Todd Zabel

It is so difficult to keep students engaged that I prefer to use humor as much possible. Although it may seem to distract attention from the session objectives, it re-engages the students.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Hi Warren,
You make a good point about humor. I believe the classroom should be a place that has learning as its' number one goal. No surprise here. There are many different ways to engage learners in the process without making the classroom a stage for MTV. Where humor comes in is when you the instructor makes a mistake and can laugh it off and go on. At other times I have found a silly joke and help to ease the tension of covering a highly technical area and then back to the content. Instructors need to have a sense of humor to make it through the day/night with the students they have but the classroom doesn't need to be a laugh a minute type of settin.
As you mentioned you can see in you students' eyes whether they are engaged or not in what you are teaching. Use that knowledge to your advantage and you will do well.
Good teaching.
Gary