A Pedagogy for Enhancing Critical Thinking and Empathy Aligned with UN Values
The pedagogical framework is designed to cultivate critical thinking and empathy, drawing on the core values espoused by the United Nations (UN), including global citizenship, sustainable development, and human rights. This approach operates across two distinct yet interconnected scales: the macro-scale, which establishes the overarching framework and objectives, and the micro-scale, which delineates the specific methodologies employed to realize these aims.
At the macro scale, the pedagogy prioritizes the development of critical thinking and empathy through alignment with UN values, fostering a sense of global responsibility and interconnectedness.
At the micro scale, two primary methods are implemented:
- visual storytelling, grounded in neuroscience principles to evoke emotional connection and relatability
- Socratic dialogue facilitated by artificial intelligence (AI) to encourage reflective thinking and a deeper understanding of otherness and human interconnectedness.
Central to the storytelling method is the concept of emotional contagion—the process by which emotions are transmitted between individuals—facilitated through the activation of mirror neurons. This neuroscientific mechanism enables readers to internally simulate empathetic responses, effectively bridging emotional experiences. In the context of language learning, these narratives leverage neuroscientific principles to enhance empathy, utilizing carefully selected phrases that mirror emotional states and engage the brain’s sensorimotor resonance, a process wherein the brain automatically and often unconsciously mirrors the actions or emotions of others. The accompanying visual elements are designed to serve the same purpose, reinforcing emotional engagement and empathetic understanding.
The Socratic dialogue, facilitated by an AI agent, further complements this approach by focusing on the recognition of emotional realities alongside a critical examination of social realities, as articulated through the lens of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This method encourages learners to critically reflect on societal challenges while fostering an empathetic understanding of diverse perspectives, thereby aligning with the UN’s vision of sustainable and inclusive global development. Together, these strategies create a robust pedagogical model that not only enhances language acquisition but also nurtures the cognitive and emotional competencies necessary for global citizenship.