How Emotions Influence Learning: Using Humor in the Classroom
by Stephanie Lynne
1. 1. HUMOR CREATES A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR LEARNING: "Classrooms with healthy climates are settings in which students feel valued, emotionally safe, and free to actively participate and experiment. They are also classes in which student learning is maximized."
2. 3. STUDENTS LEARN AND RETAIN MORE: "Several authors, for example, have found that students exposed to lectures delivered by professors who integrated humor outperformed their peers who were taught the same material without humor."
3. 2. HUMOR MAINTAINS STUDENT ATTENTION: "Research indicates that students retain approximately 70% of material presented during the first 10 minutes of a lecture class, dropping to 20% during the last 10 minutes... Assuming that professors will continue to lecture, humor can be one means by which students' attention can be maintained."
4. 4. HUMOR IS EFFECTIVE WHEN TEACHING DIFFICULT SUBJECT MATTER: "Humor can play a major role in facilitating and maintaining interest in such courses by reducing anxiety... I find that, humor lessens preconceived negative attitudes toward the course and facilitates willingness to engage in challenging material."
5. 5. POSITIVE EFFECTS ARE REFLECTED IN COURSE EVALUATIONS: "Existing research indicates that students in classes that integrate humor rate their instructor significantly higher than students who participate in classes with little or no humor."
