Pedagogy

Pedagogy is the art and science of education and teaching. It is a term that can also be used as a reference to certain instructional strategies or approaches. This entry discusses the research on the use of humor in teaching and its effects on students and teachers, with a focus on the most effective ways for teachers to use humor.

A number of studies have shown positive benefits in using humor as a teaching supplement or tool. The pedagogical use of humor has been shown to have both psychological and physiological effects on learners. Psychologically, humor has been shown to reduce anxiety, decrease stress, enhance self-esteem, and increase self-motivation. Each of these effects can be beneficial in the learning process by creating a more positive social and emotional environment in which defenses are lessened and students are better able to focus and attend to the information. Physiologically, laughter has been shown to improve respiration and circulation, lower pulse rate, decrease [Page 559]blood pressure, oxygenate blood, and release endorphins. Such effects can improve attention and lessen stresses that might adversely impact learning.

There is a growing body of research relating the use of humor with positive effects on teaching and learning. Student surveys reveal that effective use of humor in the classroom can increase their interest in learning and provide a means to engage in more divergent thinking. Humor was reported to make the learning experience more enjoyable and accessible. Additionally, humor in pedagogical settings has been shown to increase the retention of material presented in the classroom as compared with the presentation of the same material offered in a less engaging format. Further, studies have found that instructors who use appropriate and targeted humor in courses enjoy an increase in participant attendance.

A review of teaching evaluations showed that college students tend to strongly favor teachers who possess a good sense of humor and rate these instructors with higher evaluative scores. When asked to describe the positive attributes of good teachers, college students frequently mentioned “a sense of humor.” When students and faculty members were asked to rate teachers based on their written teaching philosophies, the teachers who were ranked the highest revealed their approach to instruction emphasized a positive sense of humor both in and outside of the classroom. Humor can serve as a bridge between educators and students by demonstrating a shared understanding.