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Using humor

Mandell Clip 7

Three graduate students each seated on their own side of a long table. Each has a name card representing the three countries, "Indocarta," "Fuji" and "Hawani"

Topics Covered

Closing class; Using humor; Case teaching; Challenging content; posing thought-provoking reflection questions; using humor to cut tension

  • Instructor: Brian Mandell, Mohamed Kamal Senior Lecturer in Negotiation and Public Policy
  • Student Group: Graduate
  • School: Harvard Kennedy School
  • Course: Advanced Workshop in Multiparty Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
  • Clip Length: 3 minutes, 29 seconds (2:47:14-2:50:43)

Go to Mandell Clip 7

Grotzer Clip 4

Professor Grotzer joining in on small group discussion. Graduate students in foreground and background engaged in discussion.

Topics Covered

Eliciting participation; Sharing expertise; Using humor; leading discussion; warm calling; instructional transparency

  • Instructor: Tina Grotzer, Principal Research Scientist in Education
  • Student Group: Graduate
  • School: Harvard Graduate School of Education
  • Course: Applying Cognitive Science to Teaching and Learning
  • Clip Length: 2 minutes, 11 seconds (58:24-1:00:35)

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Mandell Clip 4

Three graduate students each seated on their own side of a long table. Each has a name card representing the three countries, "Indocarta," "Fuji" and "Hawani"

Topics Covered

Eliciting participation; Using humor; Questioning, listening and responding; Case teaching; using simulation data as discussion stimulus; soliciting student reflections/participation; leveraging teaching fellows; time management; warm calling, deciding when to intervene; pushing for expanded reasoning; co-teaching

  • Instructor: Brian Mandell, Mohamed Kamal Senior Lecturer in Negotiation and Public Policy
  • Student Group: Graduate
  • School: Harvard Kennedy School
  • Course: Advanced Workshop in Multiparty Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
  • Clip Length: 5 minutes, 15 seconds (2:17:47-2:23:02)

Go to Mandell Clip 4

McCarthy Clip 4

Tim McCarthy chiming in during discussion

Topics Covered

Using humor; Questioning, listening and responding; Challenging content; responding to students; using humor to cut the air in tense discussions; learning from students

  • Instructor: Timothy Patrick McCarthy, Lecturer on History and Literature
  • Student Group: Undergraduate
  • School: Harvard College
  • Course: Stories of Slavery & Freedom
  • Clip Length: 3 minutes, 36 seconds

Go to McCarthy Clip 4

Mansbridge Clip 4

Jane Mansbridge guiding discussion

Topics Covered

Using humor; Building rapport; showing vulnerability; sharing personal experience; responding to students; authenticity

  • Instructor: Jane Mansbridge, Charles F. Adams Professor of Political Leadership and Democratic Value
  • Student Group: Graduate
  • School: Harvard Kennedy School
  • Course: Democratic Theory
  • Clip Length: 3 minutes, 17 seconds (50:50-54:07)

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Mansbridge Clip 3

Jane Mansbridge guiding discussion

Topics Covered

Eliciting participation; Using humor; using student prework to structure discussion; deepening students' understanding of theoretical concepts; encouraging students to respond to one another's thinking; encouraging a willingness to get it wrong; asking questions; linking student comments; changing opinions; knowing your students; scaffolding; affirming students

  • Instructor: Jane Mansbridge, Charles F. Adams Professor of Political Leadership and Democratic Value
  • Student Group: Graduate
  • School: Harvard Kennedy School
  • Course: Democratic Theory
  • Clip Length: 7 minutes, 49 seconds (28:04-35:53)

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Kegan Clip 4

Students discussing in pairs

Topics Covered

Questioning, listening and responding; Building community; Using humor; Eliciting participation; managing discussion; responding to students; showing appreciation; reporting out; wait time; just-in-time teaching

  • Instructor: Robert Kegan, William and Miriam Meehan Research Professor in Adult Learning and Professional Development
  • Student Group: Graduate
  • School: Harvard Graduate School of Education
  • Course: Adult Development
  • Clip Length: 4 minutes, 54 seconds (1:00:37-1:05:31)

