This whole semester I kept hearing the “solution” to what seemed like every single thing that happened in the classroom, good or bad (mostly problems). Like any solution, it only works if the person knows how to use it. It seems like a simple solution, but upon further inspection, there is a bit more to it. Want to know what it is? It's like I've discovered that the meaning of life is “42” all over again!
HUMOR … that's right... humor. Sure we all have the humorous bone, but do we all have the ability to be humorous? There are so many forms - silliness, sarcasm, dark, puns, teasing, knock knock jokes, absurdity, etc. It is easy enough to say “use humor”, but it is not easy to know when and where and what type to use. For me, I can be extremely sarcastic, not in a mean way, however, people who do not know me are confused by my strange answers to their ridiculous questions. There is a place and time for dark humor and sarcasm because what if a student believes you and runs home to tell their mommy or daddy or guardian. Better be careful.
Subject puns are always fun! If you have a few, bring them out. It's fun. Plus, it can make really dry material somewhat interesting. My entire intent of this post is to bring awareness to the many forms of humor. Just like there are many forms of humor there are many types of students and if you are teasing, know what student you are teasing. Can they take it? Will they understand? Yet another case, where having a keen observation of what students understand humor and what ones don't comes in handy.
Definitely “use humor” because it makes learning and teaching enjoyable, but be careful of the who, the what, and the where.
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