Exercising Empathy in the Sport Management Classroom: The True Flipped Classroom

Abstract

Many universities focus on improving pedagogy through training sessions related to technology and assessment. However, what is missing is an emphasis on the humanistic side of teaching, specifically emphasizing empathy in the classroom. This essay makes an argument for faculty to employ empathy in their teaching. Empathy is a learned behavior that motivated faculty can develop and enhance to better serve students. Empathetic teaching is critical for sport management professors due to the numerous challenges and stressors students face, notwithstanding the competitive sport job market. The essay concludes with a novel example of the lessons faculty can employ using knowledge of the motivations of attending a concert to help create an empathetic classroom experience.