Using Humor to Maximize Learning

Mary Kay Morrison www.questforhumor.com

[email protected]

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Purpose of Course

There are several identified research-based benefits for educators who incorporate humor into their school environment. An culture energized with positive emotionality will provide an optimal learning environment for staff and students. Humor fosters trust, builds relationships, relieves stress and contributes to long term memory.  This session includes information on; the benefits of humor the development of our sense of humor humor styles inventory the humor connections that provide powerful ways to communicate with both students and colleagues the Hook, Line and Sinker Method of Using Humor to maximize learning humor and school culture 2

Course Outcomes

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Participants will know and understand the

Benefits of Humor

Contributes to mind/body balance Maximizes brain power Enhances creativity Facilitates communication Supports the change process Creates an optimal learning environment Participants will learn the Hook Line and Sinker Method of using humor to maximize learning. Participants will complete a Humor Styles Inventory Participants will focus on improving school culture by reviewing the research on the positive emotions and the impact of stress. Participants can read the book, Using Humor to Maximize Learning by Mary Kay Morrison as a resource for writing and implementing their humor practice goals. 3

Getting to Know You!

   Housekeeping Honor other ideas.

Review the 10 minute rule Observe the process Music will be transition cue Take breaks as needed.

Relax, learn and enjoy.

Partner links Name, position Define humor Table groups Table roles/table name 4

Learning changes the brain!

We need to understand the brain because that is what we work with!

•The brain rewires itself with each new stimulation, experience and behavior.

IT MAKES NEW CONNECTIONS!

•Learning is the act of making (and strengthening) connections between thousands of neurons (neural circuits or networks.) •Memory is the ability to reconstruct or reactivate the previously made connections

Neurons that fire together, wire together.

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Key Research Findings

 The brain changes as a result of  A critical role in brain growth is the  People learn  Everyone can learn more  Age does not stop  The brain is  The best way to learn something is to 6

– 14% what we hear – 22% what we see – 30% demonstrations – 42% sensory redundancy – 72% movies of mind – 88% performance of life challenge – 92% what we teach others We often focus only on the auditory process in education

Percentages may change depending on different research studies

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Information Explosion Contributes to our Knowledge of Humor Three forms of Biological Inquiry

(Sylwester 2000) Genetics (cells) Imaging Technology (brains) Evolutionary Psychology (Human Societies) Handout A2

The brain needs movement to facilitate the flow of energy and information.

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Music Magic Humor Ball Toss Dance Yoga Every 10 minutes Games Pair Share Group work Chants Cheers Mind Maps Hi-Five 9

A Closer Look at Humor

Handout A3

What is Therapeutic Humor?

Therapeutic humor is any intervention that promotes health and wellness by stimulating a playful discovery, expression, or appreciation of the absurdity or incongruity of life’s situations.

AATH Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor

What is Humergy?

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Humergy describes the energy that radiates the optimistic joy of our inner spirit, reflects our unique personality, and nourishes a healthy mind/body balance.”

Mary Kay Morrison

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Universal Humergy Elements

    Trust: Fun and laughter are indicators of a high level of trust within a healthy organization or relationship.

Hope: Humor is the sign of optimism within individuals and organizations. Humor expresses the hope that we can survive tragedy, difficulty and change and not only survive but thrive.

Optimism: Depression and pessimism are often linked. The energy of humor is a reflection of an optimistic spirit.

Love: When looking for a mate, the number one characteristic mentioned as necessary is a sense of humor. Humor is the universal bond for building relationships and reflects our love for others.

Handout A 6 11

  

New Finding!

Research Causes Cancer in Rats

Learning must go through our emotional filter. Our memories are composed of experiences that are linked to emotions. Thus emotional memory is a critical component for the learning process. These emotions are either positively or negatively linked. Adrenalin not only activates the stress response, it also has the potential to put information into the long term memory.

Anything you do which engages student’s emotional/motivational stronger memories.

