Table 2 Structure of empathic instruction

Strategies for cognitive empathy

• Provide preview materials and videos to visually present students’ learning from the class.

• Design the main lesson around the questions collected from the pre-lesson, ensuring the course content addresses students’ needs and concerns.

• For post-lesson assignments, create additional material summarizing answers to the class’s questions and share it as a PDF file to help students better understand the material.

Strategies for emotional empathy

• Clearly present the learning goals before the class starts, helping students understand the course objectives and how the lesson will unfold.

• Allow students to click “like” on pre- and post-lesson assignments, offering extra credit to students who click the most “likes” to increase engagement and participation.

• Review the assessment criteria during class so students can independently check their progress and understand how they will be evaluated.

• Enable students and instructors to exchange feedback on each other’s assignments, fostering an environment of collaborative improvement.

• Emphasize the importance of maintaining good manners while communicating, avoiding criticism, and promoting positive interaction.

Strategies for behavioral empathy

• The instructor conveys their values and educational philosophy using a first-person perspective to help students better understand the educator’s approach.

• The instructor provides active feedback and is receptive to students who offer suggestions for improvement, creating an open, responsive learning environment.

• Excerpt and record the parts reflecting the students’ attitudes and values toward the class, making an effort to understand their perspectives and integrate that understanding into the teaching process.