Icebreakers...
What types of ice breakers work best to get students acclimated to beginning a new course and getting to know their peers/instructor?
I did the airplanes in class yesterday and the students loved it.
I like that I think I might try it.
In the beginning of each new class, I usually have the student introduce themselves, what their favorite movies/ hobbies and etc and explain why they came into this specific field.
Bridgette, that sounds like a good idea. I have a few questions from what you've tried:
What are some sample questions that you have used?
What have you found to work or not? Looking back, what would likely change?
How well would that work in a small class of five students?
Hi Carly,
Paying attention to details is a plus in any career. I love this icebreaker, great lesson to learn from it.
Patricia
I have had my students partner up with a student that they dont know, and have them all take off their watches and exchange them with eachother. I have then told them to describe in detail their watch to the other student holding it, to see how well they recall it. I have found that most people who look at something every day (and as often as a watch) do not actually notice the details of it, and can rarely accurately describe it. This icebreaker is designed to show my cosmetology students that paying attention to details will greatly pay off in their career field!
Hi Ammar,
No this is not geeky, actually it is a super idea! The more visual, the better. Students love being shown examples.
Patricia
I am teaching an IT course and so I was going to ask the students to share where they are on the adoption curve and why -- probably with some examples to demonstrate.
Do you feel that this is too geeky?
I've tried a get to know you scavenger hunt. I give the students a self-questionaire. After they have answered questions about themselves they have to go around the room and introduce themselves and see if they have any of the same answers. If they do they write the other persons name down on their sheet. You can also have a winner of who got the most matching answers. Then they can introduce one other person in the class that had a matching answer.
Hi David,
I have found that the more comfortable students are around each other, the more willing they are to participate. Students need to feel a sense of belonging/comfort so that anxiety is minimized in the classroom.
Patricia
I like the interview process as well. It gives learners the chance to form new relationships and to get comfortable with others. When it comes time for class prsentations, knowing a few people helps the leaners anxiety. I may try the airplane suggestion as well. Some fun the first night tens to keep learners coming back for more....
Performing some kenesthetic movement paired with a question answer activity has worked very well for our classes.
Hi Billy,
This sounds like it is a great team building exercise. What a super way to get students to learn about each other.
Patricia
I like having the students chatting with their neighbors, asking about them and have each other introduce the other. This at least gets them to know their immediate neighbor, since most of the time, they tend to sit next to the same person all the time.
Hi Benetta,
I like the connection that you make for the overall objective by focusing on the three main points. This is a very beneficial icebreaker.
Patricia
I like to have a snowball fight on the first day of class. I ask the students to write three interesting things about themselves on a piece of paper, roll it into a ball, and then throw the snowballs around the room. Each person will then pick up a snowball, and walk around the room and find the person it belongs to by asking questions about the information on the paper they are holding. It is a fun exercise, and helps everyone get to know each other.
I ask the group to go to a designated part of the classroom in response to questions such as "Would you rather spend a day in the mountains or a day at the beach?" [Beach people to the left side of the classroom, mountain people to the right side]
Another question might be "Cats or dogs" [Can also create categories for lizards, fish, birds . . . encourages group participation without being too personal . . . students enjoy talking about their pets]
I usually have the students do a group exercise. The class as a group list what their expectations for the class are. Then we discuss habits/beliefs and attitudes.Listing both negative and positive habits/beliefs and attitudes. We then come full circle back to expectations and connect all topics together. Each student has a better ideal of how their habits /beliefs and attitudes can affect their overall performance in the class.
I really liked the airplane ideal, for ST students it will help show them how to follow a leader and teamwork. No surgery happens with just one person
