**FART**
“Humor and Creativity are intimately related – There is a connection between HA HA and AHA! – Joel Goodman (educator)
The mental processing of humor involves your noggin, especially the right hemisphere (Svebak, 1982), and is, believe it or not, similar to the process of problem solving and creativity.
“I think the next best thing to solving a problem is finding some humor in it.”
~Frank A Clark
Abundance - Get off your Assets and dance
Affirmation: Everything I eat turns to money and my drawers are full of cash!
The mental processing of humor involves your noggin, especially the right hemisphere (Svebak, 1982), and is, believe it or not, similar to the process of problem solving and creativity.
“I think the next best thing to solving a problem is finding some humor in it.”
~Frank A Clark
Abundance - Get off your Assets and dance
Affirmation: Everything I eat turns to money and my drawers are full of cash!
MY ORIGIN STORY, PART DEUX
Remember in the preface when I explained the true genesis of this book – getting that treasure trove of jokes from my pal Victor at the Song of the Morning spiritual retreat center? Well, there’s another key element to my origin story, this one on the teaching side, and this one is (coincidentally or not) brought to you by the letter “O” (aren’t you glad “HUMOR” only has five letters?).
People may wonder why a non superhero needs to have an origin story. I didn’t fly here as an infant from Krypton or get bitten by a radioactive arachnid, but isn’t there something heroic (or at least superhuman) about making a boring subject like physics amusing and fun? And making the teaching of it compelling? To understand why I’m crazy enough to write a book like this, you need to know all that went into my decision to actually write a whole Master’s Thesis on “Exploring The Use of Humor In Enhancing Physics Education and Assessment.” That was the title! If you don’t believe me, later in this chapter I have a photo of the cover.
I’m not sure if there was a true “Eureka” moment – a la Doc Brown in “Back to the Future” falling off a toilet and waking up visualizing the “flux capacitor” – but there sure was a lot of passion. I still have it now. And there are some key moments and great mentors I will share with you. You still may think I’m crazy, but at least you’ll know…why I’ve always been!
I hope you enjoy the story. So let’s begin…
People may wonder why a non superhero needs to have an origin story. I didn’t fly here as an infant from Krypton or get bitten by a radioactive arachnid, but isn’t there something heroic (or at least superhuman) about making a boring subject like physics amusing and fun? And making the teaching of it compelling? To understand why I’m crazy enough to write a book like this, you need to know all that went into my decision to actually write a whole Master’s Thesis on “Exploring The Use of Humor In Enhancing Physics Education and Assessment.” That was the title! If you don’t believe me, later in this chapter I have a photo of the cover.
I’m not sure if there was a true “Eureka” moment – a la Doc Brown in “Back to the Future” falling off a toilet and waking up visualizing the “flux capacitor” – but there sure was a lot of passion. I still have it now. And there are some key moments and great mentors I will share with you. You still may think I’m crazy, but at least you’ll know…why I’ve always been!
I hope you enjoy the story. So let’s begin…
Make Your Vocation a Vacation. TGIM (Thank God it's Monday).
It was a cool and rainy day during a Michigan summer and I was on break from Graduate school. I only took 1 class the first couple semesters and really did not yet have much interaction with the Graduate department at IUP. I needed to come up with a Masters Thesis idea that would be acceptable with the Graduate advisors. Because I was getting an M.A., my focus was on Teaching physics so I was thinking along the lines of a thesis that would make physics more interesting and easier to understand. I was really inspired by Paul Hewitt and his sheer passion for teaching physics. He made physics interesting, fun and his teaching style made even difficult ideas easy to understand. He used a Conceptual approach which requires no more than algebra, but in one Semester using his book, I feel I "Learned" just as much as 4 years at Georgia Tech. When I say learned, I don't mean the ability to solve abstract problems, derrive proofs, or solve equations, I mean I learned what all the important concepts in physics really meant - (force, gravity energy, momentum, electricity, magnetism, wave mechanics, and the basics of modern physics, quantum mechanics and relativity - and much more). All of these concepts I learned at Georgia Tech, but they always spend very little time defining all these ideas and instead jump right into abstract theory, proofs and problem solving. Bottom line, Paul Hewitt made physics fun and easier to understand. And that got me started looking for a thesis.
NOTE: I actually did finish my bachelors of science (B.S.) in physics at Georgia Tech and graduated with high honors. My Masters degree was completed at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP).
