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2021 Collegium on College Teaching Practices

August 18, 2021

UCO Liberal Arts Building, South Wing

"How to Create a New Normal Learning Environment"

The Annual Collegium on College Teaching Practice is the kick-off event for UCO's faculty enhancement activities for the new academic year. Here you will explore learning environments, expand your professional curiosity and enhance your contribution to student success through Transformative Learning. This year's theme is "How to Create a New Normal Learning Environment" and includes morning breakout sessions (see below) and an afternoon keynote address by Dr. Mays Imad,a neuroscientist and professor of pathophysiology and biomedical ethics at Pima Community College, entitled "Harnessing the Power of Metacognition to Improve Student Learning." Faculty may attend sessions in-person or vitually.

Using Humor to Connect and Engage

Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at 11:00 AM–11:20 AM CDT
L05, https://uco.zoom.us/j/94265677130?pwd=VFVHRTFpNlVQTCtRTFlQZjJQVE1iZz09
Session Description

In the classroom, we often struggle to engage students during a lecture. Humor has been shown to have many benefits for student learning outcomes (Banas et al., 2011; Garner, 2006; Huss & Estep, 2016; Pollio, 2002). This presentation will discuss three easy strategies for using humor to connect with students, which may increase student learning, interest, and attendance. These strategies will discuss using humor in storytelling, visuals, and hands-on practice; however, humor must be used with sensitivity and care.

Banas, J.A., Dunbar, N., Rodriguez, D., and Liu, S. (2011). A review of humor in education settings: Four decades of research. Communication Education, 60(1), 115-144.

Garner, R.L. (2006). Humor in pedagogy: How ha-ha can lead to aha! College Teaching, 54(1), 177-180). Mahwah, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum. 

Huss, J. & Eastep, S. (2016). The attitudes of university faculty toward humor as a pedagogical tool: Can we take a joke? Journal of Inquiry & Action in Education, 8(1), 39-65.

Pollio, H. (2002). Humor and college teaching. In S.F. Davis, & W. Buskist (Eds.). The teaching of psychology: Essays in honor of Wilbert J. McKeachie and Charles L. Brewer (69-80). Mahwah, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum.

Presenters

Megan Cox, UCO Department of Mass Communication
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