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Introductory/Icebreaker Ideas for Online Discussion Forums

Icebreakers for online discussion forums in higher education can foster community and engagement.

Examples

Classics
  • Two Truths and a Lie students share three facts about themselves, two true and one false. The class guesses the lie. 
  • Show and Tell students present an object that represents them, explaining its significance. 
  • Bucket List Item ask students to share something they've accomplished and something they aspire to do.
  • My Most Embarrassing Moment: A fun way to encourage vulnerability and laughter. 
Creative Icebreakers:
  • Emoji Introduction  Students use emojis to represent aspects of their personality or interests. 
  • Name Acrostic Students create a poem using the letters of their name to describe themselves. 
  • Virtual Background Students create a virtual background that represents them or their interests. 
  • One Word/Image Activity Students share one word or image that describes them or their current state of mind.
  • Where in the World Students share a place they've been or would like to visit. 
Discussion-Focused Icebreakers
  • Hopes and Fears Students share their hopes and fears related to the course or their academic journey. 
  • Personal Introductions Students share their professional interests, goals for the course, and personal interests. 
  • What does being healthy mean to you? This can be a good icebreaker for health-related courses. 
  • What is one thing you use all the time that is designed well and one thing with an inconvenient design that you would change? Good for engineering or design-focused courses. 
Tips for Success
    • Keep it short and simple In online environments, shorter activities are easier to manage and engage students.
    • Provide clear instructions Make sure students understand what they need to do and how to participate.
    • Encourage participation Consider dividing students into smaller groups for more intimate discussions.
    • Have fun! Create a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere for students to connect.
    • Use online tools Consider tools like Board, Padlet, or Zoom Polling for interactive activities. 

 

Created in collaboration with ChatGPT

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