Yes getting to know the students and using who they are and what they do as a tool to keep the class engaged is amazing. I do this and get results. And the students work better with eachother aswell.

Sometimes, I would have the students write their own reasons why they are taking my course and what they hope to do with the knowledge afterwards. I compare what they wrote with my own notes.

TO: Tim Hays

FROM: David Demko

RE: Your comment - "students write their own reasons why they are taking my (your) course"

Excellent ice-breaker for class discussion to enhance class member cohesion, and can also initiate another class discussion focusing on class member diversity in learning styles.

One icebreaker I have used is called "Getting to know you BINGO"   where the students have to mill around the classroom and ask the question that is on their BINGO card to see if it applys to anyone in the classroom.  ex.  "Has a birthday in January", or "has lived outside of the country" . This is a great way for new class mates to get to know eachother. 

Being in Career Services, the content of ED102 truly resonated with me. I think this course would be a excellenct yearly refresher for all instructors to ensure they stay focused and aware of methods to unlock the learning potential in their students.