CLASSROOM HUMOR AS A TOOL FOR ENGAGING STUDENTS IN LARGE COLLEGE-LEVEL INTRODUCTORY GEOLOGY CLASSES

Teaching large sections of introductory geology, with enrollments in the 60 to 120 range, can provide quite a challenge to an instructor. Typically the majority of the students in these classes have enrolled to fulfill a general-education requirement and do not have any particular interest in geology. Keeping such students interested and motivated to learn can sometimes be a major challenge for an instructor. After more than two decades of teaching using the rather benign standard-lecture format, the presentation style in large sections of introductory geology was modified to make use of Blackboard 5, a comprehensive and flexible e-Learning software platform, and to adapt a number of the techniques suggested by Ronald A. Berk in his book Professors are from Mars, Students are from Snickers: How to write and deliver humor in the classroom and in professional presentations. More specifically, the Blackboard e-learning platform adaptations included primarily on-line homework, discussion questions, and practice tests. Berk’s suggestions for the integration of humor included a modified syllabus, top-ten lists, Jeopardy-type reviews for exams, and occasional quotations and questions. To date only anecdotal evidence is available regarding whether or not these modifications have been successful in stimulating interest among students. However, from a purely selfish perspective, these format changes have clearly demonstrated that it is considerably more fun teaching engaged students than a large classroom filled with zombies.