THEN - During hours and hours of searching online for ideas, I came across a curious study, a study that created a possibility to not only make physics fun, to perhaps to make it actually FUNNY! Though this is serious research, the ACTUAL possibility of using jokes and Humor (which I was so familiar with in my comedy skits, stand up, and articles for healing garden, etc) to enhance learning and make physics more fun. I was elated with the possibility of such a thesis - what FUN! Usually Thesis' are about as much fun as doing taxes, but this really got me excited. The only question was - Would my advisors actually approve it??
NOTE: Pay special note to the first 4 paragraphs below. I would find out that the benefits of humor even went beyond just learning and memory - but that was a GOOD start!
NOTE: I actually did finish my bachelors of science (B.S.) in physics at Georgia Tech and graduated with high honors. My Masters degree was completed at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP).
THEN - During hours and hours of searching online for ideas, I came across a curious study, a study that created a possibility to not only make physics fun, to perhaps to make it actually FUNNY! Though this is serious research, the ACTUAL possibility of using jokes and Humor (which I was so familiar with in my comedy skits, stand up, and articles for healing garden, etc) to enhance learning and make physics more fun. I was elated with the possibility of such a thesis - what FUN! Usually Thesis' are about as much fun as doing taxes, but this really got me excited. The only question was - Would my advisors actually approve it??
NOTE: Pay special note to the first 4 paragraphs below. I would find out that the benefits of humor even went beyond just learning and memory - but that was a GOOD start!
"A Climate of FUN and LAUGHTER effects LEARNING and MEMORY positively. When people laugh and have fun, they release chemicals in the brain that affect learning in a positive way.
According to the research of McNamara and Skelton, there is specific neurochemical basis for learning and memory. Stanford researcher, Bandura notes that there is a biochemical difference in the body when a person is confident and optimistic. The presenter's job is to assist students in deliberately releasing those chemicals through emotional release, physical movement and a positive attitude. In other words, the teacher's job is not to teach, but to provide an environment that is conducive to learning.
*McNamara, R. K. and R. W. Skelton. "The Neuropharmalogical and Neurochemical Basis of Place Learning in the Morris Water Maze." Brain Research Reviews 18.1 (1993): 33-49
Bandura, A. Social Foundations of Thought and Action: a social cognitive theory. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1986
Paul MacLean says that our hormones, feelings and emotions affect our learning. O'Keefe and Nadel were instrumental in establishing the role of the hippocampus in emotions and learning and suggested positive emotions allow the brain to manufacture better
cognitive maps. In other words, when we feel good we can learn better and enhance our memory.
*MacLean, Paul. "A Mind of Three Minds: Educating the Triune Brain." 77th Yearbook of the National Society for the Study of Education. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1978. 308-42
*O'Keefe, J., and L. Nadel. The Hippocampus as a Cognitive Map. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1978
Hooper and Teresi documented the work of Dr. James McGaugh who says, "Arousal causes all these chemical cocktails-norepinephine, adrenaline, enkephalin, vasopressin, ACTH to spritz out. We think these chemicals are memory fixatives...they signal the brain, this is important, keep this!"
*Hooper J., and D. Teresi. The Three Pound Universe: The Brain from Chemistry of the Mind to New Frontiers of the Soul. New York: Dell Publishing, 1986.
*Restak, R. The Brain. New York: Warner Books, 1988.
Also Humor improves student teacher relationships!
*Bryant, Jennings, Paul W. Comiskey, Jon S. Crane, and Dolf Zillmann. “Relationship Between College Teachers’ Use of Humor in the Classroom and Students’ Evaluations of Their Teachers.” Journal of Educational Psychology. 72 (1980):511-519.
And improves creativity and thinking "outside the box.
*Ziv, Avner. “The Influence of Humorous Atmosphere on Divergent Thinking.” Contemporary Educational Psychology. 8 (1983):68-75.
“Teaching with Humor: A Performing Art.” Contemporary Education. Spring 1982: 150-154.
According to the research of McNamara and Skelton, there is specific neurochemical basis for learning and memory. Stanford researcher, Bandura notes that there is a biochemical difference in the body when a person is confident and optimistic. The presenter's job is to assist students in deliberately releasing those chemicals through emotional release, physical movement and a positive attitude. In other words, the teacher's job is not to teach, but to provide an environment that is conducive to learning.
*McNamara, R. K. and R. W. Skelton. "The Neuropharmalogical and Neurochemical Basis of Place Learning in the Morris Water Maze." Brain Research Reviews 18.1 (1993): 33-49
Bandura, A. Social Foundations of Thought and Action: a social cognitive theory. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1986
Paul MacLean says that our hormones, feelings and emotions affect our learning. O'Keefe and Nadel were instrumental in establishing the role of the hippocampus in emotions and learning and suggested positive emotions allow the brain to manufacture better
cognitive maps. In other words, when we feel good we can learn better and enhance our memory.
