Icebreaker Ideas
Information for Today’s Learners
- Add your name to the Etherpad
- Introduce yourselves (preferably verbally)! In your introduction, (a) explain your work in 3 words and (b) say something you are proud of (not necessarily related to research or teaching).
Our First Exercise
In the Etherpad, write down your name, the best class you ever took (or one class from your top ten, if you can’t decide), and what made it so great. This exercise should take about 2 minutes.
Something Surprising
Find someone who shares something surprising with you (e.g. your pet has the same name, or you both brush your teeth in the shower). Put your “surprise” similarity into the Etherpad when you come back from break and vote on the most surprising.
We really want you to get to know your fellow learners and become comfortable interacting. There will be several interactive activities in the next two days. Let’s all start bonding now.
Discussing Concept Maps
Do concept maps feel useful to you? Are there other ways of drawing knowledge that appeal to you more?
Discussing Live Coding
How does participatory live coding compare to other kinds of demonstration-based teaching like lab lessons?
In the Real World
How practical do you think it would be to use the techniques you’ve learned in this workshop in regular teaching? In particular, do you think you would have enough time to prepare and teach lessons the ways you have been shown?
Favorite Food
What is your favorite food? It be a meal or snack, something you eat often or only on special occassions.
Teaching Passion
What aspect of teaching are you passionate about or do you really enjoy? Is it seeing lightbulb moment in a students eye or learning something new when you teach?