Great Tech for Cultivating Compassion

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Compassion is the feeling that arises when you are confronted with another's suffering and have the desire to help. People often confuse this with empathy or being able to put yourself in someone else's shoes. Technology can help supplement the modeling of compassion that occurs in classrooms by providing game-based learning with sympathetic characters or getting students to think about the struggles our world faces every day. Once students feel compassion for someone, they may be spurred to real action. Check out these tools that help students report bullying, get them reflecting through meditation, and spark them to lead community-based projects.

Interested in seeing tips on how you might use some of these tools in the classroom? Check out our blog series We All Teach SEL: Inspiring Activities for Every Classroom.

Four little corners - An interactive storybook app about friendship Publisher: DADA Company Simple story about shapes showcases problem-solving and inclusion	Grades Pre-K-1 Type App Price $2.99 Platforms iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Kindle Fire, Fire phone Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
STOP!T Publisher: STOPit Easy-to-use reporting tool helps kids report bullying, find adult help	Grades Pre-K-12 Type App Price Free, Paid Platforms Android, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Common Sense Rating 3 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
Teaching Tolerance Visit Website: http://www.tolerance.org/ Thought-provoking classroom resources support diversity education	Grades K-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating 4
The Wonderment Visit Website: https://thewonderment.com/ Ambitious global community aims for public good through student engagement	Grades 1-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
The Social Express II Publisher: The Language Express, Inc. Fabulous multimedia lessons boost social-awareness skills	Grades 2-8 Type App Price Free to Try, Paid Platforms iPad Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating 4
Hall of Heroes Visit Website: https://www.centervention.com/hall-of-heroes/ Responsive game helps students prepare for transition to middle school	Grades 5-8 Type Website Price Free to Try, Paid Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
Never Alone (Kisima Innitchuna) Publisher: E-Line Media Illuminating native Alaskan folktale supports SEL skills	Grades 5-12 Type Game Price 14.99 Platforms PS4, Windows, Xbox One Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
Stop, Breathe & Think Publisher: Tools for Peace Appealing app guides meditation, promotes compassion	Grades 5-12 Type App Price Free Platforms Android, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
Character Playbook Visit Website: http://www.characterplaybook.com/ Realistic comic book-style stories help build healthy relationships	Grades 6-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 3 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
Sustainaville Visit Website: https://www.sustainaville.org/index.php Sustainable-community sim teaches students how to conserve	Grades 6-12 Type Website Price Free, Paid Common Sense Rating 3 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
Thomas Was Alone Publisher: Mike Bithell Story-driven puzzle game teaches students to value their differences and help one another	Grades 6-12 Type Game Price $12.99 Platforms Mac, PS3, PS Vita, Windows Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
Papers, Please Publisher: 3909 Mature immigration game forces tough ethical choices	Grades 9-12 Type Game Price $9.99 Platforms Mac, Windows Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4

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