Text Chpt. 3 12

Fear

  Fear is our most powerful emotion. It has the primary purpose of protecting us from harm. We are programmed to pay attention to our fears because this emotion alerts us if our safety is threatened. Fear has been the focus of considerable cognitive research. Imagining technology makes it relatively easy to locate fear in the amygdala and hippocampus regions of the brain. Fear signals DANGER. Fear immediately alerts us to pay attention. Text Chpt. 3 13

Stress and Learning

   Excess Fear causes stress. There is mounting scientific evidence learning. Yet, according to many teachers, we are exposing our children to stress at escalating rates. There has been increased high stakes testing in our schools. Many districts have implemented paper and pencil testing for students as young as 4 and 5 years old. There has been an increasing pressure to focus on what is tested (reading and math) at the expense of the arts, physical education and play. Grades are considered extremely important and actually drive most students learning instead of the desire to learn. A look at some of the research heightens our awareness of the Text Chpt. 3 14

Stress Research

  2005) Excess fear might lead to actual memory loss. Robert Sapolsky conducted a  but no firm conclusions can be made as of yet. stressful time. There may also be decreased prefrontal cortex activity causing Text Chpt. 3 15

I THINK IT’S STRESS

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Our Goal = Find Balance

Adapted from Joy of Stress

Joy of Stress

Black Hole Depression Boredom Too Little Stress 17

Negative Belief Systems

Can lead to Can lead to 18

Belief Systems Can Be “Hard Wired”

 A teacher’s instruction reflects their system of culture. These beliefs can become hard wired responses in the brain. These repetitive responses might be examples of current challenges to positive I teach it, it is up to the students to learn it!

The kids we are getting today are so different! How can we be all things to all kids?

The parents are the problem Everything keeps changing!

I have no time for anything new!

I hate that touch-feely stuff!

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Implications for student learning

Emotion Drives Attention and Learning!

What kind of emotions have we used in schools in the past? How has this impacted student learning?

Fear?

Anger?

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What are the benefits of humor?

 Jigsaw Activity  Read your section of the book/handout; Using

Humor to Maximize Learning

 Identify 3 key points that you want to share.

 Teach these 3 points to the others in your group.

Handout A 4 21

Understanding Humor through A Framework for Learning Content Process Context

Copyright Humor Quest 22

1.

Contributes to Mind/Body Balance 2. Maximizes Brain Capacity 3. Enhances Creativity 4. Facilitates Communication 5. Supports the Change Process 6. Creates Nurturing Environment for Learning 23

Contributes to Mind/Body Balance

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Humor relieves stress and helps us cope;

Excess fear and anxiety can cause severe stress.

This stress can lead to health problems.

Humor can relieve stress and promote healing.

Laughter is linked to healing

Humor is being used in Therapy (Association of Applied and Therapeutic Humor) Laughter releases endorphins in subjects watching comedy (Loma Linda University study-Dr. Lee Berk, California) Vigorous laughter is stimulating, increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and circulation; circulating immune substance effectiveness, pulmonary ventilation, and alertness; and exercising the skeletal muscles. Following laughter there is a brief period during which blood pressure drops and heart rate, respiratory rate, and muscle activity decrease, resulting in relaxation (Fry, 1994). 24

Research on Positive Psychology

    process that requires an environment of trust. Research generated from the National Association of Mental Health on Positive Emotionality identified the characteristics of these individuals as those who are alert, enthusiastic, and energetic. Imaging technology on their brains reveal the opposite patterns from those of people who are depressed. Humor activates the frontal lobes of the brain and requires several cognitive processes; working Fun and play can minimize the stressful conditions prevalent in most systems. 25

Maximizes Brain Capacity

   HOOK HUMOR GETS ATTENTION Humor alerts the limbic system, the attentional center of the brain.

