DOES THE INTERNET SHAPE OUR MIND? THE CASE OF VIRTUAL EMPATHY IN FUTURE TEACHERS
DOES THE INTERNET SHAPE OUR MIND? THE CASE OF VIRTUAL EMPATHY IN FUTURE TEACHERS

Summary/Abstract: There is no doubt that the use of technology and online activities shape our real-world interactions, thoughts, behaviours, attitudes, and affects. We take this as an opportunity to reconsider the digital competencies of future teachers. Therefore, the present paper argues the relevance of virtual empathy to fostering learning in virtual learning environments. To achieve this goal, a correlational study was conducted. A number of 569 undergraduate students, Z generation representatives, were purposefully sampled. All the participants were Internet users, enrolled in a teaching degree program in a Romanian regular university. The subjects completed an online survey measuring the level of virtual empathy, socio-demographics, and media usage behaviours. The self-report scale that we applied to measure participants' empathy levels has proved reliability. The article depicts the results of the study and discusses them. The results indicate a complex relation between going online and real-world empathy. Video gaming affects the level of virtual and real-world empathy. However, none of the participants reported optimal levels of virtual empathy. The scores of virtual empathy are significantly lower than those computed for real-world empathy (both for male and female subjects). Nevertheless, correlational analysis showed a positive and statistically significant correlation between the two types of empathy. In addition, gender differences regarding virtual empathy are analysed. In conclusion, the paper reflects on the need to reshape the view of digital literacy in future teachers.

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