Can Laughter Lead to Learning?: Humor as a Pedagogical Tool

Abstract

The word humor can be defined as something which is perceived to be funny, comical, or amusing. However, in the case of humor perception plays a key role. This is mainly because what is regarded as humorous by one person may not be funny to another person. Hence, humor like beauty lies in the eyes (ears) of the beholder. The potential of humor as a pedagogical tool is not a new concept in education. Teachers around the world have a mixed attitude towards the use of humor in the classroom as a pedagogical tool. Thus, in this study we sought to investigate the perceptions of students towards the use of humor as a teaching tool at higher education institutions in Bangladesh. For this purpose, we have performed both quantitative and qualitative analysis. In the quantitative part of the study, we collected data from 300 students and performed a binary logistic regression. On the other hand, for the qualitative analysis we have undertaken interviews of 30 selected students at a higher academic institution in Bangladesh. Overall, the results of this study indicate that most of the students considered humor as a positive and beneficial teaching tool in the classroom.