Taking things further
If we want to go deeper with our exploration of students’ needs there are several other things we can do, beginning with adding to our existing empathy maps.
Challenges and opportunities
One useful way to extend or add to an empathy map is to include two additional boxes that are sometimes called challenges and opportunities or pains and gains. If, for example, we are thinking about our students and online teaching and learning, challenges might be all those things that could make it difficult, time-consuming, or limit its success, whilst opportunities might be how we can do new things, overcome existing challenges, or improve what we are doing. Adding these two boxes to our empathy maps can help enrich the map itself, and give us further ideas for development.
Other ways to identify student needs
In addition to assessment for learning and empathy mapping, there are many other ways teachers can identify student needs. These include:
Interviews and discussions: Interviews and discussions are a great way to get to know your students and gain a better understanding of their needs. Ask them questions about their preferences, interests, and goals to get a better sense of what they need from you as a teacher. These can be formal or informal and can be an ongoing process
Observations: Observe your students in the classroom and note their behaviour, interactions with peers, and engagement with the lesson. This can help you gain insight into their interests, motivations, and challenges.
Surveys: Surveys can be used to quickly gather information from students. Ask them questions about their learning preferences, challenges, and goals. Surveys can be short and regular, used as exit tickets at the end of a lesson, or more detailed and fuller, used at the end of topics or school terms.
Focus groups: Focus groups are a great way to get to know your students better. Ask them to reflect on their learning experiences and share their thoughts and ideas, contribute to lesson design, engage in empathy mapping, or try out activities and exercises.
Student self-assessment: Ask your students to assess their learning. Thoughtful reflection, guided by teachers, has huge power for learners and can be incredibly informative for teachers. This can help you understand their needs and help them become more aware of their learning.
These are just a few ways to identify student needs. It is important to keep in mind that the best way to know and understand your students is to take the time to get to know them and develop relationships with them.
Reflection Questions
Are there other things that you can do to help improve your understanding of your students’ needs?
What sorts of things do you currently do?
Are there any things you would like to try that you haven’t used before?
Further Reading
- https://elearningindustry.com/5-steps-towards-empathic-instructional-design-online-training
- https://edtechbooks.org/jaid_9_3/building_empathy
- https://www.learningguild.com/articles/design-thinking-approach-to-elearning-emphasizes-empathy/?rd=1
- https://pressbooks.pub/criticalinstructionaldesign/chapter/compassionate-learning-design-as-a-critical-approach-to-instructional-design/
- https://pm4id.org/eme_6606/building_empathy