*MacLean, Paul. "A Mind of Three Minds: Educating the Triune Brain." 77th Yearbook of the National Society for the Study of Education. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1978. 308-42
*O'Keefe, J., and L. Nadel. The Hippocampus as a Cognitive Map. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1978
Hooper and Teresi documented the work of Dr. James McGaugh who says, "Arousal causes all these chemical cocktails-norepinephine, adrenaline, enkephalin, vasopressin, ACTH to spritz out. We think these chemicals are memory fixatives...they signal the brain, this is important, keep this!"
*Hooper J., and D. Teresi. The Three Pound Universe: The Brain from Chemistry of the Mind to New Frontiers of the Soul. New York: Dell Publishing, 1986.
*Restak, R. The Brain. New York: Warner Books, 1988.
Also Humor improves student teacher relationships!
*Bryant, Jennings, Paul W. Comiskey, Jon S. Crane, and Dolf Zillmann. “Relationship Between College Teachers’ Use of Humor in the Classroom and Students’ Evaluations of Their Teachers.” Journal of Educational Psychology. 72 (1980):511-519.
And improves creativity and thinking "outside the box.
*Ziv, Avner. “The Influence of Humorous Atmosphere on Divergent Thinking.” Contemporary Educational Psychology. 8 (1983):68-75.
“Teaching with Humor: A Performing Art.” Contemporary Education. Spring 1982: 150-154.
All this Research on using Humor in education was a good starting Point - But I need one more thing - LUCK
Why Luck? Because using humor as a Master Thesis in PHYSICS probably has NEVER been done before, I mean like never in the history of the human race. At least NOT at a reputable school... In fact to this day I still have not heard of anyone doing it... Anyway that leads us to the Luck.
The Serendipitous Event That Changed Everything
When I presented my thesis idea to Dr. Numan (my graduate advisor), along with all the aforementioned research, I showed him the aforementioned research on humor in learning and education... It turned out that Dr Ronald Berk JUST gave a talk at IUP at that time, and Dr Numan ATTENDED. The talk was all about all the benefits of using HUMOR in teaching and education!!! He even performed a comedy skit and provided many examples as well as presented his research.
How lucky was that! Not only that he was a professor at Johns Hopkins teaching statistics so it was a VERY credible endorement for using humor in a Masters thesis. Dr Berk actually did much humor research and published many studies AND he did and to this day DOES still use humor in teaching statistics at Johns Hopkins.
How lucky was that! Not only that he was a professor at Johns Hopkins teaching statistics so it was a VERY credible endorement for using humor in a Masters thesis. Dr Berk actually did much humor research and published many studies AND he did and to this day DOES still use humor in teaching statistics at Johns Hopkins.
My Thesis in Humor Approved!!
So my thesis topic was ACTUALLY approved!
Ron Berk's serendipitous talk was THE KEY to getting this bold topic approved (he helped me formulate an experiment to use humor). See the Supplement at the end of book to read my thesis in FULL (its a proven cure for insomnia).
What a fun Masters thesis this was... For example, it was really fun gathering the initial cartoons for my all my experiments.
What I did was buy ALL the Farside Galleries by Gary Larson (every cartoon he ever did), and found all the funny math and science funnies. Then I had over 30 students in the physics club on campus RATE all the cartoons on a scale of 1-5 and then selected the 5 best for my experiements (which is outlined in my thesis). In case you are wondering the cartoon below was the highest rated (text edited to make it read more clearly).
Ron Berk's serendipitous talk was THE KEY to getting this bold topic approved (he helped me formulate an experiment to use humor). See the Supplement at the end of book to read my thesis in FULL (its a proven cure for insomnia).
What a fun Masters thesis this was... For example, it was really fun gathering the initial cartoons for my all my experiments.
What I did was buy ALL the Farside Galleries by Gary Larson (every cartoon he ever did), and found all the funny math and science funnies. Then I had over 30 students in the physics club on campus RATE all the cartoons on a scale of 1-5 and then selected the 5 best for my experiements (which is outlined in my thesis). In case you are wondering the cartoon below was the highest rated (text edited to make it read more clearly).
Researching these cartoons was actually part of the "work". Imagine me sitting reading farside cartoons all day for my Masters thesis... At least for a part of it. My research, finding the funniest cartoons and humorous ideas to add to physics tests following experiments and research Ron Berk did at Johns Hopkins. I also utilized a humorous title on the tests, humorous directions, and humorous choice (e) answers since the tests were multiple choice and a humorous final note.
