First day of class
I can remember when attending college, an instructor brought pieces of construction paper and markers to the first night of class. He had all students write their first and last names and created tents to place on the top of desks to keep track of student names throughout the duration of class. He also had us students to continue to bring during each class. I thought this showed interest in the students.
Tracy,
They are great to get students settled into the course and feeling a part of the learning environment, plus they are a lot of fun to do.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
These are great ideas on ice breakers. It's awesome how they have the power to lower the anxiety level and increase enthusiasm, even for the instructor who may be nervous.
Magdalena,
I use this ice breaker as well and just as you mention it really gets the students talking and everyone settled in to the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
This is such a good way of remembering students. it also helps to keep it going for a couple days as well. i remember for the first day of class, we once went around the room and introduced everyone by name, and interesting fact. It broke the ice by having everyone learn about eachother. The energy of the room instantly goes from tense and aprehensive, to fun and relaxed.
Heather,
You are going to love the results you get with this ice breaker. I have used it many times and it is fun and very informative.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I have been to conferences where very creative ice breakers have been used and it certainly 'lightens up' the atmosphere and gets everyone engaged and enrolled. An icebreaker I've used in my classes is to pair students and have them share a 'career' and 'personal' interest/passion and then have the students introduce each other and the information they have learned about their classmates. Sometimes, even in classes where all the students knew each other already, they often discovered a passion or interest that they didn't know their friend had! Next quarter I plan on trying your 'toilet paper' icebreaker............what a great idea!
Angela,
Thanks for sharing your experiences with ice breakers. I know they will be helpful to other instructors. I use them to start everyone of my classes. As you know they help to get everyone settled in, feeling comfortable and learning a little about each other.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Ice breakers, what an excellent way to begin a new class. I have had students tear off sheets of toilet paper off of a toilet paper roll, not knowing why at the beginning of a new class, then depending upon the amount of sheets they tore off impacts the amount of things the student has to tell us about themselves. Having students introduce someone else in class is another good ice breaker.
I think that's a great idea. It not only shows an interest in the students on the instructors' part, but if he also has a nametag it shows he wants the students to have an interest in him. that can work to establish a rapport with each student and a rapport for each student with the instructor.
Ebony,
I use this method myself and have good results. I have larger classes (70 or more) so the name tents helps me learn their names quicker plus my guest speakers can use their names as they interact with them.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
