Learning with Laughter
I have learned the most from teachers who went off-topic a little and off the book, using funny stories that illustrated the points they were making. I think you can still maintain your profesional image while being humorous, and people will remember more of your presentation that way too.
Hi Faye,
I agree! What a great attitude to have with your students. This type of attitude is also contagious. Happiness and excitement rub off on your students.
Patricia
Absolutely learn with laughter. When I had my first child I was given a book by Dr. Spock (no relation to Leonard nemoy) to read about baby-care.
The one important lesson I learned and used with great success was that no matter how tired or grumpy I felt, whenever I entered mty babie's room I entered with a smile. In turn my first child and later my second child responded to my smile and were easy to handle in the mornings or mid nights because they saw me happy.
I do the same with my students in classs. NO MATTER WHAT, I enter with a smile on my face and that is what they see when they come in. It seems to start things off on the right foot.
Hi Faye,
Laughter is good for everyone! All work and no play makes Johnny a dull boy.
Patricia
Absolutely. To this day, I still remember much of what I learned in first year chemistry in college because every so often our instructor would give us a bit of trivia not really connected with the lesson but that was fun to hear and learn. His first trivia: "the mating habits of porpoises". We were all new freshman and trying to take notes and understand what info was coming our way and he saw that we were somewhat stressing as a class and just casually went into the mating habits of porpoises that had us all laughing. Tension was broken and the class resumed.
Hi Stephen,
That's right, nobody wants to have a dull and borain instructor. Do whatever it takes to add flavor to the course.
Patricia
I agree 100%. i have co taught with instructors that were as boring as dry toast. It was incredibly hard for me to stay focused and I could tell by the students faces how painful it was. An instructor must bring life to his teaching style. Make it fun, make it interesting, make it enjoyable, and most of all make it memorable.
Hi Araceli,
I agree. They remember stories well also.
Patricia
I have found that students find it easier to remember something that made them laugh a little or a joke used.
Hi Teresa,
I like this idea. Very creative. We must do whatever it takes to keep students attentive.
Patricia
I try to find comics or video shorts that relate to my topic and use them when the class starts to daydream.
I agree with the statement that everyone feels more comfortable when a bit of laughter is involved in the classroom. I tend to use laughter in my classes and I believe this helps the students remember the material and feel open to share in discussion. I try not to use laughter all the time, but that most times that is my personality peering through during instruction. All in all, I remain professional.
Hi Denise,
Laughter is good for everyone! It is healthy and a good stress reducer.
Patricia
Funny mnemonics are some of the best memory aids in my experience. Also, laughter helps those students who get into the 'trying-so-hard-they-get-in-their-own-way-of-learning' mode by helping them relax -- everyone learns better when they are not overly stressing on the material.
Hi Jill,
I believe in all work and no play makes Johnny a dull boy. We have fun in my classes, yet we get our work done.
Patricia
Hi Jamie,
Whatever it takes for our students to retain the information, we should be thrilled to utilize these tools.
Patricia
I ulilize this tool, as well. I think the students remember the content more when there is an actual real-life illustration they can relate to.
Hi Patricia,
Laughter really is needed in the classroom because 99% of the time we are very serious as instructors. A nice laugh is refreshing.
Patricia
I totally agree. Humor definitely works in the classroom. It breaks up the normal routine of the classroom and it gets students to engage in an open discussion related to the topic at hand.
I try not to be too serious. I express the need to love what you do and have FUN. The students seem to open up a bit. This shows the side of everyone is human. This has come in handy when I need to address a student one on one or ask for volunteers.