According to the Research of Ron Berk at Johns Hopkins University, students showed improved attitudes toward the subject matter, decreased anxiety and increased overall achievement when humor was used in the classroom including on tests. Dr Berk even designed experiments in using humor in many ways in assessment and testing (which I adopted for physics and followed his experiment approach).
*Berk, R.A. Professors are from Mars, Students are from Snickers. Magma Publishing
*Berk, R.A. Humor as an Instructional Defibrillator.
According to the Research of Ron Berk at Johns Hopkins University, students showed improved attitudes toward the subject matter, decreased anxiety and increased overall achievement when humor was used in the classroom including on tests. Dr Berk even designed experiments in using humor in many ways in assessment and testing (which I adopted for physics and followed his experiment approach).
*Berk, R.A. Professors are from Mars, Students are from Snickers. Magma Publishing
*Berk, R.A. Humor as an Instructional Defibrillator.
I think I remain the only physicist (like ever) to have done their thesis in humor. LOL.
I actually performed FOUR humor experiments and did a thorough literature review of the use of Humor in education.
My thesis was well received and one of my thesis advisors (Stanley Soblewski) submitted it at Winter Meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) in Baltimore in 2008.
I actually performed FOUR humor experiments and did a thorough literature review of the use of Humor in education.
My thesis was well received and one of my thesis advisors (Stanley Soblewski) submitted it at Winter Meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) in Baltimore in 2008.
Graduated from IUP in 2007
Serious NOTE: IUP is the 12th largest college in Pennsylvania right behind Villinova, so we are talking about an accredited bricks and mortar university. I actually did spend a full year in Indiana Pennsylvania living right on campus completing my core classes.
Funny Sidenote on IUP - that I used in Comedy Skits
I tell people jokingly that IUP is located at the border of Indiana Pennsylvania. Indiana,
Little bit of trivia... It just missed the cut to be Ivy league though kudzu grows like weeds in the area. That is schools least likely to become Ivy league.
Indiana, Pennslyvania is not a place you want to live, that's for sure. Not only does it rain a lot, but its surrounded by nuclear power stations... It's kinda like the Bizzaro view of the Rockies, only instead of the rockies you have nuclear power plants on the horizon... Though I must admit, the smoke can be lovely at times. People that have the means commute from Pittsburg if that says anything.
The drug of choice is prozac and I guess if you live there its kinda a necessity. Fortunately I only needed to spend a year there. The one positive of this small town is the Jimmy Stewart museum, because that is really Indiana's ONLY claim to fame, its the hometown of Jimmy Steward (It's a wonderful life, Mr Smith Goes to Washing, Philadephia story, rear view mirror, vertigo and my favorite "Cheyenne Autumn"). Also, the region in general promotes itself as the "Christmas Tree Capital of the World" because the national Christmas Tree Grower's Association was founded there.
Little bit of trivia... It just missed the cut to be Ivy league though kudzu grows like weeds in the area. That is schools least likely to become Ivy league.
Indiana, Pennslyvania is not a place you want to live, that's for sure. Not only does it rain a lot, but its surrounded by nuclear power stations... It's kinda like the Bizzaro view of the Rockies, only instead of the rockies you have nuclear power plants on the horizon... Though I must admit, the smoke can be lovely at times. People that have the means commute from Pittsburg if that says anything.
The drug of choice is prozac and I guess if you live there its kinda a necessity. Fortunately I only needed to spend a year there. The one positive of this small town is the Jimmy Stewart museum, because that is really Indiana's ONLY claim to fame, its the hometown of Jimmy Steward (It's a wonderful life, Mr Smith Goes to Washing, Philadephia story, rear view mirror, vertigo and my favorite "Cheyenne Autumn"). Also, the region in general promotes itself as the "Christmas Tree Capital of the World" because the national Christmas Tree Grower's Association was founded there.
My Humorous Intro to Physics
I love nuclear physics, and switched majors from premed to physics because I wanted to understand the meaning of life, instead of making a boatload of money. My physics mentor once told me the secret to staying positive - study nuclear physics he said, especially the protons - for that will REALLY keep your mind positive. So I studied the nucleus and never the outer electrons, and you know what? I never had trouble with negative thoughts... People ask me, how can you possibly enjoy nuclear physics? I tell them, "It's just one of my quarks I guess". I also like how science and spirituality come together. For example, Both the Old Testament AND modern physics proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that everything, can be traced back to the first Atom/Adam.