Information is more likely to be remembered if it has meaning and contains an emotional “hook”. LINE HUMOR STRATEGIES PROMOTE RETENTION Humor requires processing of language discrepancies in order to “get the joke” Humor increases memory retrieval. Advanced language skills are at the core of humor development. One quality in identifying gifted students is recognizing their sense of humor. SINKER HUMOR CONTRIBUTES TO FEEDBACK AND ASSESSMENT Assessment is a celebration of learning. Use fun to promote this learning Include “puns, jokes, riddles” in written assessments Invite students to contribute test questions in the form of a riddle, joke or pun 26

Enhances Creativity

 The same qualities that are necessary for creative thinking are found in the expression of humor: Imagination: Seeing the world a little differently is the core of humor Risk-taking: The ability to express “wild” thoughts and ideas Divergent thinking: making unusual connections and linking different elements emerge with both humor and creativity 27

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Facilitates Communication

Humor provides insights into your own behavior and that of others. Humor is part of emotional intelligence. It is the ability to recognize our own emotions and the emotions of others and to respond with positive energy-humergy!

 Humor: Mirrors confidence and the ability to laugh at yourself.

Mirrors anger, fear and other emotions.

Mirrors communication skills and risk taking ability.

Mirrors temperament and mood.

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A Humor Communication Skill:

Self Deprecating Humor The ability to laugh at oneself comes from an inner confidence and the skill to encourage others to laugh at you as well. It sends the message that you are human and make mistakes and allows others the freedom to do the same.

Some examples: – Appearance – Aging process – Mistakes made If we are what we eat, I am cheap, fast and easy!

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Supports the Change Process

   Change is difficult.

When we can find the humor in a difficult situation we can begin to cope with the change. Group humor can emerge from coping with the change. It is often negative in nature.

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Creates Nurturing Environment for Learning

 Supports classroom management Improves emotional state of child Reduces anxiety and depression Improves communication with teacher  Creates safe environment for learning  Increases engagement, enthusiasm and energy Handouts A 6 & 8 31

Moving from a Fear Based System to a Culture of Humergy

 Find your partner.

 Review the Worksheets for Indicators of Classroom Humergy and for Cultural Analysis  Discuss the emotional and cultural implications of emotions in your district and classrooms.

Handouts A 6 & 8 32

Group Activity

Expands comprehension Increases Opportunity for Retention Captures and Retains Student Attention Builds Relationships with Students and Colleagues Sense of Humor Supports Classroom Management Helps Learners Cope; Reduces Stress Creates a Nurturing Environment for Learning Enhances the Joy-Flow Experience    Review the benefits of humor with your partner Discuss how humor usage can benefit teaching. Share how you use humor in your current role in education?

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Humor Development

Growing Up Funny

 Peek a Boo- Birth to Two  Knock-Knock- 2 years to School Age  Riddle De Dee- Early Elementary Years  Punny Funny- Later Elementary through Teen Years  Fun Finders- Peak Experience/Utopia 34

Peek a Boo- Birth to Two

  The game of Peek-a-Boo assures the child that what disappears will reappear. This game helps children understand that their caregiver will return. The initial fear of loss is replaced with surprised relief which eventually results in laughter. This laughter is appreciated by adults and the game is frequently repeated.

Adults engage infants in numerous games which provide the basic skills for the “reading” emotions. Silly noises, hiding objects, repetition of nonsense sounds and rough housing all elicit laughter while forming the trusted relationships necessary for humor development. These fun games also contribute to the foundation of a strong attachment between parent and child. 35

Knock-Knock- 2 years to School Age

 Pretend behaviors, exaggeration of reality and imagination emerge in emerges the capacity for children to appreciate fantasy creatures and to employ their own imagination to create silly stories and drawings. Dramatic play begins with children imitating adult behavior. They use their imagination to pretend, often laughing at their own ingenuity.  Bathroom humor emerges at this stage and reflects the concerns that children have with their own bodily functions. Taboo words and laughter about body parts are common in early childhood. Jokes about elimination and sexual ideas are often silly accompanied with giggles. There are numerous creative books have been written on these topics.

 It is intriguing to note the use of humor in children’s literature. Word development. Three to five year olds begin to find humor in things that appear incongruent such as an elephant washing a car .

"Know why Miss Tomato turned red?" "Cause she saw Mr. Green Pea!"

