Hanna Kruczek

This is a great idea. I teach math and include some puzzles in my material.

Grace Onodipe

Another interesting icebreaker I have used is to ask students to do all the essentials (name, hobbies, occupation, academic background) and also submit an "economist joke". I always have a good laugh at what they come up with. In my post, I explain, from an economists perspective, why the joke is funny.

Susan Salamo

I want to use your idea of "aerobics for the mine" immediately! Now I need to know a way of doing that. Since all of the discussion questions are made by the course developer, the only way I know of to send those would be through email to all students. Is that how you deliver your ice-breakers?

Sonya Groves

Excellent idea! I had not thought to integrate something like this into online courses. I think it is a great alternative to jumping right into the content.

Martha Davis

I also love this idea of breaking the ice with the message for fortune cookies. One of the ice breakers I have used is to pair each of the students in groups of two. I ask each of the students to interview each other in order to introduce each other to their classmates. Some of the questions can be as follows:
What is your favorite food?
What is your major and why did you choose it?
What is your anticipated graduation date?
Are you married?
Do you have any children?
and many more.

Frederick Lippman

I teach mathematics, so I like to post a sort of, "Puzzle of the Day" for the students to look at before we begin class. This serves the purpose of getting them all engaged in the class from the beginning, and it also gets them thinking in mathematical terms. The puzzles that I choose are usually not difficult, but they may require you to use a logical thinking process. The hope, of course, is to get students to realize that there are many ways to look at a situation, and that they do not need to be tied to a strictly "Linear" thought process.

Tina Stavredes

Hi Frederick, we have been using fun activities to help motivate learners and get them to engage in the course activities. It has improved the interactions learners are having with faculty and peers, which makes it easier for them to reach out to you when they begin to struggle. Tina

Elizabeth Isaacs

I like this idea. I ask my students to go on the forum and introduce themselves answering the usual questions like background, goals, expectations, interests, hobbies etc., but something thought provoking like the fortune cookie idea is great and I will use that next time.

William Cramer

Roy,

I enjoy starters as well. My favorite (for a literature course) is: If you were given the task of freeing a jailed Montressor from "Cask of Amontillado" or a jailed Emily from "A Rose for Emily", who would you free and why?

Tim Botengan

I love the "fortune cookie" icebreaker idea. What a good way to stimulate the thinking process and at the same time "break" the ice.

John Frapwell

Martha,

I too use this "ice breaker." I have learned that while students are reluctant to talk about themself, they are more than willing to share insight into fellow students.

Thanks,

John F.

Dr. S. David Vaillancourt

Some enjoy talking about themselves, some prefer talking about other and some are tough to get them into the conversation. Ice breakers work well for many students. Thanks