Doni Tamblyn
Encyclopedia
Doni Tamblyn is an internationally-published author
, comedian
, and President of the corporate training company, HumorRULES, founded in the early 1990s.
Both Tamblyn's books and her company espouse teaching and training through humor, in particular theatre improv-derived games. Her first book, The Big Book of Humorous Training Games contains 50 games for training business people in communication skills. The second book, Laugh and Learn: 95 Ways to Use Humor for More Effective Teaching and Training seeks to show connections between recent brain research and ongoing humor research, argue that humor enhances brain function, and show techniques for using humor and play in teaching and/or communication.
and theatre improvisation. In 1989, seeking solely to increase her income, she took a job teaching at a state-sanctioned traffic school
that used comedians as instructors. This experience, in which initially-resistant learners consistently became highly involved and enthusiastic, ultimately led her to value the role of laughter in learning. She became Instructor Coordinator for her traffic school; began studying instructional design
, accelerative learning, and brain-compatible learning; and, inspired by the many innovations of her comedian/instructor staff, redesigned and standardized the format of the traffic school's classes. It was during this time that she also developed some of her first business communication skills programs. She founded HumorRULES in 1993.
In succeeding years, she delivered training throughout the U.S., and in Canada, Europe, and S.E. Asia, to organizations including Chevron USA, Inc.; AstraZeneca; the Federal Reserve Bank; State Farm; Pacific Gas & Electric; Wyeth Europe; Wells Fargo Bank; and the USDA. Tamblyn has been an invited presenter at international conferences of The American Society for Training and Development (ASTD
) and The International Society for Humor Studies. Her training techniques have been taught through the University of California
Extension Business and Management program and the College of Health and Human Services at Western Michigan University
. From September 2004 through July 2005, she used her techniques in delivering business and EFL
training in Shanghai
, China
. In 2006, she was an invited lecturer at the 6th International Summer School on Humor and Laughter at the University of Fribourg
, Switzerland
.
In 2001, Tamblyn relocated HumorRULES to Philadelphia Pennsylvania
. Currently she resides in New Jersey
.
in 1952. In 1962, her family moved to British Columbia
, Canada
. From 1976–1978 she studied art at Vancouver Community College Langara, after which she spent a few years doing graphic illustration and portraiture. During this time, she also trained in voice and acting, and began doing comedy shows in local clubs. In 1983, she moved back to California to study broadcasting at San Francisco State University
. After graduating, she did voiceover
acting, theatre improv, and a cappella
singing and arranging, before moving permanently to teaching and training.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
, and President of the corporate training company, HumorRULES, founded in the early 1990s.
Both Tamblyn's books and her company espouse teaching and training through humor, in particular theatre improv-derived games. Her first book, The Big Book of Humorous Training Games contains 50 games for training business people in communication skills. The second book, Laugh and Learn: 95 Ways to Use Humor for More Effective Teaching and Training seeks to show connections between recent brain research and ongoing humor research, argue that humor enhances brain function, and show techniques for using humor and play in teaching and/or communication.
Biography
A singer-comedian since 1979, in 1988 Tamblyn began doing commercial voiceoverVoiceOver
VoiceOver is a screen reader built into Apple Inc.'s Mac OS X, iOS and iPod operating systems. By using VoiceOver, the user can access their Macintosh or iOS device based on spoken descriptions and, in the case of the Mac, the keyboard. The feature is designed to increase accessibility for blind...
and theatre improvisation. In 1989, seeking solely to increase her income, she took a job teaching at a state-sanctioned traffic school
Traffic school
Traffic school is the generic common term for remedial courses in traffic safety and safe driving practices. In the United States, these are offered as part of pretrial diversion programs to traffic violators by traffic courts, in the interest of improving general safety.-Incentive:Opting to take...
that used comedians as instructors. This experience, in which initially-resistant learners consistently became highly involved and enthusiastic, ultimately led her to value the role of laughter in learning. She became Instructor Coordinator for her traffic school; began studying instructional design
Instructional design
Instructional Design is the practice of creating "instructional experiences which make the acquisition of knowledge and skill more efficient, effective, and appealing." The process consists broadly of determining the current state and needs of the learner, defining the end goal of instruction, and...
, accelerative learning, and brain-compatible learning; and, inspired by the many innovations of her comedian/instructor staff, redesigned and standardized the format of the traffic school's classes. It was during this time that she also developed some of her first business communication skills programs. She founded HumorRULES in 1993.
In succeeding years, she delivered training throughout the U.S., and in Canada, Europe, and S.E. Asia, to organizations including Chevron USA, Inc.; AstraZeneca; the Federal Reserve Bank; State Farm; Pacific Gas & Electric; Wyeth Europe; Wells Fargo Bank; and the USDA. Tamblyn has been an invited presenter at international conferences of The American Society for Training and Development (ASTD
ASTD
The American Society for Training & Development is a non-profit association for workplace learning and performance professionals.-Membership:...
) and The International Society for Humor Studies. Her training techniques have been taught through the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
Extension Business and Management program and the College of Health and Human Services at Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
. From September 2004 through July 2005, she used her techniques in delivering business and EFL
EFL
EFL most commonly refers to English as a Foreign Language, see English as a Foreign or Second LanguageEFL may also refer to:In sports:* Eastern Football League , a defunct Scottish football competition...
training in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. In 2006, she was an invited lecturer at the 6th International Summer School on Humor and Laughter at the University of Fribourg
University of Fribourg
The University of Fribourg is a university in the city of Fribourg, Switzerland.The roots of the University can be traced back to 1582, when the notable Jesuit Peter Canisius founded the Collège Saint-Michel in the City of Fribourg. In 1763, an Academy of law was founded by the state of Frobourg...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
In 2001, Tamblyn relocated HumorRULES to Philadelphia Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. Currently she resides in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
.
Early life
Doni Tamblyn was born in San Mateo CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1952. In 1962, her family moved to British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. From 1976–1978 she studied art at Vancouver Community College Langara, after which she spent a few years doing graphic illustration and portraiture. During this time, she also trained in voice and acting, and began doing comedy shows in local clubs. In 1983, she moved back to California to study broadcasting at San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University is a public university located in San Francisco, California. As part of the 23-campus California State University system, the university offers over 100 areas of study from nine academic colleges...
. After graduating, she did voiceover
VoiceOver
VoiceOver is a screen reader built into Apple Inc.'s Mac OS X, iOS and iPod operating systems. By using VoiceOver, the user can access their Macintosh or iOS device based on spoken descriptions and, in the case of the Mac, the keyboard. The feature is designed to increase accessibility for blind...
acting, theatre improv, and a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
singing and arranging, before moving permanently to teaching and training.