Classroom humor... is it effective?

OF COURSE, that goes without saying! I remember my university days when the most well-liked professor was the one who is most humorous. People flock to her lessons and enjoy them because she is plain hilarious - and she is a very good teacher too. Humor can make the students less sleepy and is a very powerful tool to drive important points across. Be more humorous in class and I am sure your students will love you even more. Cheers.:D

they say, your an effective teacher if at the end of the day, the student had imparted something on their mind. im not a teacher, nor a lecturer, i had a 2week training in which i have to relay to my co-workers what ive learned in the seminar. and i was amazed that the feedback on my lecture is great. you are right in saying to put some humor on your discussion in order for your participants to be attentive and to participate in your discussion. in that way, they can still remember something even after your class. but of course, its not always laughing, or always humor, some students are naughty that put jokes even on the teacher. just enough laugh to get their attention and get on the topic and then insert what is really the purpose of your lecture. happy posting.

Absolutely. When I was in college we had a lot of reportings and group presentations. My friends and I never took anything seriously. We would always present something funny, even if the topic was a serious one. Guess what? The whole class would pay attention. It was very effective. Just make sure it really is funny. If not, don't bother. It can backfire.

Yes I'd agree that classroom humour is effective. I help kids who are not in the conventional UK education system(The system has dumped them on the scrap heap).I find a little humour goes a long way, It lets me and the students relax and we look at the various comedy we like( me I like classics like Monty Python, blackadder, Black Books etc)and this just breaks up the work flow and makes for a happier environment.Keep being funny!!!

well ,i am a student now studying in a collage.as a student, i really want my teacher can insert some humor in the class,because i think ,it can not only make the atmosphere more happy ,but aslo let the knowlege more effective.^^

Yeah. Classroom humor is still effective. Because i find it interesting whenever i see mystudents enjoying the topic. This is some kind of motivation to your students before starting your class session. it is really very important to start the class ready for the lesson before you start discussing it. Thnaks.

Thats the most effective for me to learn as a student.i prefers teachers who loves to make jokes while studying as not to have a dull and boring lesson.It depends too on certain subjects..if there a need to be serious..it should be serious..if not,the situation must be happy go lucky always..i enjoyed that!For me i am not be able to be a teacher;trainer ..or etc myself because i not a joke maker..hahah!Not really anyway for teacher to be humorous but at times,students need some laughing theraphy..eheh! =)

When I used to help with training new employees I would definitely add some humor. It is a good tool to ease the tension with people while talking to them and making them feel more comfortable during the time of learning I think! It does tend to liven the discussion and the learning environment when you have a smile on your face.

Sometimes humor is useful in driving home a point, and sometimes it just happens spontaneously, as we are human here, sort of anyway, but studies have shown than the same subject matter taught humorously is not as well remembered by students as when it is taught seriously, so it is important after a moment of mirth, to give a little time for students to put their serious "hats" back on before diving back into the course content. Some good teachers are popular, but teaching is not a popularity contest, and just because someone is popular that doesn't necessarily make that one a good teacher. In an advanced curriculum, there really isn't much time to waste on belly laughs although I agree that it is important to cut the tension once in a while.

Ok bong, here a couple of cuties for Kids. Why did the chicken cross the road and then come right back? Because she was a double-crosser! What is it that can go, Up the chimney Down, and Down the chimney Down, but can't go Up the chimney Up, or Down the chimney Up? Its an umbrella.

I am just part of the training team, anyways, I do have public speaking stints with what I am doing. And yes, I tried to add humor in the lecture process. Sometimes, since, I myself get easily bore with lectures (as a participant), I try also to make the discussion as interactive as possible or see to it at least there’s a group dynamic in the process. Sometimes, workshops or group works enhance their participation and learning process. I try to relate the discussion to their realities. Oh well, sometimes, the humor does depend on the kinds of students/ participants you have. :P Also, since, most of the people I encounter are way older than me, I put in mind that adults have only an 8-minute attention span, more than 8 minutes these adults tend to be restless in their seats or say bore.

I know that the lectures I've been where the teacher is engaging, not just teaching, are the ones I have really enjoyed and learnt more from. Studies show that teachers who are personable with their students and more conversational in the delivery of lessons are the ones who keep the interest of students, and get higher marks from their students.

i like classroom humor and i can say i am a good humo-maker. if you don't mind, just see my post, there are many humours stories!

now,I am a students ,but i will be a teacher next year.Having be a students so many years, i think if there is no humor in the class,it will be difficult for us to consentrate the whole class

I'm not a teacher, but I think humour's definitely good for a lecture. A good student or even an average one will never want to miss a good lecture even without humour in it, but with some jokes (even if they're bad ones), it's true you keep the students awake.

Well, speaking from the view of a former student and employee who had to sit through lectures I agree that humor can add a little somthing. I can recall that up until 7th grade I not only hated math, science, and history; but I was TERRIBLE AT IT. Well sporatically from 7th until 12th grade I would get a teacher who threw some humor in, made the class somewhat fun. I still hated the subjects, but my grades improved. And I believe this is because how the lecture was given. Also, for five years I worked direct care with the MR/DD and we would have monthly inservice meetings. There were some topics of interest so of course I was tuned in. However there were some that I couldn't care less about, and felt they had nothing to do with my job. But I tell you what, the speakers who had a boring topic and used humor or interaction with the audience I still remember to this day. And that was 6 years ago. I not only remember the speaker, but I remember different things that was talked about. And the same goes for those math, science, and history teachers. I still remember them. And I went to 3 different high schools, in two differnt states. So, I hope that my little feedback was of some help.

Hello bong_domingo, It is very very essential to include humor while teaching, then the class will be more attentive to what you are teaching.But the humor should co-relate with the subject you are teaching. By this way not only the students gets their lesson learn easily, they also respect us. I call this as an art in teaching. I have learned this art about 30 years ago when I was in training in a Pharmaceutical Industry where my trainee manager used humor while teaching. Because of the humor, that involves in teaching made me learn a lot on the subjects and inturn, after 10 years I became a Trainee Manager and stayed in the post till I left. I used the same tactics while I was teaching to a well educated youngsters, who were taking training from me in the Pharmaceutical Industry. For every line I teach, I used to link it to day to day happenings with humor and that not only kept me in the post for long years, it also brought me a name "an excellent Trainee Manager", from those students. All of them are working in top posts and still telling to others that I was the best trainee manager they have come across in their profession. What else is needed more than this.My thanks to my trainee manager. I thank you for putting this beautiful question for discussion, which enabled me to express what I had in mind all these days "thanks to all who took me as a best trainee manager". Thanks once again.

I often insert jokes. Sometimes, I don't intend to do it. It just comes out =) It's important to insert jokes (but not too much) to catch attention and develop rapport between the students. I believe that a learning environment that is built with comfort is a good learning environment. Students are more at ease. I hate straight and boring lectures. It make me sleep. Even "ice breaker" makes it more boring sometimes. :D

I am not a teacher and i am not a lecturer. I sometimes join in seminars and usually there is a reporting system. Before i start to talk i first give some deep breath and a little actions that i feel putuk-putuk infront. Mangatawa na sila tanan. HEHEHHE. That i make the audience alive. hehehe. One seminar i attended, his powerpoint presentations is full of cartoons basta mga kalataw an ba gyud kaayo. And then the way he talks dili maka2log. (But all pictures is related to what he is saying and topics). :)

Humor,of course, is needed in class.But too much,is not good.