The Importance of Using Humor in Education
During the last few years, the use of humor in education has attracted the attention of specialists. There are several benefits, ranging from emotional aspects to the way of understanding learning itself. By using humor, we can explore new ways of teaching and learning.
It’s quite clear that a happy person is more willing to learn. Hence the importance of a sense of humor in education. This is especially necessary when imparting knowledge to children, since laughter can become an excellent strategy in learning.
Experts believe that people learn better and remember things longer when teaching is imparted with humor. This also facilitates a relationship between teacher and student, characterized by open and effective communication.
How to use humor in education?
Using humor in education doesn’t mean being particularly funny, nor does it mean using jokes to generate laughter. On the contrary, it means presenting the information to be taught in a happy and positive way.
If the students or children consider learning to be fun, then they’ll be able to memorize it better. At the same time, they’ll remember the ideas that the teacher was aiming to express.
The tools that teachers use frequently with humor in the classroom are usually:
- Personal anecdotes, stories, analogies, metaphors, among others.
- Letters, short stories, events, observations, games, and posters.
- Typical children’s language – so that everything is familiar to them and so they won’t have to put up with the formality that can so often put people off learning.
The idea is to use humor without resorting to the temptation to become a clown. The main objective is to use humor as a learning aid in order to facilitate the educational process. With a creative use of humor, the ideas will remain longer in the little ones’ minds.
Another advantage of a sense of humor in education is to provide young children with a beneficial psychological environment.
7 advantages of humor in education
Undoubtedly, humor and laughter play an important role in learning, especially in children. It also provides social, psychological and mental benefits, as it attracts and favors personal relationships and helps the recipients to retain the different concepts.
Other advantages are the following:
1. Motivates children
Motivation occurs when the barrier between the teacher and the student is eliminated. In addition, you can create a greater interest and enthusiasm in the information that is being taught.
On the other hand, it helps students not to feel too embarrassed when they make mistakes and when they ask what some people in the class may consider to be “silly” questions.
2. Reduces stress
A good sense of humor relieves physical tension and decreases fear. The result of this is a reduction in stress. Stress can easily block the ability to understand and retain information.
Also, a good sense of humor helps to channel bad experiences or conflicting situations that are happening.
3. Humor in education stimulates creativity
Acquiring knowledge in a humorous way favors the development of unique skills in each student. In addition, by encouraging lateral thinking, this can greatly enhance a student’s imagination.
“Through humor, creative solutions for different problems will last longer in the little ones’ minds.”
4. Favors problem solving
By observing the problems with humor, you can view all the information from a different point of view. This can help you to take risks and take on new challenges, as well as encourage the acceptance of errors.
5. Stimulates socialization
When the child develops in a happy, stress-free environment, then he’ll exhibit serenity, security and confidence. These qualities can give him a magnetic personality which can help him make friends with almost anyone.
6. Can help with psychological disorders
When humor is used in education, this helps to streamline and strengthen teaching and learning. This, in turn, favors a motivating and enjoyable experience that helps to create educational projects that are really meaningful.
Likewise, it also helps to solve psychological and emotional disorders, as it works as a form of group therapy. A good sense of humor really can be a very useful educational resource.
7. Provides a positive learning environment
Another of the advantages of a sense of humor in education is to provide young children with a positive learning environment. In this way, aggressive and violent attitudes are significantly reduced, and this, in turn, creates an atmosphere which favors learning.
In conclusion, a sense of humor in education is important thanks to the benefits it offers to children. Using it in a balanced way will help them have a realistic approach to life and prepare them to face future challenges.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
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