4 Fun Icebreaker Activities to Help Your Students Get to Know Each Other
Online courses are built upon a positive community. What better way for learners and facilitators to get to know each other than through some fun icebreakers?
When leading virtual meetings, an icebreaker can be a great way to lighten the mood and help colleagues and clients get to know each other.
However, if an icebreaker is awkward, it can make participants feel uncomfortable.
Our go-to guide to fun icebreaker games can help start your virtual meetings on the right foot. We have games for small groups of remote employees, ones for total strangers, and everything in between. Icebreakers are an essential step to creating an outstanding online learning community!
Learn the ins and outs of Zoom by visiting How to Use Zoom for Successful Online Workshop Facilitation (Tips & Tricks)!
Icebreakers are Great for Introductions
Icebreakers are an excellent way for you to get some of the awkwardness out of the room:
- Sharing some of the places you’ve lived, the various experiences you’ve had while working in your field, or even some of your favorite things to do outside of work will make everyone feel more connected.
- Feeling comfortable with your learners helps calm nerves on both sides.
- When selecting icebreakers, it is important to balance personal and formal.
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Icebreakers Set a Light Mood
If it is the first meeting of the day, guests will be exasperated and not have had time to get their bearings. On the other hand, if it is later in the day or evening, they may be more alert and rested.
The icebreakers you choose can take some of the pressure off you. You’ll speak first, but then other guests will get a turn to share their thoughts. Afterward, everyone in the room will be more relaxed and ready to listen to you. That’s a significant advantage.
Read more about 10 Tips To Make your Workshop More Interactive!
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Icebreaker Activities
1. Two truths and a lie: This classic icebreaker can be fun for small virtual meetings. Each person in the meeting will take turns saying two factual statements and one false statement while everyone else works out which statement is false.
2. Most recent photo: Many people like taking photos of their meals and pets to capture a moment in time. Ask your learners to share the backstory behind their image, even if it’s just a picture of food or a pet.
This is an excellent exercise to get conversations rolling and find out what everyones’ commonalities are!
3. Trivia: Group trivia can be a lot of fun while acting as a precursor to the topics you will be presenting! You can gauge everyone’s understanding while still having fun. Some good websites are Kahoot and Quizlet.
4. Simple, fun questions!: A simple Q&A can sometimes be the most effective way to get to know someone! Instead of asking boring things like “what is your favorite color” you can make something fun with some unique ideas such as:
- What would you name your pet unicorn?
- If you were a holiday dish, which would you be?
- Which of your past Halloween costumes is your favorite?
- Tell the team a knock-knock joke.
- What songs are on your playlist?
Things to consider
- Keep to the time limit! Most people enjoy a quick icebreaker but won’t want it to last for hours. Make sure everyone knows you’re keeping an eye on the clock.
- Keep it professional – remember to draw the line when conversations get too personal, and if a participant does not feel like sharing, make sure it is not an obligation.
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What is Klatch?
Klatch is a first-of-its-kind all-in-one social learning platform for live, hands-on, virtual workshops across every topic – from hobbies to professional development. Say goodbye to pre-recorded lectures and passive webinars; say hello to real-time, group-based learning. The Klatch platform enables experts to launch a workshop in minutes and provides the tools to unify their communities, grow their audience, and monetize their expertise. Apply to join the Klatch Facilitator community here or browse featured workshops here.
