Pedagogy, Empathy and Praxis Using Theatrical Traditions to Teach

This book examines the concept of empathy as an essential aspect of the teacher training curriculum, and asks how it can be taught. While there has been a steady flow of teacher education reform books in recent years, there are comparatively few that have considered change from understandings and advances developed in human rights-based practices and theatrical traditions. The author presents unique and compelling approaches to teacher training and learning, developed in conjunction with experts in theatrical and educational fields and combining both research and praxis. This pioneering book will appeal to students and scholars of education and empathy, as well as those interested in incorporating empathy into their teaching practice.

Chapter 1. Introduction and overview.- Chapter 2. A conceptualizing literature review.- Chapter 3. The critical reasons to teach with, for, and about empathy.- Chapter 4. Towards a pedagogy of empathy.- Chapter 5. Using theatrical traditions to teach empathy.- Chapter 6. Discussions of practice: Flexing the empathy muscle.

Alison O'Grady is Programme Director at the University of Sydney, Australia.