Year 8 students recently participated in an interdisciplinary lesson led by Robotics teacher Maja Milosavljević and Soft Skills teacher Marko Nikolić, focusing on the theme “Robots and Empathy.”

Since empathy is one of the key topics covered in the Soft Skills curriculum, the teachers opened the lesson with an intriguing question: Can robots be empathetic?

To explore this idea, students first revisited what empathy is and learned about different types of empathy. The discussion then shifted toward robotics and artificial intelligence, where students were shown how AI works and encouraged to consider which forms of empathy, if any, could be associated with robots.

The class also examined real-world professions that require a high level of empathy, such as those in healthcare and education, and discussed burnout as a negative consequence of emotionally demanding work. This naturally led to conversations about how robots and AI could support professionals in these fields by reducing workload and preventing burnout.

To make the concept even more relatable, the teachers highlighted well-known animated films in which robots are portrayed as empathetic helpers or even as heroic characters who strive to save humanity from its own mistakes.

Through this engaging blend of technology, psychology, and media, students gained a deeper understanding of empathy, both human and artificial, and reflected on how emerging technologies may shape the future of emotional intelligence.