Fostering Empathy in Adolescents: A Simulated Online Game Approach

• In Event: Thursday Roundtable Session 12:40 pm
  In Roundtable Session: Games for Cognition and Learning (Table 20)

Abstract

This study examines the role of an online simulation game in promoting global empathy among middle school students. The study involved 17 students and their teachers in South Korea who participated in a 16-week intervention using the game. Results showed that students reported increased empathy and appreciation for different cultures and life situations. However, some expressed dissatisfaction with the game's level of personalization. Teachers observed that the game broadened students' worldviews, but noted that some students lacked seriousness about the simulation. The study suggests that simulation games could be instrumental in cultivating global empathy, but their effectiveness may depend on how students approach the game.

Author

• Abe Shin, The George Washington University