Empathy, or cultivating a shared understanding and experience with others, has emerged as a central component of communication, collaboration, and problem solving - skills all librarians rely on to craft successful instruction experiences for students, negotiate teaching relationships with faculty members, and cooperate with colleagues to create cohesive and effective instruction programs. In this session, attendees will explore a creative approach to developing an empathetic perspective as part of their professional teaching identity. After a brief introduction to the history and importance of empathy as a concept, attendees will practice using the User Experience (UX) method of "Empathy Mapping" as a tool to develop empathy in their instruction practice. This is a hands-on session, so come prepared to map a path to insightful instruction!
