Online Icebreakers - Examples
Here are 7 examples for you to try in your e-Learning environments.
A Picture is Worth 1000 Words
Task: Introductory exercise for the beginning of a course.
Objective: To allow learners to get
acquainted with their classmates' shared interests, backgrounds, and abilities in a non
threatening atmosphere.
Method: Asynchronous
Instructions
There is a map on the Announcement page that shows where each of classmate is sitting. You
will find the individual's name and location when you roll over each location.
Submit a digital
image that we can add to the map. The image can be of yourself, your pet, your favorite place,
or whatever else that comes to mind. Add a line or two for the subtitle. Attach the image as a
.jpg to an email and send to the instructor at yourname@abc.com
If you are not able to
create a digital image let us know and we will develop plan B. But I think all of us have at least
one image on our computers we can use.
Imagine That
Task: Introductory exercise for the beginning of a course.
Objective: To allow learners to get
acquainted with their classmates' shared interests, backgrounds, and abilities in a non
threatening atmosphere.
Method: Asynchronous
Instructions
You will be working in pairs for this activity. The pairs list is posted below.
1. Select an image of yourself doing some sort of activity that may not be obvious to the
rest of us. Insert the image into a Word document, leaving at least half of the page open.
Save with a .rtf file extension (rich text format).
2. Email the document to your partner
(found below). A this point there is no text on the document. Each of you will receive an
image of the other to work with.
3. Create a story for the image that was sent to you
by your partner. Get creative. Keep it to one paragraph or less in length. Type it into the
document just below the image. Save the file as .rtf again.
4. Attach the file to an
email back to your partner. Each of you will write the true story behind the image under
the paragraph written by your partner. Save the file.
5. Return the document back to
your partner as an attachment to an email. How different were your stories?
6. Send
your final documents to the facilitator as an attachment to an email. A PowerPoint will be
created of the images and sent to each of you for review
LineUp
Task: Introductory exercise for the beginning of a course.
Objective: To allow learners to get
acquainted with their classmates' shared interests, backgrounds, and abilities in a non
threatening atmosphere.
Method: Asynchronous or synchronous -
Instructions
You will be asked to score yourself from 1 to 10 on the following items. A score of 1 indicated
minimal knowledge or interest, and the top score of 10 signifies that you are very interested or
ready to teach the subject. Enter your scores for each item on the discussion board or in the
chat room as the question is presented.
1. I consider myself a sports expert.
2. Cooking is one of my hobbies.
3. I love to read.
4. I am interested in the subject matter of this course.
5. I feel comfortable with computers.
Once all scores have been entered, look for the individual with the score closest to yours.
Introduce yourself to this individual, and see what other areas you may have in common. It is
now your task to introduce this person to the group through a posting on the discussion board
entitled "Introductions" by the end of the first week of the course. If no one introduces himself or
herself to you by the middle of the first week, contact the instructor for assistance.
Lost In Space
Task: Introductory exercise for the beginning of a course.
Objective: To allow students to get
acquainted with their classmates' shared interests, backgrounds, and abilities in a non
threatening atmosphere.
Method: Synchronous - teleconference/chat
Instructions
Some times we learn more about people through their priorities than their standard
introductions. Imagine you have been living on a space station for a period of one year.
Suddenly the computers malfunction, and you have fifteen minutes to evacuate to a space
shuttle before all life support systems fail. You will be allowed five items to take with you. As
quickly as you can, type your name followed by the five items, in the chat room. This is not the
time for reflective thought. Just type as quickly as you can. Once all participants have entered
their list, read through what has been entered. The facilitator will call each of you by name to
explain why you chose your items.
Note: If the class is large, divide it randomly into teams and have each team conduct this
exercise in its group chat room. Be sure to assign one person to facilitate the team and report
the voting results when the large group reconvenes after this exercise.
Responses usually fall
into the categories of personal, technology, and survival items.
One Word
Task: Introductory exercise for the beginning of a course.
Objective: To introduce a learner's
interests and self-perception to classmates in an innovative way.
Method: Asynchronous or
synchronous - discussion board/teleconference
Instructions
Asynchronously:
Think of one word that best describes you or your life. Enter your word and
your name in the subject line of a discussion board entry, then explain why you chose that word
in the body of the posting. Review the entries of others and find at least two additional nouns
that the two of you have in common by the end of the week.
Synchronously:
Think of one word that descrives you or your life. Post your word in the chat
room as the facilitoator "calls" you name. Once all names have been called, review the words
and send a private message introducing yourself to an individual whose noun resonates with
you. Try to come up with two more words that you have in common with that person.
Room With a View
Task: Introductory exercise for the beginning of a course.
Objective: To find commonalities with
others in the learning community.
Method: Asynchronous - discussion board
Instruction:
Describe (in vivid detail) the view from your favorite window. Weave some autobiographical
information into your "view." For example, "I'm looking out over our pool where my son learned
to swim this weekend. It also overlooks a lake. When we lived in Arizona we dreamed about
living by water and now that we are here in Florida that has become a reality." Read what others
have written and respond to two peers' posting indicating why you would like to trade places for
a day.
Things
Task: Introductory exercise for the beginning of a course
Objective: To introduce learners'
interests and background to classmates in an innovative way.
Method: Asynchronous -
discussion board
Instructions
Find an object or a digital image that represents who you are or why you are taking this
workshop, or even what your professional goals might be. Post a description of the object on the
discussion board and explain why you chose that particular object. Attach a digital image of your
object: a scanned image, digital picture, or Web-linked image, for example. Include a brief
description of your expectations for the class in the explanation of your object.
Prepared by Sandi Sturm for a presentation to ASTD Alaska Chapter in August, 2005
Taken from Engaging the Online Learner, J. Ana Donaldson, Ed.D