2025 Schedule Deep Dive: Teaching Empathy in the Digital Age
Technology plays an increasingly central role in raising and educating children, especially as younger generations step into the role of parenting. This shift has sparked important discussions about the influence of emerging technologies on early childhood development as educators strive to balance the integration of technology while preserving core human values.
SXSW EDU 2025 contributes to this dialogue by showcasing strategies that teach young people mindfulness and awareness of the world around them, fostering emotional intelligence and resilience that makes us human, beyond a screen.
Save These Sessions to Your Schedule:
What Makes Us Human? Preparing Young People for the AI Age led by Wendy Fischman, Heather Malin, Joshua Mesnik, and Gerard Senehi will explore how we can place student’s humanity at the core of their learning experience. Psychology Today states, “Empathy, or the ability to understand and share in the experience of emotions with others, is an essential element of all human relationships.” This session will examine strategies that foster this human connection, by emphasizing the ability to ask profound questions and new implementations of AI, leveraging their creativity and empathy.
The workshop Feeling Thoughts: Perspective-Taking, Mindfulness & You lays its foundation inspired by a quote from Andre Shields, "Slowly is the fastest way to get to where you want to be." In tune with the awareness that we should encourage new generations, Michelle Holmes and Cheri Owen will acknowledge the world of instant gratification and the constant need for more. This workshop will introduce strategies for educators to bring clay and mindfulness to their classrooms and school communities.
During Minneapolis Institute’s virtual empathy lab, neuroscientist Dr. Terry Wu discusses the profound impact of art on empathy, as he explains that art can serve as a powerful tool for deepening our understanding of human emotions and stories. In collaboration with physician Jennifer Adams and museum educator Ellen Tepfer, the workshop, The Art of Empathy: NYU x Whitney Museum Collaboration, explores how empathy—an essential and teachable skill—can foster stronger connections and a greater sense of belonging. Together, they will discuss ways to integrate empathy-building practices into various curricula, showing how skills derived from engaging with art can be applied across disciplines to promote deeper, more empathetic engagement.
Join us in these vital discussions on how to build our communities with respect, open-mindedness, and mutual understanding. Check out our latest announcement revealing the first Keynote Session, additional Featured Sessions, the Mentor Program, and so much more. Explore additional sessions highlighting the implementation of humanity and technology in the schedule and start building your list of favorites.
Find Your Community at SXSW EDU 2025
Get ready for SXSW EDU 2025 from March 3-6 in Austin, Texas. Register and book your hotel to ensure your seat in the groundbreaking sessions, networking opportunities, in-depth workshops, mentorship, film screenings, competitions, an expo, and more.
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Photo by Andy Wenstrand
12/20/2024
