December 2013 Luncheon Program - Laughing Matters - The Effective Employment of Humor in a Training Environment

Presented by: .Andrew Spragge & Karen Eichler, Defiant Monkey Improv

Research has shown consistently that humor, when artfully employed in a classroom, increases comprehension and retention, creates a positive learning atmosphere, and elevates learners’ self-confidence, which in turn improves morale and reduces tension.  Defiant Monkey Improv’s Laughing Matters program is designed to guide learners through time-tested theatrical improvisation activities aimed at helping them:

• Comprehend the fact that humor is a highly valuable tool in classroom facilitation
• Recognize that they can and should use humor when appropriate in their classrooms
• Identify their personal, preferred style of humor
• Increase their comfort level regarding the use of humor in the classroom.

Teaching someone to “be funny” is difficult; Laughing Matters instead teaches the value of including humor in your Training Toolbox, and guides learners through a fun, lively self-discovery process to help everyone “unleash their Inner Comedian!”