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Kegan Clip 3

Students discussing in pairs

Topics Covered

Using humor; Peer learning; Eliciting participation; Making thinking visible; polling; think aloud; lesson planning; time management; small group work; using the space

  • Instructor: Robert Kegan, William and Miriam Meehan Research Professor in Adult Learning and Professional Development
  • Student Group: Graduate
  • School: Harvard Graduate School of Education
  • Course: Adult Development
  • Clip Length: 2 minutes, 55 seconds (46:26-49:21)

Go to Kegan Clip 3

Arlotta Clip 6

Paola Arlotta writing on the whiteboard

Topics Covered

Using humor; Questioning, listening and responding; Sharing expertise; Exercising flexibility; extended exchange with one student; using knowledge of students; being open to questions throughout; answering student questions; being open to unexpected topics

  • Instructor: Paola Arlotta, Professor of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology
  • Student Group: Undergraduate
  • School: Harvard College
  • Course: Got (New) Brain? The Evolution of Brain Regeneration
  • Clip Length: 4 minutes, 14 seconds (1:09:22-1:13:36)

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Kegan Clip 2

Students discussing in pairs

Topics Covered

Using humor; Eliciting participation; Peer learning; Case teaching; Questioning, listening and responding; Making thinking visible; setting up discussion; reading the room; disciplinary language; taking the temperature; pair share; engagement; time management; rephrasing; polling

  • Instructor: Robert Kegan, William and Miriam Meehan Research Professor in Adult Learning and Professional Development
  • Student Group: Graduate
  • School: Harvard Graduate School of Education
  • Course: Adult Development
  • Clip Length: 10 minutes, 54 seconds (25:01-35:55)

Go to Kegan Clip 2

Cockrill Clip 5

Wide shot of four graduate students seated at a table facing eachother, 2 with tablets, 2 with computers. Around them the rest of the class is seated in similar formation.

Topics Covered

Using humor; Questioning, listening and responding; Sharing expertise; Case teaching; providing personal experience from the field; creating flexibility for discussion; productive sidetracks; channeling expertise in the classroom; shared note taking; knowing your students

  • Instructor: Barbara Cockrill, Harold Amos Academy Associate Professor of Medicine
  • Student Group: Graduate
  • School: Harvard Medical School
  • Course: Homeostasis I
  • Clip Length: 3 minutes, 38 seconds

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Rakoff Clip 4

Professor Rakoff lecturing in front of students

Topics Covered

Questioning, listening and responding; Using humor; Case teaching; Eliciting participation; Socratic discussion; moving around the room; pressing for clarification; intellectual rigor

  • Instructor: Todd Rakoff, Byrne Professor of Administrative Law
  • Student Group: Graduate
  • School: Harvard Law School
  • Course: Legislation & Regulation
  • Clip Length: 5 minutes, 13 seconds

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Rakoff Clip 3

Professor Rakoff lecturing in front of students

Topics Covered

Eliciting participation; Questioning, listening and responding; Case teaching; Using humor; pushing students to clarify points; cold calling; wait time; staying grounded in the text

  • Instructor: Todd Rakoff, Byrne Professor of Administrative Law
  • Student Group: Graduate
  • School: Harvard Law School
  • Course: Legislation & Regulation
  • Clip Length: 4 minutes, 15 seconds

Go to Rakoff Clip 3

Levy Clip 6

Professor Levy teaching in class

Topics Covered

Closing class; Peer learning; Using humor; Instructional technology; Exercising flexibility; polling; time management

  • Instructor: Dan Levy, Senior Lecturer in Public Policy
  • Student Group: Graduate
  • School: Harvard Kennedy School
  • Course: Advanced Quantitative Methods
  • Clip Length: 4 minutes, 16 seconds

Go to Levy Clip 6

Rakoff Clip 2

Professor Rakoff lecturing in front of students

Topics Covered

Eliciting participation; Using humor; Questioning, listening and responding; Case teaching; cold calling; asking follow-up questions; Socratic method; intellectual rigor

  • Instructor: Todd Rakoff, Byrne Professor of Administrative Law
  • Student Group: Graduate
  • School: Harvard Law School
  • Course: Legislation & Regulation
  • Clip Length: 1 minute, 34 seconds

Go to Rakoff Clip 2

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