Welcome! Today, we’re diving into an exciting tool that can transform how classrooms connect globally. Every Tuesday, we review new educational tools at Common Sense Education, a non-profit dedicated to evaluating media and resources for learning. Let’s explore Empatico, a platform designed to link classrooms worldwide.
Empatico stands out because it thoughtfully addresses the entire process of connecting classrooms from a teacher’s perspective. While platforms like Skype have facilitated such interactions for years, Empatico offers a comprehensive approach that ensures these connections are successful and meaningful.
One of the main challenges in connecting classrooms is the potential chaos—technical issues and students unsure of their roles during calls. Empatico tackles these challenges by providing all necessary materials and guidance. They help teachers find suitable matches based on criteria like student age and location, ensuring a smooth and effective exchange.
Empatico assists in managing time zones and can accommodate asynchronous interactions if needed, although live interactions are preferred. Once a match is made, teachers can communicate with their counterparts to share information and plan the exchange. The platform offers built-in activities that are both meaningful and engaging, supporting teachers in setting up their classrooms for these exchanges.
On the Empatico website, you’ll find a library of activities, many focusing on social-emotional learning (SEL) and global awareness. These activities are age-appropriate and designed to enhance the exchange experience. Additionally, there are “Expeditions,” SEL-focused activities often sponsored by other services, which can be conducted within your classroom even without connecting to another class.
Given the challenges students have faced recently, developing social skills through meaningful connections is more important than ever. Empatico offers a powerful way to facilitate these interactions, and the best part is that the entire platform is free to use. My experience with Empatico has been overwhelmingly positive, with excellent support and resources provided.
Empatico has received a five-star rating on Common Sense Education, reflecting its effectiveness and value. If you’re looking for a way to enrich your classroom experience and foster global connections, I highly recommend exploring what Empatico has to offer. You can find a detailed review in the video description and visit the site to discover more tools like this.
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Engage with a partner classroom through Empatico by setting up a live video call. Prepare a presentation about your local culture, and learn about your partner’s culture in return. This activity will help you develop communication skills and global awareness.
Utilize Empatico’s asynchronous features to establish a pen pal relationship with students from another country. Exchange letters or emails discussing topics like daily life, hobbies, and traditions. This will enhance your writing skills and cultural understanding.
Participate in one of Empatico’s SEL-focused expeditions. These activities are designed to be conducted within your classroom and focus on building empathy and emotional intelligence. Reflect on the experience and discuss how it can be applied in your interactions.
Work in groups to research a global issue and present your findings to your partner classroom. Use Empatico to facilitate discussions on potential solutions and collaborate on a joint project. This will improve your research skills and foster teamwork.
Learn about the complexities of managing time zones by planning a virtual meeting with your partner classroom. Use Empatico’s tools to schedule the call and discuss the importance of time management in global interactions. This activity will enhance your organizational skills.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hello everybody, Christy and Tanner here! We’re back with you after a slight recording hiccup. Every week, every Tuesday, we bring you reviews of new tools that we post over on Common Sense Education. We are a non-profit that reviews media and other resources for learning.
Christy, you have an interesting new review to discuss today. What is it?
I do indeed, Tanner! Today, I want to talk about Impatico. It’s a site and service that helps classrooms connect with other classrooms around the world. Now, you might think that people have been doing this via Skype and other platforms for a long time, but let me explain why this site is special.
What I really appreciate is that they have thoughtfully considered the entire process from a teacher’s perspective. They provide all the materials needed to make these experiences successful and meaningful. Sometimes, connecting classrooms can be chaotic—the technology might not work, and students may not know what to do during the call. Impatico addresses these challenges.
They guide you through the process based on criteria like the age of your students and your location. They help you find a good match, so you could potentially connect with a classroom across the globe. They also work with time zones and can accommodate asynchronous interactions if needed, but they strive for live interactions.
Once matched, you can chat with your partner teacher to share information and plan the exchange. They have built-in activities that are meaningful, which is one of the standout features of this service. They provide support to teachers on how to set up their classrooms for these exchanges to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Let me jump over to the activities. If you visit the website, you’ll find a library of activities, many of which focus on social-emotional learning (SEL) and awareness of what other students are experiencing around the world. You can choose age-appropriate activities to facilitate the experience.
There’s also a category of activities called “Expeditions,” which are also SEL-focused and often sponsored by other services. These activities can be done within your own classroom, even if you don’t want to connect with another class.
I wanted to highlight this tool today because many students have been struggling with social skills over the past year due to the challenges everyone has faced. Connecting with others in meaningful ways could be very powerful, especially right now. The entire site is completely free, so you can visit and start the process without any cost.
My experience contacting Impatico was very positive; I received a lot of help and support. I encourage you to check it out if it seems like a good fit for your classroom.
Yes, I’m looking at some activities now, and it’s impressive how much thought has gone into every stage of this exchange. This was not my experience with pen pals prior to 1996! It really seems like they’ve done a lot of testing to prepare classrooms for these connections, ensuring that the interactions are focused and meaningful.
Again, it’s totally free, and it has received five stars on Common Sense Education. I hope you check it out!
You can find a review of Impatico in the description of this video, and you can visit the site to discover more tools like this. Of course, we’ll be back every Tuesday with videos like this, so if you’d like to keep up with our content, please subscribe and tune in again!
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This version removes informal language, filler words, and laughter while maintaining the core message and structure of the original transcript.
Education – The process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university. – Education is crucial for developing critical thinking skills and fostering innovation in society.
Classrooms – Rooms in which a class of students is taught. – Modern classrooms are often equipped with digital tools to enhance the learning experience.
Connections – Relationships or links between people, ideas, or concepts. – Building strong connections between historical events helps students understand the broader context of social studies.
Activities – Tasks or actions that are done for a particular purpose, often to facilitate learning. – Interactive activities in social studies classes can help students better engage with the material.
Learning – The acquisition of knowledge or skills through study, experience, or teaching. – Continuous learning is essential for professionals to stay updated in their fields.
Global – Relating to the whole world; worldwide. – Understanding global issues is a critical component of a comprehensive education in social studies.
Skills – The ability to do something well; expertise. – Developing analytical skills is a key objective in social studies education.
Resources – Materials, money, staff, and other assets that can be drawn on by a person or organization in order to function effectively. – Access to diverse resources can greatly enhance the quality of education provided to students.
Students – Individuals who are studying at a school or college. – Students are encouraged to participate actively in discussions to deepen their understanding of social studies topics.
Awareness – Knowledge or perception of a situation or fact. – Raising awareness about cultural diversity is an important aspect of social studies education.
