In higher education, the focus on student success often takes center stage in research and the professor-as-teacher practice. While numerous empirical studies concentrate on the growth and development of undergraduate students, this dissertation delves into professors' relational and felt experiences in positive teaching-learning relationships.…

As learning environments shift toward meeting the needs of an increasingly diverse student population, empathy is becoming an important tool for instructors. Empathy deepens the connection between students and instructors. This connection can also emerge in the library, where librarians are teaching students in a variety of contexts, from the…

Being able to defend victims of school bullying is central in any intervention; thus, it seems paramount to investigate which factors may contribute to defending behavior. The present report aims to investigate whether empathic self-efficacy is associated with helping behavior and whether interpersonal factors (i.e., social preference and…

Higher educational institutions often train their faculty on assessment, course development, diversity, equity, inclusion, online teaching, work-life balance, research, and more via faculty development offerings such as programs, workshops, etc. Research shows that faculty development programming helps improve the student learning experience,…

Undergraduate students have reported challenges with staying connected to course content, their peers, and to their instructors during the disruption and transition to virtual platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic (Hollister et al., 2022) and there has been a lack of readiness to effectively engage with students and deliver instructional content…

This class activity explores the reciprocal dynamics of communication within the teaching-learning context, focusing on the interplay between instructors and students as well as among students themselves. Drawing from rhetorical relational goal theory, the needs audit is an applied activity centered on fostering empathy, cooperation, and…

This paper aims to interrogate the design studio conversations between teachers and students in order to explore the indicators regarding empathy. To investigate design conversations occurring between design teachers and design students, participant observation studies were conducted at two universities in Finland and Turkey. As an empathic…

Teacher empathy is important in reducing students' aggressive behavior, strengthening interpersonal cooperation, and promoting prosocial behavior. Previous research has shown that empathy could be predicted by a teacher's professional identity, but little is known about the moderating factors affecting the relationship between professional…

Faculty members play a crucial role as change agents in promoting cultural transformation within academic environments and empathy, a fundamental component of effective teaching, mentoring, and collegiality, is essential for fostering a student-centered and holistic approach. We present a theoretical model for empathy development and navigation in…

Teacher empathy is an essential feature in supporting social, emotional, and academic growth in students; however, there have been few studies of teacher empathy and job burnout. Teachers need to show empathy toward students without experiencing symptoms of job burnout to ensure students' academic, social, and emotional success. A mixed-methods…

How to increase student satisfaction is a question that Higher Education institutes have become increasingly focussed on. While previous research indicates a number of factors can contribute to student satisfaction, teaching has been found to be of high importance. This study interviewed students and staff in a UK university that had achieved high…

Empathy is recognized as the ability to relate emotionally to an experience or another person's emotions. Evidence supports the notion that students learn better and have greater positive perceptions when instructors display empathetic values and seek more meaningful relationships with their students. The purpose of this study was to assess…

While I have always considered my approach to teaching to be student-centered, teaching during a pandemic challenged me to critically examine my teaching philosophy and practices. Guided by principles of the pedagogy of kindness, I sought student input as we collaboratively modified our courses during the COVID-19-induced shift to online learning.…

This research addressed the need for qualitative research in teacher empathy and how teachers developed empathy. Data analysis of this phenomenological study revealed how high school teachers experienced, exhibited, and developed empathy towards students. Findings suggest that empathetic teachers view the purpose of education as a holistic…

This executive summary presents the findings and recommendations of a study on the cultural proficiency and culturally responsive pedagogy of educators. While teachers demonstrate a strong commitment to cultural proficiency and equity, it is implied that there is still room for improvement in areas such as conflict resolution and acknowledging…