Empathy Map Group Activity

Social Networks and Their Analysis

• Reid Hoffman emphasizes that the strength of a network is determined by connection quality rather than quantity.
• Social Networking Analysis (SNA) studies patterns of relationships among interconnected entities, revealing who is linked to whom.

Empathy Mapping Activity

• Students begin by noting personal or academic challenges for 20 seconds before passing their papers.
• Each student then expresses how they would feel in that situation, fostering empathy and connection.
• This collaborative activity highlights the importance of emotional understanding in networks.

Objectives of the Lesson

• Distinguishing functions of network jargons through analogy.
• Simulating real-life scenarios using network jargons via a collaborative exercise.
• Understanding the impact of social networking analysis to promote empathy in the classroom.

Key Concepts in Social Network Analysis

• Nodes (Vertices): Represent individual actors in a network.
• Edges (Links/Ties): Denote relationships between actors.
• Density: Indicates the number of connections within a network; high density leads to faster information transfer.

Types of Social Networks

• Egocentric Networks: Focus on an individual and their close connections.
• Sociocentric Networks: Consist of closely connected individuals with no choice in forming bonds, such as family dynamics.
• Open Systems: Allow for mutual connections through minimal ties based on shared interests.

Key Terms

• Degree: The number of direct connections a node has.
• Homophily: The tendency for nodes to connect based on similar traits.
• Heterophily: The inclination to connect with dissimilar traits.
• Multiplexity: Occurrence of various types of relationships between two nodes.
• Reciprocity: Mutual support between nodes.
• Cut-point (Broker/Bridge): A crucial node, whose removal disconnects the network.

Educational Activities

• "The Boat is Sinking" game involves students grouping based on jargon called out, emphasizing urgency and teamwork.
• Understanding both homophily and heterophily is essential for building robust networks.

Further Reading

• Investigate two measures of degrees (in-degree and out-degree) and explore various hypothetical networks.
• Examine concepts of directed, undirected, reciprocal, weighted, and self-loop edges to understand their roles in networks.

This quiz fosters collaboration and understanding through the empathy map exercise. Students will share personal or academic challenges and express feelings to enhance emotional intelligence. It emphasizes the importance of quality connections within a network.