laughter
Incorporate picture or text in your slide show that is relative and provokes a laugh can liven up a bunch, reduce stress, and seems to recapture attention.
Hi Linnie:
Great method! I think students like stories, usually because they can relate to some aspect and apply it to their own lives. If it's humorous, and demonstrates the teacher is human, and can laugh at the situation along with the students, that's even better.
Regards, Barry
when teaching a particular skill, I usually share a personal experience on the subject. I often share a mistake I have made and hopefully have my students laughing. If I can help a student learn to laugh at themselves and make these mistakes a learning experience, then I feel I have taught them a valuable lesson in their future career, as well as life.
Hi Annarose:
Sincere laughing triggers something in the students mind that made some kind of connection. Unless the class is about stand-up comedy, too much can be ineffective. I think the best humor is when it occurs natuarlly, perhaps by accident through the process of lecturing or discussion, and the class realizes some irony, flubbed pronuniciation, or misspoken thought. Teachers who can laugh at their goof ups with their students are appreciated by students.
Regards, Barry
yes, I truly believe if a student is laughing he/she is listening and if he/she is listening then his/her chances of learning are increased.
Hi Richard:
There is certainly no prohibition against allowing levity, humor, and a bit of fun in the classroom. Especially if that's a teachers natural manner, it'll come off well. Forced joking around or assumed humor at inapproriate times can be a big turn off to students just as well.
Keeping things lighter makes students feel more comfortable, and therefore, more likely to ask questions and particiapate. That's always a good thing.
Regards, Barry
Laughter always helps no mater how long classes are mine are one hour long and 2-10 days so laughter helps break every thing up
Chris,
I agree 100% that laughter can very much liven up a group of students. Especially if you feel some students are starting to look like they are "drifting" off! It help to reconnect with them and make learning fun and exciting.
Hi Thomas:
I agree. As instructors our job is to create an environment where students feel comfortable and at ease with class, because that will make learning more benificial and memorable for them.
Regards, Barry
I like this a lot! If you want to keep your students in class and engaged, make your class fun. It is possible and preferable to make learning fun.
Hi Donna:
Don't you think when we are being natural and our true selves we provide a better learning environment? I do. And having a little fun with the lessons, or seeing the humor in a situation, or just laughing at mistakes is an exanple of the natural flow of things in a classroom and when interacting with students. Too much of anything is not good, but lighter moments from time to time are worthwhile.
Regards, Barry
I agree! Laughter can lighten up the subject, and make the learning proccess a better experience!
Hi Rochelle:
Whoever said teaching and classwork had to be dull without levity, laughter, and some fun? The more creative we can be the more memorable students retention of information will be too.
Regards, Barry
Hi Deborah:
Nice comment to Allan - Barry
This is a big stress reliever! To laugh, could you imagine sitting at your desk for 8 hours with a sad look on your face and no laughter? Thank you I will pass.
Allan-I think that is a great idea to help students retain the information better. It is an idea I would like to incorporate into my power point presentations.
Laughter can also help students to remember important information. I have found that if they can associate information with something funny they tend to remember it.
Hi Sandra:
We could start off each day asking a different student when the last time they laughed heartedly, and what was the circumstance. I know, many times retelling is not the same as being there, but it'd be a great ice breaker and maybe provide some similar discussion that brings some levity to the classroom setting.
Regards, Barry
I had a teacher that was just like that, I enjoyed being in his class. He made learning fun.
Hi Stacy:
This is terrific. Students enjoy just about anything better when they can have some fun with it. Oftentimes, information is retained because the student associates it with the remembered "funny" thing that accompanied it.
Regards, Barry
