Monday, November 30, 2009

Science, Context and Humour

Tēnā koutou katoa – Greetings to you all
Card Stack in Jabberwocky
When was the last time you laughed at a joke? Where did you hear it? Was it on TV? Or was it on a video clip or podcast?


Susan Greenfield says, “Everything that happens to you will be seen in terms of previous experiences.“

Your brain “can see one thing in terms of something else and that’s your unique perspective”, even when it comes to appreciating a joke.

Here’s what she says:





If you are a scientist or if you are just interested in Science, you may also be familiar with the erroneous opinion that Science is humourless. A joke is a cognitive jolt based on your previous experiences. This jolt can happen even if these experiences are to do with Science.


So let yourself go! Abrogate your sense of self and have “a cognitive time” with some Science humour from Brian Malow.




Ka kite anō – Catch ya later

2 comments:

V Yonkers said...

My son was just telling me last night how his Chemistry teacher is constantly "making jokes" which no one gets. They have just learned to humor him when he says something they don't understand and then begins to laugh. Unfortunately, they are laughing AT him, not WITH him. Alas, the plight of a science teacher!

Blogger In Middle-earth said...

Kia ora Virginia!

Isn't it funny how some teachers act out the cognitive apprenticeship theory without a thought, despite their knowledge of pedagogy?

It is a sign of maturity, however, that a person can laugh at herself or himself.

Catchya later