Building Empathy in Students by Developing Cyber-Physical Projects Through Design Thinking

Empathy is a fundamental aspect of human behavior through which people build civilized social and interpersonal relationships. It is related to showing empathy, understanding and support, forming effective communication, dealing with conflict and is part of those factors that contribute to building a more compassionate and humane society. Despite its innate predisposition, the development of empathy is influenced by a number of factors, including learning. Developing projects through design thinking can be an effective way to foster and cultivate it in students. Applying a human-centered method such as design thinking to the process of project work enables them to develop a deeper understanding of others, build empathy, and generate solutions that respond to real-world problems. This paper explores the possibilities for achieving this goal and presents the results of a project-based learning experience integrating design thinking