Humanizing Instructional Design Through Empathic Analysis

Abstract

The technologically mediated context of online teaching and learning presents unique challenges that require making explicit the implicit human elements that may be taken for granted in face-to-face contexts. While empathy, the emotional (affective) and reflective (cognitive) process of relating to another's circumstance, has been effectively employed in other design fields, its application in instructional design has only recently emerged. Using a hybrid narrative literature review process, this chapter presents an investigation of empirical and conceptual applications of empathic analysis used in instructional design settings. The authors analyze various empathic tools and methods employed and offer examples and advice to instructional designers and researchers for incorporating the practices in their work as a means to humanize online learning at the earliest stages in the instructional design process.