Memes are funny images, videos, or gifs that contain text and can spread virally across the Internet, but memes can also be a beneficial tool in the classroom.
Published in Chapter:
Playful Pedagogy: Using Humor to Increase Social Interaction Online
Melissa L. McCartney (Queens University of Charlotte, USA)
Copyright: © 2020
|Pages: 21
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-7998-2132-8.ch013
Abstract
Intentional humor used in online classes develops classroom community, creates student-faculty relationships, enhances peer-peer relationships, and increases student engagement. A learning environment with humor helps students and faculty engage with others, apart from their roles, and constructs a genuine sense of connection. When intentionally embedded into course content, humor has been seen to increase student satisfaction and motivation. When used effectively, humor reduces anxiety and a sense of threat, which helps students learn more effectively. The use of humor acts as a stress relief, which aids in cognition and long-term memory. Additionally, student perception of faculty who use humor is positive. In the online environment, humor can be embedded in a variety of technology-enhanced forms such as videotaped lectures, discussion threads, and posted as memes and gifs. This chapter reviews best practices for implementing humor into course design for online higher education.