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Riddle De Dee Early Elementary Years

  The comprehension of verbal irony seems to emerge between 5 and 6 years of age. Jokes, riddles and clowns are beginning to be appreciated by children. Practicing jokes and repeating riddles are valuable components in this stage of humor development. Teachers find they can generate excitement for reading through joke and riddle books, especially for those students who might not be too enthused about other kinds of literature. Since children are drawn to these books, many educators use them to promote vocabulary development, encourage creativity and improve reading skills.

“Children with the ability to use humor skills in social interactions were found to be chosen for social activities more often than children with less developed skills.” (McGhee 2002) 37

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Punny Funny Later Elementary through Teen Years

Children have an increased understanding of the subtle differences in magic of humor which can become a magnet that will captivate children grades 4-8. This is the period where the students will be able to detect and enjoy a language twist at the end of a story. They will also be able to understand a subtle variance in word selection and therefore, “Get the joke”.

The pun-fun stage also requires the capacity to perceive differences between feelings of joy, surprise, silliness, happiness, and sarcasm, all necessary elements for humor development. The emotional growth of the child is an important factor in appreciating and learning to use humor at this stage. The middle years initiate the emergence of puberty with jokes about sex and aggressive behavior. Adolescents experience anxiety about the changes they are experiencing physically and this sexual humor can provide relief from the stress of puberty. As with the bathroom humor of earlier ages, physical changes evoke challenges for pre-teens who resort to laughing with others as a coping device. Note: some folks never outgrow the bathroom/sexual humor stages. On an Electrician Truck; “Let us remover your shorts.” On a Plumber truck; “Don’t sleep with a drip. Call your plumber.” 38

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Fun Finders Peak Experience/Utopia

The ultimate or peak experience as identified by Maslow and described by Csikszentmihalyi as a Flow or a spiritual experience. (Csikszentmihalyi, 1997) Humergy is extraordinary optimism and a passionate energy for life combined with a gentle understanding of others. It describes the energy that radiates the optimistic joy of our inner spirit, reflects our unique personality, and nourishes a healthy mind/body balance

JoyFlow is the degree to which we have accomplished optimal

growth and self-discovery. This peak experience exemplifies the capacity to view challenges with optimistic amusement. A heightened state of positive emotionality defines the fun finders peak experience. For many Joy-Flow is a spiritual journey. Joy-Flow is evident within groups. Visualize a classroom of laughing students filled with excitement where each school day offers opportunities for brain compatible learning facilitated by passionately optimistic teachers. 39

Why Play?

As educators become more concerned with assessment and federal mandates, time for PLAY gets shifted to the bottom of the priority list. Some schools have eliminated recess and there are new schools being built without playgrounds. Play is important to intellectually enhance new learning, increase creativity, solve problems, and provide motivation for Along with getting more exercise and eating well, nearly every listing in the top ten ways to reduce stress and create a more balanced lifestyle includes making time for laughter and play. Handout A 5 40

We might as well post this sign in many of our schools!

Humans have the longest period of play of all animals.

This is in direct proportion to the level of mammal intelligence. 41

Questions

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What signs of Joy-Flow would you like to see in your school?

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What kinds of play promote energy, passion and enthusiasm among staff and students?

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How often does your school encourage play?

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Myths about Humor

There is no doubt that we have been asked to accomplish this creates has led to several belief systems that permeate our culture and inhibit humor development.

     If we have fun, work will not get done!” “If I am silly, I will not be seen as a professional.” “If we are laughing, they will not be learning.” “I don’t have time for humor.” “We cannot measure humor and the effect that it has so it is “soft data” and does not have a place in the serious world” 43

Humor is Risky!

A lot of folks practice safe humor. They only feel safe laughing in the following situations: With children With animals With drugs, alcohol With strangers Making fun of someone else 44

Humorphobia: The Fear of Fun, Laughter and Humor

Fear of Loss of Work Time Fear of Punishment Fear of Looking Silly

Humorphobia

Fear of Loss of Control Fear of Being Made Fun of Fear of Inadequacy 45

Humordoomers; people who use negative humor to control and manipulate others

Handout A 7 Humorphobia breeds humordoomers, skilled crafters who use subtle techniques to suppress humor in the workplace. Humordoomers are usually unhappy individuals stressed by the duel demands of accountability and limited time constraints.

