The Role of Empathy in Improving Social and Emotional Learning Skills Among Educators and Students in the Era of COVID-19

This study aimed to examine educator perspectives regarding the nature and value of empathy concerning teaching Social Emotional Learning (SEL) skills students need to develop to transition successfully into the world of work. The study was part of a larger investigation on SEL skills conducted by the WERA-recognised SEL International Research Network (SEL IRN) from 2019 to 2022. Research teams from Greece, Japan, Italy, Romania, South Africa, Turkey, and the USA collaborated on a deeper examination of empathy. An open-ended survey was conducted to answer two questions: (a) What SEL skills do educators believe they should be using to teach their students effectively? (b) What are educators’ perceptions of the SEL skills young people need to transition successfully into the workplace? Data from 379 educators were re-examined to identify the themes deemed relevant to the concept of “empathy” using modified grounded theory. Seven empathy clusters were generated and presented in terms of consensus about each cluster. The findings of this study contribute to the redesigning effort of our education system in response to COVID-19 by providing a richer understanding of empathy skills across different countries/cultures and suggesting ways to promote SEL activities during a pandemic.