Humor in the Classroom
Professors are from Mars, Students
are from Snickers by Ronald A. Berk
Why Use Humor
Attention getter (“If they’re laughing,
they just might be listening.”)
Dissolves tension
Overcomes resistance
Provides needed breaks
Can help drive home a point
Example
Example
Example
Example
Example
True Story
I'm doing a tenure review in which the candidate recalls in
his statement on Teaching Philosophy how he enjoyed
tutoring a now famous NFL running back on the question
"3x+7=x-1. Solve for x." The puzzled football player asked,
"Which x should I solve for?"
Contributed by Tom Sederberg
Example
A publishable paper?!
A corresponding presentation?!