Empatico with IB

I may have mentioned that I am a Library Media Specialist at an International Baccalaureate Magnet School.  We work hard to   instill a drive to take local and global action amongst our students.  Let's face it, for elementary kids thinking globally is not part of their developmental makeup.  Despite that, we can still capitalize on their developmental characteristics of kindness, inclusion, sense of fairness, and rule following to broaden their global awareness and empathy.  As a Library Media Specialist, we are often the ones who first get our hands on tech tools.  We are typically the ones who analyze it and its value for our school settings and the diversity of our students.  This past year, I have been fortunate enough to explore two tools that I see has having immense value in broadening a global awareness amongst elementary students.  

One tool that my students and I are incredibly excited about is GoBubble.  GoBubble is a great social media platform for children under 13.  It is a safe and empathetic introduction to social media.  I have written about GoBubble in previous posts here.  There is an incredible group of educators around the globe using GoBubble and we are working hard to invite our students to engage in fun and necessary conversations.  

Another tool, Empatico, is an incredible web based platform that invites students to participate in well thought out lessons that help develop empathy.  After being matched with another classroom and agreeing upon an activity, it is pretty much a 3 step process:

1. prepare the students with the activity
2. connect with partner classroom around activity
3. reflect on activity

I have shared a brief video that highlighted a couple of interactions my students have had through Empatico and because of the work that I do as an IB LMS I created an online course for my colleagues to introduce it to them.  I would like to share that with you here.  Even if you are NOT an IB LMS, you will see how Empatico is of benefit for your students.  Enjoy and I would love feedback on what I could do to make this course even better!