I thought you were going to use something along the lines of the snowman drawing as your most cherished object. Or perhaps a sketch of one of your three eared cats. I enjoyed this article. Lots of chuckles induced.
I want to use a reverse question mark. I didn't know such a thing existed. Ice-breakers, though, I’ve had my share of those, just not in courses. I despise them.
Oh man, I've been cringing already about ice breakers when I start a new job in August. Orientation in a couple weeks...wish me luck! I'll report back if anything worth noting haha.
With a bit of luck, Kathleen, it will be the kind of orientation I've always received: "Here’s your timetable, this is your classroom -- and by the way, you're also teaching Physics on Friday afternoons because we're short-staffed." 😀 I do wish you luck, of course!
I've always hated ice breakers too!!! This feels ironic to say because I do tend to wear my heart on my sleeve, but I despise forced vulnerability and have noticed a trend of workshop leaders et al. trying to "go deep" on first introductions, such as your pick-an-object example. My second-most-despised type of ice breaker is "name something you like that starts with the same letter as your first name." I can only pretend to love apples and aardvarks so many times.
🤣 You do make me laugh, Alicia. When you gonna start writing again? I've not heard of that ice-breaker. I don't know what I would say because my mind has now gone blank, which is what always happens to me in ice-breakers!
I'm with you, Terry, in disliking wasting time on something no one will remember, and I also agree with Rebecca, in just wanting to get on with it. The only ice breaker I mildly like is: introduce oneself, why one is taking the course, and how many places one has lived, 15-30 seconds, that's it. Regardless of how long a class or seminar or activity is, like-minded folks tend to gravitate towards one another and if one is not interested in anything related to gravity, one can just be solo and others generally respect that. Whew.
I agree, Mary. Trouble is, I'd spend ages trying to work out how many places I've lived in, so I wouldn't hear anybody else's replies. I like the first two things though, for the reason you said. 😀
Yeah, I'm with you. I generally don't like doing these, mostly because I too clam up, spend all the time before it's my turn internally thinking or rehearsing what I'm going to say and thus not listening at all to what anyone else is saying 😆
I like your approach, though. That gets down to the important stuff. I can see the value in breaking the ice, though, in getting people to try to be a bit more sociable and commence a conversation with their table/group. It's mainly just how to go about it in the most efficient manner.
I'm exactly as you described in your first paragraph, Nathan. My approach is to ask people to say their name, and what they write about and why they're here. That way people can gravitate to like-minded people if they wish. I also print name cards for people to put in front of them, which helps me as well!
Yeah good call with the name cards. I get my students to write their names on the (white board surfaced) tables in the first few workshops we do, just so everyone can get to know each other by name a bit easier.
Yes, good idea. I only print the names because some people's handwriting is illegible! And also I find that giving them out helps make put a face to a name
Went a bit off-piste with my first reply… At first glance it might seem like a sensible plan to begin a course with an ice-breaker, but as someone with social anxiety who finds it hard to engage with people, in a course setting I MUCH prefer the opportunity to just get on with what we’re there to do. Course participants already have plenty in common - presumably they a) want to be there and b) are all interested in the subject.
Ooooh, I’m going to be ON that course of yours, Terry - so I can get ahead on rehearsing my ice breaker! 🤣 Thanks for the heads up!
Your story about the Wordpress person has reminded me about a course I once took which was run by a children’s book illustrator. The course was nothing to do with children’s book illustration, to the very vocal and enduring dismay of one participant who obviously hadn’t read anything about the course before booking her place on it! 🙄
It's infuriating. On my course, I said right at the beginning that it wasn't a course about how to use WordPress or any other programs, and asked if everyone was aware of that. Everyone said they knew that and were ok with it. Then on the evaluation form that person said she was disappointed that there was no coverage of WordPress!
In the light of your first sentence I have decided to change the icebreaker!😂
“I don’t even like sharing the fact that I don’t like sharing things.”🤣 Poor Terry. Maybe next time you need to arm yourself with an ice dagger 🗡️ to lance at…So, I don’t mind ice breakers, but then, I am not shy, I talk, and I LOVE getting to know people, I don’t mind talking to strangers—in fact I love it—and poke my nose easily into affairs;) Did you notice any of these attributes?🤔So totally wrong candidate here to expect empathy from! But if it’s a short class and you have 40 students, an ice breaker does not cut it! I’d also consider giving a choice—who wants to take part in an ice breaker? That’d be fair, no?
Thanks, Anu. I'm not shy either, but I don't think much of being put in a situation where I am expected to share something personally meaningful with a bunch of complete strangers. But in any case it takes so much time! I don't think your opt in approach would work though. I like your suggestion of an ice dagger! 😂
Whatever works—don’t tell them who gave you the idea😉Also, it fluid be cultural. I’ve breakers seems so American—we love these games here in the name of team spirit. Not to over generalize, but wondering about India…people come “thawed” for the most part;) We might need ice inducers;) It’s such a chatty culture! English folks are much more private, proper…again a generalization, but you see what I mean!
