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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

‘Oupa’ rocks the Varsity Cup
2013-04-15

 

Shimlas captain, Teboho ‘Oupa’ Mohoje, was announced as 2013 Varsity Cup player of the tournament.
Photo: Varsity Cup
10 April 2013

After a remarkable season, Shimlas’ captain Oupa Mohoje walked away as the 2013 Player That Rocks, which is the Varsity Cup equivalent of a player of the tournament award. Mohoje’s performances were widely lauded during the 2013 season during which he was also the Shimlas’ top try scorer.

The inspirational captain’s performances have even caught the eye of people higher up in the South African rugby scene. His consistent, powerful performances throughout the 2013 season have been rewarded by Oupa earning a Vodacom Cheetah’s contract.

There was even more good news for University of the Free State (UFS) rugby supporters. Steinhoff Vishuis won their third overall and second consecutive title, after winning the 2013 Varsity Cup Residence competition.

Vishuis beat the team of Steinhoff Villagers from NWU-Pukke by 20 points to 16 in the final that was played in Stellenbosch on Monday 8 April 2013.

Previous titles seemingly gave Vishuis the edge as they managed to overturn a 16 points to 10 deficit with only 20 minutes left to play.


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