Ulster BOCES teaches empathy interview process

PORT EWEN- The Ulster BOCES Career & Technical Center’s Phoenix Academy has become a hub for fostering empathy, a quality not commonly associated with activities like 3D printing or designing signage. However, at the Phoenix Academy, empathy isn’t just a concept–it is also actively shaping the school environment and enhancing student engagement.

The 33 young professionals enrolled in the Phoenix Academy are participating in a unique educational experience. Half of their day is spent in specialized project-based learning aligned with their interests, while the other half is dedicated to career-track courses. This approach integrates interdisciplinary training and skills developed in the Phoenix program into the students’ chosen career paths.

One notable skill young professionals are learning and applying is the “empathy interview” method. Originating from educational giants like the Stanford d.School of Design and High Tech High, empathy interviews involve asking open-ended questions to gather stories and experiences, which inform problem-solving ideas.

During empathy interviews, Phoenix program students engage with various members of the school community, gather insights, research solutions, and collaborate with potential partners. They then present proposed solutions, gather feedback, and refine their ideas through processes like storyboarding and the creation of mock-ups.

For instance, when Ulster BOCES Aviation and Drone program instructor Angelica Dickerson sought support for her students participating in the SkillsUSA competition, the Phoenix team assisted by designing and printing buttons and stickers. Additionally, they utilized their knowledge of 3D design to teach the future aviators how to use Tinkercad (a 3-D modeling program) to print gliders, providing a hands-on lesson in aerodynamics. 

Young professionals from both classes recently met up on a mild February day to see their designs go airborne. “Using Tinkercad, we were able to…

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