I think you're right, Anu: definitely a cultural thing. By the way, and I think you will appreciate this, the next time I'm asked to talk about an object I care about I shall reply that I can't because I practise non-attachment😁
When I was a trainer, I always used one simple icebreaker: tell us your all-time favorite movie. The setup was this: “I’m asking this for three reasons. One it begins a dialogue so we can all talk in class. Two, you have to take a moment to start your brain and think. Three, I’m running out of movies I haven’t seen.”
A quick icebreaker and a chance for me to be amusing. Example: if someone said, “Frozen,” I’d ask how many children they had.
I like just introducing yourself, grab a mug shot and talk to group with a dash of humor. That relaxes you and gets audiences attention. Maybe even create a second invisible character on stag and talk to that character to explore yourself. I did this in a public speaking exercise. Make the ordeal fun.
Better than wasting time before hand introducing people. Just get going with the program. Each participant was videotaped and could see how the controlled the audience . A wonderful experience and the audience discussed the experience for a few minutes before the next participant would introduce themselves.
Oh right! I can see then how your approach dovetails nicely with the subject matter. My own version of that, in my creative writing class, is to get the students to share a short piece of writing, which we discuss. Not as the initial activity but quite soon after starting. Thanks for sharing that, Richard 😁
Yes, my creative writing classes involved creating mini skits performed in class. A few unannounced and surprises with a critique afterwards and written self critique.
Thanks, Maureen. It seems to work well: it doesn't take long and gets everyone saying something about themselves without giving their entire autobiography!
For some reason, Terry, your quiet rebellion of picking a nearby random object reminded me of Keyser Soza's technique in the Usual Suspects.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtSldnuKBEs
I thought you were going to use something along the lines of the snowman drawing as your most cherished object. Or perhaps a sketch of one of your three eared cats. I enjoyed this article. Lots of chuckles induced.
Lol. Thanks, Jeanne 😀
I want to use a reverse question mark. I didn't know such a thing existed. Ice-breakers, though, I’ve had my share of those, just not in courses. I despise them.
A sensible position IMHO 😁
Ice breakers are the invention of malevolent extraverts and they need to be stopped. (Both the ice breakers and the extraverts.)
I did a FAB just this week with one. Assembles into groups of five, tasked to identify 3 things in common. I said we all work together. 😃
"Both the ice breakers and the extraverts": 😂 Your approach sounds alright!
Oh man, I've been cringing already about ice breakers when I start a new job in August. Orientation in a couple weeks...wish me luck! I'll report back if anything worth noting haha.
Hang on: you start in August?? I thought schools in that area start in September. oo-er
Chill, chill.
I start work Aug 27, kids are the week after.
We get a ton of holiday. Don't worry about me. :)
Phew!
With a bit of luck, Kathleen, it will be the kind of orientation I've always received: "Here’s your timetable, this is your classroom -- and by the way, you're also teaching Physics on Friday afternoons because we're short-staffed." 😀 I do wish you luck, of course!
I once taught "Information Technology in a Global World" 😅
🤣 I hope we can meet up if our schedules allow
Of course we can, Terry! This is a busy, quick trip. But in Aug/September for sure!
Wonderful 😃
I've always hated ice breakers too!!! This feels ironic to say because I do tend to wear my heart on my sleeve, but I despise forced vulnerability and have noticed a trend of workshop leaders et al. trying to "go deep" on first introductions, such as your pick-an-object example. My second-most-despised type of ice breaker is "name something you like that starts with the same letter as your first name." I can only pretend to love apples and aardvarks so many times.
🤣 You do make me laugh, Alicia. When you gonna start writing again? I've not heard of that ice-breaker. I don't know what I would say because my mind has now gone blank, which is what always happens to me in ice-breakers!
“T” made me draw a blank for a second there too!! You’re British so surely you can authentically say you like tea.
Will be back soon!
Tea! Of course! What an eejit. Thanks Alicia 😊
I'm with you, Terry, in disliking wasting time on something no one will remember, and I also agree with Rebecca, in just wanting to get on with it. The only ice breaker I mildly like is: introduce oneself, why one is taking the course, and how many places one has lived, 15-30 seconds, that's it. Regardless of how long a class or seminar or activity is, like-minded folks tend to gravitate towards one another and if one is not interested in anything related to gravity, one can just be solo and others generally respect that. Whew.
I agree, Mary. Trouble is, I'd spend ages trying to work out how many places I've lived in, so I wouldn't hear anybody else's replies. I like the first two things though, for the reason you said. 😀
Yeah, I'm with you. I generally don't like doing these, mostly because I too clam up, spend all the time before it's my turn internally thinking or rehearsing what I'm going to say and thus not listening at all to what anyone else is saying 😆
I like your approach, though. That gets down to the important stuff. I can see the value in breaking the ice, though, in getting people to try to be a bit more sociable and commence a conversation with their table/group. It's mainly just how to go about it in the most efficient manner.
I'm exactly as you described in your first paragraph, Nathan. My approach is to ask people to say their name, and what they write about and why they're here. That way people can gravitate to like-minded people if they wish. I also print name cards for people to put in front of them, which helps me as well!
