Laughter may be the best medicine, but how is it as a teacher?

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I was browsing through my interminable list of webcomics this morning, and I caught one that - amid the humor and frivolity - had a kernel of not-necessarily commonly known facts. As I was smirking at the punchline, I began to think about deeper aspects of this comic.

And I began to wonder if humour could be used to aid in memory - if telling jokes might get one's students to remember details and facts better than just lecturing them?

Whaddy'all tink 'bout dat den?

(Oh, and the comic in question is here)

 

IMO this is clearly true. The professors that made the greatest impact and taught me the most were the ones that were entertaining. I am far more likely to remember an interesting story than a series of facts.

 

Maybe this is why conservatives hate the Clintons so much...

Sorry - silver platter. Couldn't resist.

On topic: I agree.

 

*pulls out ruler and raps DR's knuckles with it*

You will be-HAVE in my class!!!!

*thinks about it for a moment*

Acutally, meh - I'm not gonna stifle the potential for discussion and debate that may educate us all about something... *throws ruler away*

But yeah - doing something novel tends to help the mind retain the information conveyed with it, doesn't it?

How many people remember the 'atom lesson' from W.K.R.P.?

How many people have little songs to remember complicated series of historical events, lists of psychological disorders, or complex biological processes? (biology students always had the best 'study songs' in my experience )

 

I wouldn't say you lurned anything through "Laughter" but the more you injoy something the more you will want to lurn about it. All the laughter in the world wouldn't make me want to lurn about sport for example.

 

If students are laughing or at least amused they are more likely to pay attention. Sadly, though, too much of that sort of thing can make kids with no self discipline at all "if it's not fun, I'm NOT going to pay attention!" That inhibits learning, as not everything can be fun and games all the time. There must be balance and proportion.

I had a very funny high school social studies teacher. There were lots of laughs in his class. But there were none during the 3 days we studied the Holocaust. We learned, though, let me tell you. I've modelled my classroom management style after this man -- he knew when humor would help us learn, but there were also times he expected serious behaviour.

 

Actually, psychology has shown that the most lasting memories are those with significant emotions attached to them, so the enjoyment of a humorous lecture on the death of Caesar (I still remember that one) is more likely to last on its own (apart from studying) than a non-humorous one.

EDIT:
... Of course, that means torture should work, too.