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In this recent article in Psychology Today entitled 5 Ways to Help Your Brain Learn, the first topic – "Learning Requires Empathy" – highlights the powerful effect that a coaching relationship can have on a student's ability to maximize their gifts. As the article shares, research demonstrates that when skilled educators communicate empathy, build trust, and establish safety, this can generate psychological and chemical responses in the brains of students that facilitate connection and lead to greater receptivity to learning.
One of the drawbacks of asynchronous learning and AI is that this element of relationship is missing, with potentially troubling results. To quote the article:
"This is undoubtedly one of the reasons why 85 percent of tuition-free students and over 50 percent of fee-paying students never complete online learning programs. Without empathy, individuals become passive receivers of information with little impetus to push through the inevitable struggles encountered along the learning process."
Don't underestimate the power of your personal, real-time connection with students. Whether you are meeting with them in person, over videoconference, or both, your empathy and human presence alone can increase engagement and buy-in for the learning experience.
As you reflect on your practice, consider asking yourself:
- How do I currently engage personally with students?
- How might I change or increase my real-time connections with students to grow our relationship?
- What story can I think of that shows how my empathy and connection with a student helped them to push through challenges and succeed?
- How can I help students increase their empathetic connections elsewhere at the institution?
Join LifeBound to expand your ability to be an empathetic and connected academic coach.
Coaches who have completed the LifeBound 3-Day Inclusive Coaching Training are eligible to join our Fall Certification Cohort, starting September 24.
New to LifeBound? Join the next 3-Day Training on September 6, 13, and 20.
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