TY - JOUR
T1 - Humorous materials to enhance active learning
AU - Miller, J. L.
AU - Wilson, K.
AU - Miller, J.
AU - Enomoto, K.
PY - 2017/6/7
Y1 - 2017/6/7
N2 - The use of humour in teaching and learning can be contentious, with some authors suggesting that the efficacy of humorous materials is mediated by the culture of the student. Nevertheless, humour represents a potential vehicle for the introduction of active learning in a classroom setting, as judicious use of humour may lead to a more relaxed learning atmosphere and greater student engagement. This article describes how humour was used to good effect in creating a suite of online materials designed to enhance the academic English skills of international students. The materials, funded through a grant from the Office for Learning and Teaching and now openly accessible on the English for Uni website, were developed using an action research process. This involved an iterative process of designing, trialling and evaluating the resources to ensure that humour was used appropriately. In the final stages, Biggs’ Structure of the Observed Learning Outcome taxonomy was also used to evaluate student learning. The results show that the materials improved students’ understanding of the topics presented on the site and that the element of humour stimulated student interest in learning.
AB - The use of humour in teaching and learning can be contentious, with some authors suggesting that the efficacy of humorous materials is mediated by the culture of the student. Nevertheless, humour represents a potential vehicle for the introduction of active learning in a classroom setting, as judicious use of humour may lead to a more relaxed learning atmosphere and greater student engagement. This article describes how humour was used to good effect in creating a suite of online materials designed to enhance the academic English skills of international students. The materials, funded through a grant from the Office for Learning and Teaching and now openly accessible on the English for Uni website, were developed using an action research process. This involved an iterative process of designing, trialling and evaluating the resources to ensure that humour was used appropriately. In the final stages, Biggs’ Structure of the Observed Learning Outcome taxonomy was also used to evaluate student learning. The results show that the materials improved students’ understanding of the topics presented on the site and that the element of humour stimulated student interest in learning.
KW - Academic English skills
KW - active learning
KW - engagement
KW - humour
KW - international students
KW - online
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84989824941&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/07294360.2016.1238883
DO - 10.1080/07294360.2016.1238883
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84989824941
SN - 0729-4360
VL - 36
SP - 791
EP - 806
JO - Higher Education Research and Development
JF - Higher Education Research and Development
IS - 4
ER -