The Korea Herald

소아쌤

School as place of empathy and impact during COVID-19 crisis

By Ock Hyun-ju

Published : May 21, 2020 - 18:44

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Virtual Grade 5 Exhibition, 2020, a culmination of IB PYP learning.(Seoul Foreign School) Virtual Grade 5 Exhibition, 2020, a culmination of IB PYP learning.(Seoul Foreign School)

In the wake of COVID-19 crisis, never has it been more important to understand the value of thinking globally and broadly, having empathy for others and taking action for collective well-being.

Seoul Foreign School, which has been serving the international community in Seoul for over a hundred years, and Inspire Citizens, an educational consulting collaborative that has worked with thousands of teachers across the globe, have partnered over the last couple years to help students to learn within the school curriculum to take action and to develop innovative approaches to learning.
Inspire Citizens launching a project with SFS Middle School students through innovative approaches to learning through service, action, and global citizenship.(Seoul Forein School) Inspire Citizens launching a project with SFS Middle School students through innovative approaches to learning through service, action, and global citizenship.(Seoul Forein School)

Our partnership puts focus on how we can use virtual communities to bring about a positive impact in such times of world-wide need by teaching students to build empathy and learn through service and action.

As examples of such projects, students in middle school design classes are using visual and special effects films to share stories of uplift and inspiration for digital exhibition. Grade 5 students at SFS hosted an exhibition digitally, bringing their parents and grandparents out of isolation and inviting them to join through Zoom.

By Jan-Mark Seewald 

(Jan-Mark Seewald is Assistant Head of School-Academics. -- Ed.)