Serious comedy
My instructional style, many who teach with me know this, is presented with a sense of humor but at the same time, make you think? I like to engage my students and ask questions that will make them laugh first then think at the same time. Laughter produces the blood to move faster through the brain and wakes people up and I then engage them with insightful questions. I find that students are receptive to this and therefor do not find my class boring. ;-)
~Louis
Hi Joseph:
The key idea with using any kind of humor in classes is BALANCE with other things.
I agree with you that humor can be a nice way to change the energy level of the learning environment.
Regards, Barry
I find that when the class begins to fade a little bit of humor helps to wake them up, remotivate them and gets them back on track.
Hi Paul:
Great. Humor is a part of life and certainly the work setting. Someone who sets out to be a comedian has gone too far, while emotionless lectures is too far at the other extreme. As in life, classes reguire a blendng of both.
Regards, Barry
I agree with you both, a bit of humor can benefit the class as a whole. Stories that are related to the subject matter help bring it all together, especially funny tales of culinary adventure. We are only human and we do make mistakes, however, by learing from them and passing this on to the next generation in a fun manner can benefit all.
Work and school have many similarities. The biggest difference I see is in school there's hardly any down time or periods where just joking around is appropriate. So I feel like we need to be careful that we don't deviate from the course curriculum too much. I'm sure your naval experience was invaluable and prepared you well for instructing others.
Regards, Barry
Hi Peter:
Humor in appropriate doses certainly can be an effective delivery style if it's not overdone. Sometimes what the teacher thinks is funny has no relevance to the class topic, or students don't find the humor motivating. If it doesn't contribute to effective studeent learning outcomes, there's probably a bit to much "personality" and too little, serious focus and attention on the topics at hand.
Regards, Barry
Thanks Chef! I think with the Navy careers we both experienced we were able to work hard and play hard at the same time with a smile! I was fortunate enough to have worked with Master Chiefs that had great sense of humors, cracked a whip on me when needed and showed me how to work hard and be serious.
~Louis
chef eguaras: your students are amazed with the style and how it works well for the 6:00am group.
they always ask are your classes as interesting as chef eguaras? when they leave they are a happy group again and have learned again that it is a diffcult carrer path, but alittle humor goes a long way. great job chef!!!!!
chef shane
Hi Deborah:
Good, and I also agree that part of the reason students learn from humor or stories is they can relate to some aspect of the story, in essecense, something they've already learned. And if learning is the goal, how we achieve becomes less important than the outcome.
Regards, Barry
Providing a fun class does aid in student learning. I have found that the use of laughter or funny stories does help students to retain knowledge because they were engaged in the process.
Hi Louis -
Very interesting! I think students are more receptive to going to a class that is fun and full of laughter, than one is strictly lecture and doesn't allow for having fun.
Bobbi Bricker
Hi Louis:
Keeping things on the lighter side is generally a good approach. Some subjects are serious and as long as the course content stays on track, thers no reason it can't be presented with a bit of humor. But like seasoning a meal, a little bit goes a long way, and too much can spoil the whole meal. Same for too much levity.
Regards, Barry
