Changing Scenes: Building Empathy

Assessing Impact: The immediate impact of the lesson on teens is usually assessed through the debriefing process, noted as “Bringing it Full Circle” in the lesson plans. Facilitators can vary their approach to the debriefing process, using a variety of techniques to elicit feedback and understanding from teens. Since this lesson plan is on building empathy, facilitators can ask teens specific questions related to taking others’ perspectives and learning about others’ experiences, and look for growth in this area. Facilitators can also reach back to this lesson plan a few weeks later, and ask teens if they have used the concept of empathy in regular day to day situations, conflicts, or challenges that have arisen.