help of Google! The Moon: Experience Apollo 11 and much more though this sightseeing tour of the moon. Toyota Auto Plant: Video sharing how the plant operates. Hershey Factory Tour: The "chemistry" of making chocolate How's that made: Thanks to Mister Rogers for this collection of how things are made videos. Whale and Dolphin Conservation: Get up close and personal with a whale! Leonardo: From MOS.org this site lets us get a closer look at this artist and inventor. Carbonate Sediments of the Florida Keys: "The purpose of this virtual field trip is to introduce you to an example of
modern subtropical shallow marine and coastal environments, in which calcium
carbonate sedimentation is dominant. It is designed to be used by by students
of geology, oceanography, physical geography and environmental sciences, and
uses images as an important learning tool." Pompeii Archaeology:"Many people are surprised to learn that there are still archaeologists working in Pompeii..." Come and take a look at what they've been doing. Travertine in Wyoming: "This is the second in a pair of virtual field trips to localities in the
western United States at which travertine is forming today. This trip
takes us to northwestern Wyoming, and specifically to Mammoth Hot
Springs in Yellowstone National Park" Galapagos: "For those interested in natural history, there are few places quite as
facinating as the Galapagos. The intention of this web site is to
provide information on the Galapagos Islands to both scientists and
non-scientists alike." Lake Mead National Recreation Area: "Spectacular multi-colored rock formations dominate Lake Mead National
Recreation Area's desert landscape. Hidden within these multi-colored
rocks lies the story of over two billion years of geologic time; nearly
half of the Earth's 4.5 billion-year history." Field Museum: "Want to experience 360° view of our event spaces? The links below will take you to an exciting virtual tour of our event spaces." Earthquakes: This site has links to several other sites that help us learn more about Earthquakes. Paleontology Portal: Exploring time and space, fossil gallery, famous flora and fauna and much more. Tox Town: "Tour this virtual community and learn about how toxic chemicals affect humans and the environment." Galaxy Tour: "Are you
ready for the ultimate field trip? We'll start in our own cosmic
neighborhood, the Milky Way, then zoom out to other galaxies of the
universe." Endangered Ecosystems:"Join research teams in Costa Rica and Mexico to learn about tropical forest ecosystems, the important roles of large and small animals within an ecosystem, and the threats to their survival." Mars:Explore and walk through the Mars base. Jet Propulsion Lab: "Do you want to be a space explorer?
Take our tour to find out how we explore space!" USA National Arboretum: "We’ve created this special tour for kids to introduce you to some of
the Arboretum’s most interesting plants and places actually, we tried
to pick the most weird, cool, and gross plants to share with you!" Zoos: This site has links to several US zoos. Animal Cams: View animals live online. NMNH: National Museum of Natural History- Virtual Museum Interactive exhibit on dinosaurs. The Story of Milk: Explore all about milk. Journey North: Migration
Asia and the Middle East
The Taj Mahal: A very add filled website, read with care to find the right link to launch the tour. Oriental Institute (Chicago): "a showcase of the history, art, and archaeology of the ancient Near
East. An integral part of the University of Chicago's Oriental
Institute, the Museum displays objects recovered by Oriental Institute
excavations in permanent galleries devoted to ancient Egypt, Nubia,
Persia, Mesopotamia, Syria, Anatolia, and the ancient site of Megiddo,
as well as rotating special exhibits." Pyramids: from NOVA learn about who built them, how old are they an much, much more. The Forbidden City: 3D Google Earth Tour of China's ancient forbidden city! UAE Virtual Museum: Scroll down a bit to find the virtual part as it's not completely obvious at first. The Virtual Museum of Iraq: learn about this unique country through this great video tour. Trans Siberian Rail: This virtual trip connects 2 continents and so much more! World Wonders: presented by Google, take virtual tours of different world wonders.
South America
Inca Trail: "The real Inca Trail is a walking route that leads through the mountains
above the Urubamba river, following (at least partly) the course of an
old Inca roadway leading to the city of Machu Picchu." Enjoy this trail without all the travel. The Panama Canal: Explore how it works, live cameras, and more. World Wonders: presented by Google, take virtual tours of different world wonders.
Australia
Sydney, Australia: "Ferry into Sydney, Circular Quay, Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Luna Park, Royal Botanic Gardens" and more. Great Barrier Reef: From National Geographic, featuring sights and sounds, multimedia and more! Sydney Opera House: From Planet digital 360 get a close up look at this unique man-made structure in Australia. World Wonders: presented by Google, take virtual tours of different world wonders.
Antarctica
South Pole: "South Pole is an inherently dangerous place." This exploration takes us to the very end of the world.
Africa
Kilimanjaro: Learn what it like to climb Kilimanjaro. Here is virtual hike lesson plan for curricular unit. Discovery Education-Kilimanjaro: "Follow along as they explore the incredible terrain of the mountain as well as the culture and surrounding wildlife." Africa: This site has a variety of African virtual field trip.Africam: Watch animals live from Africa in their natural habitats. World Wonders: presented by Google, take virtual tours of different world wonders.
