You Don't Have to Be a Stand-Up Comedian: Examining Levity in the Classroom

Background Levity, typically reserved for workplace settings, refers to a light and pleasant environment that increases engagement and productivity. This study introduces the use of levity in the classroom, juxtaposed with teacher humor, to produce positive outcomes. Objective The primary objective was to examine levity's impacts on classroom dynamics compared to humor. Method Undergraduates ( N = 287) completed an online survey reporting perceived levity, teacher humor, student–teacher rapport, and academic satisfaction. Results Findings indicate that classrooms characterized by levity foster stronger rapport between students and teachers and better student academic satisfaction than the counterpart of humor. Exploratory findings suggest that levity mediates the relationship between humor and academic satisfaction. Conclusion Levity positively impacts classroom dynamics, in addition to humor. Moreover, humor may contribute to positive outcomes. These results align with findings in workplace settings, where levity promotes productivity and positive interactions. Teaching Implications Educators may consider incorporating levity as a strategic tool to foster classroom engagement, academic satisfaction, and teacher–student rapport instead of merely being humorous.