Yeah good call with the name cards. I get my students to write their names on the (white board surfaced) tables in the first few workshops we do, just so everyone can get to know each other by name a bit easier.
Yes, good idea. I only print the names because some people's handwriting is illegible! And also I find that giving them out helps make put a face to a name
I'd do the same but I'd have to print over 300 names ... 😬
🙃
Went a bit off-piste with my first reply… At first glance it might seem like a sensible plan to begin a course with an ice-breaker, but as someone with social anxiety who finds it hard to engage with people, in a course setting I MUCH prefer the opportunity to just get on with what we’re there to do. Course participants already have plenty in common - presumably they a) want to be there and b) are all interested in the subject.
Precisely, Rebecca. My new icebreaker will involve each person standing on the teacher's desk and talking about themselves for ten minutes. Snigger
🤣
Ooooh, I’m going to be ON that course of yours, Terry - so I can get ahead on rehearsing my ice breaker! 🤣 Thanks for the heads up!
Your story about the Wordpress person has reminded me about a course I once took which was run by a children’s book illustrator. The course was nothing to do with children’s book illustration, to the very vocal and enduring dismay of one participant who obviously hadn’t read anything about the course before booking her place on it! 🙄
It's infuriating. On my course, I said right at the beginning that it wasn't a course about how to use WordPress or any other programs, and asked if everyone was aware of that. Everyone said they knew that and were ok with it. Then on the evaluation form that person said she was disappointed that there was no coverage of WordPress!
In the light of your first sentence I have decided to change the icebreaker!😂
Uh-oh. *braces self* 🫣
“I don’t even like sharing the fact that I don’t like sharing things.”🤣 Poor Terry. Maybe next time you need to arm yourself with an ice dagger 🗡️ to lance at…So, I don’t mind ice breakers, but then, I am not shy, I talk, and I LOVE getting to know people, I don’t mind talking to strangers—in fact I love it—and poke my nose easily into affairs;) Did you notice any of these attributes?🤔So totally wrong candidate here to expect empathy from! But if it’s a short class and you have 40 students, an ice breaker does not cut it! I’d also consider giving a choice—who wants to take part in an ice breaker? That’d be fair, no?
Thanks, Anu. I'm not shy either, but I don't think much of being put in a situation where I am expected to share something personally meaningful with a bunch of complete strangers. But in any case it takes so much time! I don't think your opt in approach would work though. I like your suggestion of an ice dagger! 😂
Whatever works—don’t tell them who gave you the idea😉Also, it fluid be cultural. I’ve breakers seems so American—we love these games here in the name of team spirit. Not to over generalize, but wondering about India…people come “thawed” for the most part;) We might need ice inducers;) It’s such a chatty culture! English folks are much more private, proper…again a generalization, but you see what I mean!
I think you're right, Anu: definitely a cultural thing. By the way, and I think you will appreciate this, the next time I'm asked to talk about an object I care about I shall reply that I can't because I practise non-attachment😁
Brilliant!🤣
Chortle!
When I was a trainer, I always used one simple icebreaker: tell us your all-time favorite movie. The setup was this: “I’m asking this for three reasons. One it begins a dialogue so we can all talk in class. Two, you have to take a moment to start your brain and think. Three, I’m running out of movies I haven’t seen.”
A quick icebreaker and a chance for me to be amusing. Example: if someone said, “Frozen,” I’d ask how many children they had.
That said, most icebreakers suck.
Lol. Thanks. Well, I like your idea, but I like your final sentence even better!😁
I’m with you Terry—I don’t think I’ve ever met an icebreaker I liked.
Thanks Tom. A curmudgeon after my own heart? 😂
I like just introducing yourself, grab a mug shot and talk to group with a dash of humor. That relaxes you and gets audiences attention. Maybe even create a second invisible character on stag and talk to that character to explore yourself. I did this in a public speaking exercise. Make the ordeal fun.
I agree with making the ordeal fun, Richard. Your approach sounds fun and interesting, but isn't it quite time consuming ?
Better than wasting time before hand introducing people. Just get going with the program. Each participant was videotaped and could see how the controlled the audience . A wonderful experience and the audience discussed the experience for a few minutes before the next participant would introduce themselves.
What was the course about?
Public speaking, reducing fear of audience, seeing yourself and being able to take criticism. A corporate offered class.
Oh right! I can see then how your approach dovetails nicely with the subject matter. My own version of that, in my creative writing class, is to get the students to share a short piece of writing, which we discuss. Not as the initial activity but quite soon after starting. Thanks for sharing that, Richard 😁
Yes, my creative writing classes involved creating mini skits performed in class. A few unannounced and surprises with a critique afterwards and written self critique.
I suppose using an ice pick wouldn't work? Hee hee.
😂
I completely agree. Your 30 seconds idea sounds a good solution.
Thanks, Maureen. It seems to work well: it doesn't take long and gets everyone saying something about themselves without giving their entire autobiography!