The humordoomer is a pessimistic leach, who can suck the humergy right out of you. Grown in a petrie dish of fear and anger, they are threatened by joyful energy and enthusiasm.

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Inappropriate Humor

When the impact is hurtful, it is usually inappropriate, even if the intent is not so.

Ridicule Sarcasm Ethnic Humor Gender Humor .

“I hate being laughed at!” 47

The Trust Factor: A Critical Component in creating an environment

An indicator of trust in an organization is the ability to have fun FunWorks by Leslie Yerkes.

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Humor Builds Trust Cultivate it in the Workplace Humergy=Trust

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Supports enhanced communication skills/builds relationships

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Changes behavior of individuals and groups

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Relieves stress and promotes healing

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Increases productivity

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Reflects an environment of trust, hope, optimism and love.

Handout A 8 49

  

Educator’s Tackle Box Hook, Line and Sinker

The Hook: Capture and Retain Student

Attention:

The Line: Expand Student Comprehension;

The Sinker: Increase the Opportunity

For Memory Retention

The purposeful use of humor will maximize memory and facilitate learning.

Mary Kay Morrison 2008 50

Your Tackle Box Hook, Line Sinker 51

Humor Styles Inventory

 Find your Partner (s) Discuss your options and ideas Review the jokes  Complete the Humor Styles Inventory Use that discussion and the humor styles inventory as a basis for your initial assessment of your humor style.

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Humor Practice is Ongoing

Set New Workout Goals Write Goals Celebrate Success Set a Time Line Identify Support System 53

What good is gum without a chance to chew it?

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Review Handouts

Review and Reflection

Captures and Retains Student Attention Expands Capacity for Learning Builds Relationships Increases Opportunity for Retention Reduces Stress Sense of Humor Creates a Nurturing Environment for Learning Supports Classroom Management Enhances the Joy Flow Experience 55

Grow Your Humor Practice!

     Review materials Write down your goals for incorporating humor practice into your life.

Examples: laugh more often each day, try a new form of play, use hook, line and sinker, tell more funny stories, find a supportive colleague.

Set a time line.

Example: by the end of the month I will have two coaches in place and will have tried a new form of play each week.

Identify your support system Celebrate your success; PARTY 56

Summary

    Humor defined; humergy Humor is developmental Humor benefits include:

Contributes to Mind/Body Balance Maximizes Brain Power Enhances Creativity Facilitates Communication Supports the Change process Creates an Optimal Environment for Learning

Humordoomers and Humorphobia challenge humergy Review the description of Humordoomer and Humorphobia Understand differences between Intent and Impact of humor Understanding your humor style contributes to increasing your humor capacity 57

READTEXT

Using Humor To Maximize Learning

by Mary Kay Morrison

Chapters

•The Tonic for Tired Educators •Developing your Humor Being; A Nut is Born •Mouse Droppings :Examining Brain Research and Humor •Hurtful Humor; NO Laughing Matter •The Humor Workout; Pumping Up with Practice •It’s a Circus Out There •Survival Humor for Stressed Leaders

Using Humor to Maximize Learning Mary Kay Morrison Rowman and Littlefield Education. Blue Ridge Summit, PA. Dec. 2007 http://www.rowmaneducation.com

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Humor Resources

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   

www.questforhumor.com

Reference Books

The Psychology of Humor, Rod A. Martin 2007 Why Zebra’s Don’t Get Ulcers, Robert Sapolsky 1998 FunWorks, Leslie Yerkes, 2001, A Biological Brain in a Cultural Classroom, Robert Sylwester, 2003 Additional resource;

Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor (AATH) http://aath.org/

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Final Thoughts

“Work like you don’t need the money.

Love like you’ve never been hurt.

Dance like there’s no one looking.

Happiness is a journey not a destination.” 60