Laughing leads to learning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Laughing leads to learning - Essay Example Stambor makes a strong case for humor by quoting Johns Hopkins professor Ron Berk as saying that the use of comedy in the classroom â€Å"helps relieve fear and reduce anxiety." He also quotes Berk as saying that humor can relieve both the physical and psychological stress that students may feel from the pressure of succeeding in the classroom. Stambor also says that there is â€Å"a growing body of research† that humor can result in â€Å"boosting participation and increasing students' motivation to focus on the material.† ! While comedy can be helpful, Stamor also makes the important point that there are ways of using humor which are not useful. He says that researcher Melissa Bekelja Wanzer of Canisius College believes that â€Å"instructors who use distracting or inappropriate humor can actually interfere with students' learning.† Stamor quotes another scholar, Jennings Bryant from Alabama University, who says that â€Å"humor can be overdone to the point t hat students are so busy awaiting the next gag that they miss the teacher's message.† Referemces How laughing leads to learning, By Stambor, Zac, Monitor Staff June 2006, Vol 37, No. 6. Print version: page 62