Using Humor in the Classroom

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Using Humor in the Classroom

• or
• Everything you wanted to know about being funny
  in class but were too afraid to ask.

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Why Even Try to Be Funny??

• Humor
• Increases student attention and involvement.
• Has a positive effect upon learning retention.
• Creates a comfortable social environment.
• Gets discussions started faster
• Encourages response in QA sessions.

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Make Humor Relevant
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Make Humor Relevant

• Humor does not have to be a diversion or
  digression from the lecture.
• Whenever possible, weave humor into what your
  students are already learning.

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Focus on the Positive!!
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Focus on the Positive!!

• Adopting a light, playful mind set helps
  establish a warm, safe learning environment.
• Negative comments, such as on the usefulness of
  the material, creates frustration in students and
  leads to low motivation.

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Practice Verbal and Nonverbal Playfulness
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Practice Verbal and Nonverbal Playfulness

• Use facial animation smile, make lively
  expressions, and let your eyes sparkle.
• Use comfortable body language and a relaxed
  voice. Make sure your nonverbal messages match
  your verbal messages.

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Use Humor to Relieve Tension
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Use Humor to Relieve Tension

• Develop your ability to read your students'
  tension levels.
• When you sense tension, try to defuse it by
  making a humorous remark or telling a funny story.

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Target Yourself, Not Your Students
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Target Yourself, Not Your Students

• To avoid a sense of threat, the safest target for
  humor is yourself, not your students.
• DO NOT poke fun at religious beliefs, race, or
  gender. Such comments cause animosity and a
  hostile environment for learning.

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Target Yourself, Not Your Students

• Four Questions to Ask Yourself When Using Humor
• Is it Appropriate?
• Is it Timely?
• Is it Tasteful?
• Is it even Funny?

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Activity

• ATT Humor Test
• Humorous? Yes_____ No_____ Depends_____
• Appropriate? Yes_____ No_____ Depends_____
• Timely? Yes_____ No_____ Depends_____
• Tasteful? Yes___ No_____ Depends_____

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Questions Comments
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References and Further Information

• Deiter, Ron "What's So Funny About Teaching
  'Dismal' Science Classes?"
• http//www.cte.iastate.edu/newsletter/november98/
  humor.html
• Gorham, J., Christophel, D.M. (1990). The
  relationship of teachers' use of humor in the
  classroom to immediacy and student learning.
  Communication Education, 39, 46-61.
• LeMieux, A.C. (2000). Only Connect. ALAN Review,
  27 (2), 11-16.
• Project T.E.A.C.H Teacher Effectiveness and
  Classroom Handling. http//www.plsweb.com
• Shade, Richard A. License to Laugh Humor in
  the Classroom