Comedy in the Classroom:

Creating a More Enjoyable and Inclusive Atmosphere through Humor

Matthew R. Turner, Ph.D.School of Communication Radford University

Scott A. Turner, Ph.D. Math and Computer

Science UNC Pembroke

Overview

•Benefits of humor in the classroom

•The dangers of humor•How to implement humor in the classroom

Benefits of Humor• Increases learning, scores, and

attendance• Decreases stress and reduces anxiety• Builds groups, communities, and

common bonds• Reduces conflict• Raises student evaluations and peer

evaluations• Makes our job more fun

Research on Humor• “We concluded that humor not only increases interest

but also promotes learning.” (Narula, et al 22)• “Humorous material tends to be recalled at higher

rates than non-humorous material.” (Carlson 21)• “This is because humor acts as a tonic in reducing

anxiety and resolving conflict.” (Lin, Yeh, and Lo 365)• “Because humor can evoke a positive emotional

response, humorous materials could receive not only verbal elaboration but also some appraisal processing, which could boost subsequent memory.” (Takahashi and Inoue 81)

Group Building with Humor

•Smoothes interactions•Creates shared identity•Separates the group by defining

boundaries•Classroom corrective and social

control

Group Building• “The joking culture of small groups influences group

processes by smoothing group interaction, forming a collective identity, separating the group from others, and securing appropriate behavior.” (Rothwell, et al 338)

• “Every interacting social group develops, over time, a joking culture: a set of humorous references that are known to members of the group to which members can refer and that serve as the basis of further interaction.” (Fine and De Soucey 1)

• “In this way humor becomes a means of attenuated or covert criticism, a flexible device for reconciling criticism with solidarity.” (Archakis and Tsakona 60)

DiscussionIn groups of 4-6 people, discuss

• When is humor appropriate in the classroom?

• When is humor inappropriate in the classroom?

• What specific types of humor may be inappropriate?

Appropriate?

I can easily zip and unzip folders and files

1. Yes2. Generally3. Yes, no wait, no4. No, no wait, still no5. Pervert

Appropriate?Language or material that describes

sexual or excretory organs or activities, but that has some first amendment protection is

A. ProfanityB. IndecencyC. ObscenityD. Strangely exhilarating

Appropriate?To understand the meaning of Hula

Dance, one should look atA. The dancer’s lipsB. The dancer’s hipsC. The dancer’s handsD. The dancer’s cultural backgroundE. Get your mind out of the gutter

Hilarious?According to lecture, the artist Joseph Beuys

lived in a room with what creature for three days to show how America had become detached from its heritage and native culture?

A. A coyoteB. A bobcatC. An eagleD. His mother-in-law

Dangers of humor• Humor is personal, subjective, and contextual so

the effects can be unpredictable• Avoid inappropriate humor• Avoid hostile humor • Do not allow humor to stifle communication or

exclude groups• Avoid using a scapegoat• Watch out for cultural/linguistic

misunderstandings

Inappropriate humor

• Ethnicity• Family background• Personal appearance• Sexually suggestive topics• Sarcasm????

Avoid humor dealing with

Discussion

•Discuss and explain to your group a good joke in your discipline.• (Pick one joke to tell the whole

group.)•What can you do/What have you

done to add humor into the classroom?

Humor in First Day Introduction

• A little bit about me• Scott Turner• Computer Scientist

• Programmer for 12+ years• Interested in Human-Computer Interactions, CS Education

• Weird sense of humor• Recognition

• Faces • Names• Faces with Names

Introducing a Concept

Munroe, Randall. (October 21, 2011). Prairie. In xkcd. Retrieved February 7, 2012, from http://xkcd.com/967/.

Humor in a testThe darkened room where artists would

project an image of the outside on a canvas was called

A. Camera LucidaB. Camera Obscura C. Camera CalamariD. Camera Diaz

Confusing Humor

Choose the antonym: AbhorA. KetchupB. MustardC. MayonnaiseD. Relish

Distracting humorThe architect of the Paris Opera House

wasA. Maurice ChevalierB. Marcel MarceauC. Charles GarnierD. Jean Baptiste Poquoin

How to use Humor• Use humor appropriately• Use humor that reflects your personality• Let students know that you use humor• Make sure it does not interfere with

learning objectives• Use positive and constructive humor• Use humor just to amuse yourself

Strategies for implementing humor

• Humorous material on syllabi

• Humorous warnings on handouts

• Opening jokes• Skits/Dramatizations• Ad-lib humor

• Attention getters• Humorous examples• Humorous material

on exams• Video clips• Audio clips• Use of cartoons

Summary• Benefits of humor in the classroom

• Improve student performance• Group building

• The dangers of humor• Inappropriate humor• Distracting humor

• How to implement humor in the classroom• Create a safe humorous atmosphere• Find humor that suits you and your classroom

Implementing these strategies may improve the classroom experience but. . . .

Do not expect Miracles