Effective Teaching / Online Asynchronous / Online Synchronous / Teaching for Learning / Teaching with EdTech / Tech-Enhanced Teaching
Icebreakers for Your Course
Reading Time: 2 minutes
This post links you to other Faculty Learning Hub posts providing ideas for icebreakers in your classroom across a range of purposes and course delivery formats.
Asynchronous Icebreakers
This post provides ideas for icebreaker activities designed for fully online asynchronous courses in eConestoga. Students complete these icebreakers in the first week or two of the course.
Synchronous Online Icebreakers
These posts provide ideas for icebreaker activities designed for virtual classroom meeting platforms, such as MS Teams. Synchronous icebreakers can easily be adapted to in-person classrooms.
The First Two Weeks: Icebreakers in Online Learning Environments
Icebreakers for Your Online Classroom
Content-Based Icebreakers
This post provides ideas for icebreaker activities that are directly related to the content of your course or the topic of your class. They act a little like bridge-ins, but with more focus on having students share about themselves.
Team Builders
This post provides icebreaker activities that help student groups get to know each other. Instructions are described for all, but the activity is done in small groups. A team builder may be a good idea for students who will work together in class and/or on graded assignments.
More Ways to Find Icebreakers
Do a web search: Session Lab Energizers, Fun Icebreaker Ideas and Activities
Use the library database:
- Chlup, D. T., & Collins, T. E. (2010). Breaking the Ice: Using Ice- breakers and Re-energizers with Adult Learners. Adult Learning, 21(3/4), 34–39.
- (n.a.) (2020). Ice Breakers for Meetings. Volunteer Management Report, 25(8), 8.
Use a Microsoft Copilot Prompt
Final Thoughts
Once you have selected your icebreaker, do a quick check. Does it:
| Provide… | Avoid… |
|---|---|
| Positivity and good feelings | Negativity or fear (even unintentionally) |
| Psychological safety | Risky or embarrassing requests |
| A sense of belonging (feeling “seen”) | Revealing or diminishing protected grounds/social areas (OHRC) |
| Simple, short, interesting, cooperative, and fun | Complex, long, unrecognizable, or overly competitive |
| Choices and options | Forced participation |
