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29 January 2024 | Story Igno van Niekerk | Photo Igno van Niekerk
Prof Jannie Pretorius
Prof Jannie Pretorius uses an engaging and humorous teaching style that keeps his Life Science and Natural Science students fascinated and engaged.

Once upon a time, there was a monotonous teacher: the students did not like his lectures. Nothing interesting ever happened. The teacher grew old and retired. The end. Or not? According to research, teaching can be a humorous, fun, and enjoyable experience if you do it differently.

Mr Bean videos and Trevor Noah in the class

Prof Jannie Pretorius, a lecturer in the School of Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Technology, uses an engaging and humorous teaching style that keeps his Life Science and Natural Science students fascinated and engaged. When starting out at the UFS, Prof Jannie wondered about using humour in a “serious tertiary environment.” He soon discovered that students, like most other people, also enjoy appropriate humour.

Using humour in education turned into a research project, and Prof Pretorius found himself showing Mr Bean videos and watching Trevor Noah shows to develop a lesson where the impact of using intentional humour was studied by measuring students’ reactions. An example from the transcription of his class on the mating habits of the praying mantis, where the female often bites the male’s head off to eat him for nourishment, shows how fun can be integrated into learning:

So, it seems that the praying mantis is like – praying; the male is saying: ‘Please don’t eat me, Sylvia, please!’… (laughter) … and she would pray back and say, ‘Please, Ronnie, I can’t resist you.’ (laughter).

Sensitive to their learners’ preferences

Despite the classes being fun, Prof Pretorius also cautions that it is important for teachers to be sensitive to their learners’ preferences and cultural backgrounds when using humour. “There is always an element of risk in the use of humour. As such, humour should always be used in a respectful and inclusive manner to ensure that all learners feel comfortable and included in the classroom.”

Prof Pretorius recognises that the use of humour depends on educators’ personal preferences. Ultimately, it is about what the students learn.

Listen to Prof Jannie Pretorius talk about his research. 

News Archive

Seminar on trust law
2008-10-16

 

Die Sentrum vir Boedelbeplanningsreg aan die Universiteit van die Vrystaat (UV) het onlangs ‘n seminaar oor trustreg aangebied. Die aanbieder was prof. Willie van der Westhuizen, hoof van die Trustreg- en Boedelbeplanningsafdeling van die George- en Kaapstadkantore van Millers Ing. Prof. van der Westhuizen het gefokus op holistiese boedelbeplanning en die vermyding van slaggate in trustaktes. Die seminaar is bygewoon deur vyftig mense bestaande uit prokureurs, advokate, akademici, besigheidsmanne, dokters en studente. Die sentrum beoog soortgelyke seminare in die toekoms. Hier is, van links voor: adv. Bradley Smith, Departement Privaatreg aan die UV, mnr. Pieter Brits, Sentrum vir Boedelbeplanningsreg aan die UV; agter: mnr. Kenneth Mould, Sentrum vir Boedelbeplanningsreg aan die UV, mnr. Louis van Vuuren, BOE Bank en hoofborg van die seminaar, prof. Van der Westhuizen, en mnr. James Faber, Sentrum vir Boedelbeplanningsreg aan die UV.
Foto: Stephen Collett

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