Class Clown Puts New Face to Teaching on Dry Materials 

It’s a funny business being a teacher. Just ask Howie Baum, adjunct professor of design in the University of Cincinnati’s internationally ranked College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning.

Baum, 66, brought two suitcases filled with props for May 9 lectures to transportation- and product-design juniors. And with the help of those two suitcases, he lectured on the qualities and properties of a variety of design materials – all the while using those same materials, in different forms, to dress himself as a circus clown in front of the students. He was transformed into “Baby Boo Boo,” complete with red nose, orange wig and more.

He also used props – while clowning around with his students – to demonstrate the many varieties and properties of plastics for the students.

Said Baum, “It’s a fun way for students to learn. Last year, I realized that 98 percent of my clown outfit and all my props are made of different plastic materials. So, the clown-transformation process strongly reinforces the presentation [of the subject matter].  Instead of just talking about the materials, I’m bringing in humorous examples of how even just one material can be used in multiple ways. I also use a lot of jokes related to plastic materials.”

For instance, polyurethane foam is to be found in his clown nose, shoes and bib. A large pair of plastic scissors, oversize sunglasses and other items were made of polyethylene, and the silk scarves are made of rayon fiber.

Baum lectured as “Baby Boo Boo" to 16 UC product-design juniors and then to a second class of 11 transportation-design juniors.

Baum hit upon the idea of literally becoming the class clown to better teach his students while acting the clown with his own grandchildren. “About six years ago, I took a four-week clown course just as a way to entertain my seven grandchildren. Then, one day, I was in the clown costume and with my oldest grandson. I noticed how riveted his attention was and figured it couldn’t hurt to help my students better focus on what’s fairly technical and dry material.”

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