This is a wonderful example of just how much we really use technology for personal and professional development and support of students. As with almost all technologies, there are also opportunities to use it for good or ill. I’m glad that I’ve learned the hard way not to use it. Here are four ways to use digital technology to build a stronger, more empathic workforce.

1. Start a “Talk in class.” I feel that this is one of the most important things to say. I’d love to have a class to teach me how to “talk in class” and I have found a great way to do so. Start a “talk in class” class with each student in class. Let the class become a group of at least three students who want to learn how to talk. This is how I’ve found groups of six students (and even seven students with teachers) to teach a class of eight to 12 students. One of the major points of these classes is that the facilitators (i.e., teachers or administrators) must have excellent English proficiency so that they will be able to teach any class. For example, I once had a class in English class where I felt my pronunciation was poor and when the teacher explained how to get my pronunciation correct I was told that it