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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.them,

    explaining

    its significance. 

  • Bucket List Item ask students to share something they've accomplished and something they aspire to do.

    • Show and Tell:
    Students share an object that represents them, explaining its significance. 

  • My Most Embarrassing Moment:
         A fun way to encourage vulnerability and laughter. 
    Bucket
    • List
Item:
Students share something they've already accomplished and something they still want to do. 

Creative Icebreakers:

  • Emoji Introduction  Emoji Introduction:
        . 

    Students use emojis to represent aspects of their personality or interests. 

  • Name Acrostic:
    .
    Acrostic     Students create a poem using the letters of their name to describe themselves. 
  • Virtual Background:
    .
    Background     Students create a virtual background that represents them or their interests. 
  • One Word/Image Activity:
    .
    Activity     Students share one word or image that describes them or their current state of mind.

  • Where in the World:
    .
    World     Students share a place they've been or would like to visit. 

Discussion-Focused Icebreakers:

Icebreakers

     
  • Hopes and Fears:Fears Students share their hopes and fears related to the course or their academic journey. 

  • Personal Introductions: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:

Success

    • Keep it short and simple:simple Especially inIn online environments, shorter activities are easier to manage and engage students.

    • Provide clear instructions:instructions Make sure students understand what they need to do and how to participate.

    • Encourage participation:participation Consider dividing students into smaller groups for more intimate discussions.

    • Have fun!: Create a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere for students to connect.

      • Consider asynchronous options: For larger classes, asynchronous activities like discussion forums can be more manageable. 
    • Use online tools:tools Consider tools like Board, Padlet, Miro, or PollEverywhereZoom Polling for interactive activities. 

 

Created in collaboration with ChatGPT

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