The Class Joke Contest: Encouraging Creativity and Improving Attendance

John C. Wierman

The American Statistician, 2016, vol. 70, issue 3, 257-259

Abstract: Jokes are a resource that can be used to transmit concepts, motivate students, encourage creativity, and make learning more enjoyable. In each of my classes on probability and stochastic processes, I hold a monthly joke contest. Students are encouraged to submit original jokes relating to the course and its topics. The teaching assistants and I select a few finalists, and the class votes to determine winners, who receive extra credit. This article discusses the origin and evolution of the contest, describes its benefits in increased engagement and improved attendance, provides information and tips for faculty who might want to conduct a joke contest, and includes some example jokes.

Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1080/00031305.2016.1148633

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