Clown Teachers or Creative Teachers?: Popularity and Educational Substance – The phenomenon of clown teachers has become a trend lately. To create a fun learning atmosphere, many educators have changed their behavior to be silly.
Inevitably, this situation has sparked pros and cons. Some people praise the efforts of these teachers, but others criticize them harshly.
Is it necessary for teachers to act silly to make learning fun?
What exactly is a clown teacher and how does it differ from a creative teacher? Let’s take a look at the following discussion.
Examining Clown Teachers vs Creative Teachers
The term “clown teacher” refers to a trend in which some educators deliver learning material by acting funny or even ridiculous.
These teachers often upload learning content to social media platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.
Some teachers insert humor into their explanations, act absurdly, or even perform like comedians.
The goal is actually simple. They want students to be interested in listening to the lesson and understanding it more deeply.
Comparing Clown Teachers and Creative Teachers
Despite having good intentions, the phenomenon of clown teachers has sparked controversy. On the one hand, some parties, including students, feel that what these teachers are doing is very good.
Moreover, many studies have shown a positive relationship between humor and student understanding in the classroom.
Ahmet Sahin found in his research that the use of positive humor has been proven to increase teaching efficiency in schools.
However, on the other hand, some parties object to the phenomenon of clown teachers because:
- Considering that some teachers’ behavior can diminish the dignity of educators.
- Eliminating the essence of education and turning it into mere entertainment.
- Adding to the burden of teachers who now have to be funny.
- Adding to the responsibilities of teachers who now have to manage content on social media.
- Turning the teaching profession into that of an entertainer who craves popularity.
These factors ultimately led some teachers to reject the idea of acting silly on social media. Moreover, teachers need to feel appreciated in their work. Fiona Longmuir and her colleagues explain that in order to work effectively, teachers must be respected.
Rather than forcing teachers to act silly, some people have compared the concept of clown teachers to that of creative teachers.
By definition, creative teachers have a broader meaning. However, in general, creative teachers can be defined as educators who are able to apply interesting teaching methods to help improve the effectiveness of learning.
How to Become a Creative Teacher?
By supporting the concept of creative teachers, there are several things educators can do to keep learning enjoyable. These include:
- Using innovative methods, such as taking students to the market to observe economic activities.
- Using technology, such as creating photosynthesis animations rather than simply explaining it with pictures.
- Giving students time to discuss and ask questions.
- Occasionally inserting humor without demeaning the teacher’s dignity.
- Presenting interesting case studies, such as explaining the dangers of eating poisonous mushrooms using real-life examples.
- Giving rewards to high-achieving students.
- Applying a variety of teaching methods, from presentations and projects to experiments.
Which one would you choose: Clown Teacher or Creative Teacher?
Creative teachers have a different approach to creating a fun learning environment.
Meanwhile, clown teachers use excessive humor and silly antics, often to attract students’ attention or gain popularity on social media.
However, this can spark controversy as it is considered to diminish the dignity of teachers and shift the focus of education.
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On the other hand, creative teachers use innovative and engaging methods without compromising the essence of learning. They place greater emphasis on teaching effectiveness through varied approaches that are relevant and in-depth.
Therefore, it is more advisable for creative teachers to maintain a balance between engaging students and preserving the substance of education.
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