Taught Math Physics 5 years with Humor (altered a few student surveys).
(Irony - humor research is really not funny at all).
And I taught Math and Physics for FIVE years at the college level including a year at Central Michigan. I very successfully used Humor IN MANY ways in my teaching as well as many other areas of life (which I will share in my book).
Taught Math Physics 5 years with Humor (altered a few student surveys).
(Irony - humor research is really not funny at all).
And I taught Math and Physics for FIVE years at the college level including a year at Central Michigan. I very successfully used Humor IN MANY ways in my teaching as well as many other areas of life (which I will share in my book).
Examples of My use of Humor in Teaching Math and Physics for Five years - Jokes to Follow.
In Occapation/work, this is the core of my research, because I actually received a M.A. in Physics education where my thesis was "Using Humor in Physics Education and Assessment." I was fortunate enough to complete my Masters AND teach for 5 years implanting Humor in the workplace, which was for me, teaching Math and Physics. But no matter WHAT your job is, I will show you tips, strategies and jokes for making your job actually fun… Imagine driving to work every day (including Monday morning), looking forward to the day (Chapter 5). Ok, if you just can't see it, than start by imaging 5pm is nearing Friday, and you are on the verge of a weekend long drunken fest and you dread Monday like the Black death... Baby steps, baby steps.
Ways you can use Humor in Education:
Teaching Examples/Skits,
Humorizing a Syllabus or one page orientation - Silly-Bus
Handouts -
Far Side Cartoons -
Physics and Math Jokes (even made extra credit).
Humorizing a Theory --> Theory of Everything into Theory of Nothing
Humorizing stressful situations - test, first day of class.
Some of the Wild and Crazy Things I did Teaching
Dressed up like Newton plastic apple (and fig newtons for everyone)
Einstein Theory of Nothing -
Dry Ice ---> When you wish upon a star (phase of matter)
Sparklers to the tune of Hot Stuff (demonstrate the difference between heat and temperature)
Came in on roller blades with a heavy ball to demonstrate momentum
Inertia Demo - Pulled tablecloth out from under silverware.. Pulled it off...
Stars - Star Trek Shirt and Dance
Tons of Stuff at the dollar store
Hans and Franz - Padded Sweat shirt showing idea of work (W=f*d) dumbells that looked ... heavy but were not.
Dressed up for Functions... f(x) =
Advanced Calculus 660
sin(x) = 6n
5q + 5q = 10q - you're welcome
humorous tests
All this made class and learning FUN and I had students that did not want to miss a class in fear of what they would miss.
Inspirations
Paul Hewitt
Bill Nye
Standard Deviants
Ron Berk
and all teachers that teach with passion, laughter and fun.
Ways you can use Humor in Education:
Teaching Examples/Skits,
Humorizing a Syllabus or one page orientation - Silly-Bus
Handouts -
Far Side Cartoons -
Physics and Math Jokes (even made extra credit).
Humorizing a Theory --> Theory of Everything into Theory of Nothing
Humorizing stressful situations - test, first day of class.
Some of the Wild and Crazy Things I did Teaching
Dressed up like Newton plastic apple (and fig newtons for everyone)
Einstein Theory of Nothing -
Dry Ice ---> When you wish upon a star (phase of matter)
Sparklers to the tune of Hot Stuff (demonstrate the difference between heat and temperature)
Came in on roller blades with a heavy ball to demonstrate momentum
Inertia Demo - Pulled tablecloth out from under silverware.. Pulled it off...
Stars - Star Trek Shirt and Dance
Tons of Stuff at the dollar store
Hans and Franz - Padded Sweat shirt showing idea of work (W=f*d) dumbells that looked ... heavy but were not.
Dressed up for Functions... f(x) =
Advanced Calculus 660
sin(x) = 6n
5q + 5q = 10q - you're welcome
humorous tests
All this made class and learning FUN and I had students that did not want to miss a class in fear of what they would miss.
Inspirations
Paul Hewitt
Bill Nye
Standard Deviants
Ron Berk
and all teachers that teach with passion, laughter and fun.
Math and Science Jokes
What follows next is some of the funniest Math and Physics jokes that I used in my classes and are Certified funny and I guarantee laughs. Also included are some chemistry and other general science jokes... One thing I really love about math and science jokes is that it is intelligent humor requiring some knowledge of the subject... Even if you don't get the joke, you can look it up AND LEARN something... This Humor is both funny and informative AND is perfect for using in the classroom!
