I have found this form of "joking" works very well. When I evaluate the students on their externships, many of my student externs will say to me "I remember your stories and the events are so true!" They will go on to say "I really am feeling like a real dental assistant like you."
I am happy a funny experience about me is helping them during externship.
Michael and Gary,
I feel joking at the beginning portrays a lack of confidence and your students can see right through you even if you are nervous, they can sense that as well.
I find ice breaker activities is a much better and more constructive use of time. I do tell lots of stories that are related to the subjects I teach and some of them show how I have learned from my actions or what I observed others learning from their actions and sometimes they can be humorous.
We are all human and that is why I never tell a student they are incorrect, I always say close and then find someone else who might have the correct answer. If I don't have the answer I straight out state I don't know the answer and I will find out the answer for them or I direct them or get them in contact with someone who can answer the question because many times they are school related not course related.
Carolyn
Hi Michael,
It is ok to tell jokes but what I have found to be even more effective in getting the students settled in and listening is to share some humorous examples of from your career past. The reason I say this is that I can't tell a joke at all but I can tell stories. So I have a number of stories I share with the students that lets them laugh while seeing how the career field operates. We all make mistakes or have humorous things happen to us so why not turn them into some laughs.
Gary
