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1. Facts

2. Introduction

3. How it Links to Adult Learning Theories

4. Types of Icebreakers

5. Ice Breaker Examples/ Resource Tool

6. Ice Breaker Activity

7. References

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Dirkes, D. (2014, July 13). Icebreakers Help Create a Rich Learning Atmosphere. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140713001512-8175758-icebreakers-help-create-a-rich-learning-atmosphere

Fuggle, P. (2010, September 23). The One Theory You MUST Know BEFORE You Use an Icebreaker. Type Pad. https://phillyfuggle.typepad.com/trainingtools/2010/09/the-one-theory-you-must-know-before-you-use-an-icebreaker.html

Government of Canada (2022, November 30). The Daily. Statistics Canada. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/221130/dq221130a-eng.htm

Kilanowski, J. F., PhD (n.d.). Breaking the Ice: A Pre-intervention Strategy to Engage Research Participants. PMC PubMed Central. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3336012/#:~:text=Ice%20breakers%20are%20used%20when,;%20Mind%20Tools%2C%202011).

Pratt, D. D. (2002). Good Teaching: One Size Fits All? Research Gate, (New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education), 5-16. https://doi.org/10.1002/ace.45

Sheridan-Price, E. (2023, February 11). Are Icebreakers Necessary Or Just Embarrassing? The Facilitation Hub. https://thefacilitationhub.com/are-icebreakers-necessary/

UNESCO (June 2020). Open and distance learning to support youth and adult learning. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000373815#:~:text=These%20emerging%20learning%20needs%20include,arts%20and%20personal%20development%20courses.

University of Illinois Springfield. Ice Breakers. ION Professional ELearning Programs. https://www.uis.edu/ion/resources/oiai/ice-breakers

Washburn, B. (n.d.). Icebreaking Activity: How To Introduce Knowles’ Theory on Adult Education. Endurance Learning. https://endurancelearning.com/blog/icebreaking-activity-how-to-introduce-knowles-theory-on-adult-education/

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With so many more learners in the system from all different walks of life and backgrounds. The purpose of using ice breakers at the beginning of a course helps to facilitate the learners as well as the instructors. They are fun activities or games that help people feel more comfortable and encourage bonding.

They can also set the tone for the course. “Ice breakers also help the leader become acquainted with the participants and group interpersonal interactions. Observed information on the group’s dynamics can determine if modifications need to be made to the prepared lesson or lesson delivery” (Kilanowski, 2012).

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1. Facilitating Introductions
“Ice breakers can be used to create familiarity within the group and ease everyone into the group process. The desired end result is a more open discussion forum and pleasing environment within the group in which the group process can continue.” (University of Illinois Springfield).

2. Prior Knowledge Assessment
Provides a “pedagogical advantage of using ice breakers is that they provide the instructor an opportunity to assess student prior knowledge” (University of Illinois Springfield).

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Ice Breakers are broken up into 3 different categories:

1. Questions

2. Activities

3. Games

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At the end of this lesson learners will know:

1. How to identify various types of ice breakers

2. Have participated in an icebreaker

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In the discussion forum of week 8, you will share which types of icebreakers you would use in your field that would be most beneficial in the adult learning environment. Please explain why.

Once you’ve shared your response and have identified your chosen method of an ice breaker, I will know you have met the learning outcomes as outlined.

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UNESCO (2020) states that at the beginning of the Covid pandemic, with the in-person closures of schools and learning establishments adult learners had to seek alternative methods to education which resulted in an increase of on demand learning (ODL) “with some courses receiving as much as a 607 % increase in enrolment.”

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According to Stats Canada, “Canada leads the G7 for the most educated workforce, thanks to immigrants, young adults and a strong college sector.” And goes on to state that “Canada has led the G7 in terms of post-secondary graduates since 2006, with 57.5% of the working-age population (that is, those aged 25 to 64) having a college or university credential, according to new results from the 2021 Census.”

(Government of Canada, 2022)

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What Does That Mean?

There is a greater demand and subsequently a higher enrollment within the universities and colleges in Canada!! Both in-person and online

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At times ice breakers can seem cringeworthy!! And may been seen as:

Time consuming

Not everyone may enjoy that activity

Inappropriateness

May not be suitable for all groups

May not achieve the desired outcome

(Sheridan-Price, 2023)

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The Ultimate List of Ice Breakers for College Courses

Ice Breakers for Small Groups

61 Ice Breaker Games [That Your Team Won’t Find Cheesy]

35 Icebreakers Perfect for Virtual and Hybrid Meetings

25 fun icebreakers for virtual meetings

6 Tried-and-Tested In-Person and Virtual Icebreakers

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By choosing an ice breaker that exposes the learner’s previous experiences and having them share it with the group, it “connect[s] elements of these learning experiences with various aspects of Knowles’ theory [1968]" (Washburn).

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Using Kolb's Learning Inventory (1984) helps instructors to identify the various learning styles present within the class and allow the learners to get to know each other. In doing so, it gives the instructor “a deeper understanding of each individual in your training room and hence dramatically increase the quality of the results that are derived from your training” (Fuggle, 2010).

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Through Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs (1943) ice breakers can give the learners a sense of security as to knowing who their classmates are and in extension appeals to their sense of belonging within the group. “It can begin to move learners along the continuum towards esteem, and their need to feel valued, and finally, self-actualization, which identifies our inherent need and desire to learn and grow” (Dirkes, 2014).

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Pratt Developmental Perspective states “teachers need to know how their learners are ‘programmed,’ that is, how they think and what they believe in relation to the content or work. With that information teachers try to build bridges from the learners’ way of thinking to better, more complex and sophisticated ways of thinking and reasoning“ (Pratt, 2002).

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3. Environment Creation / Fostering Group Unity
The chosen format and delivery of an ice breaker “can also be designed to encourage a break down of status/race/gender/etc. barriers that may pre-exist in the group” (University of Illinois Springfield). Therefore, creating an inclusive environment where the learners feel comfortable to participate in.

4. Topic Segues
Ice breakers can be created to warm up and link learners to new topics being introduced. “These are also particularly useful when the members of the group already know each other” (University of Illinois Springfield).

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5. Preparation of Participants
At the beginning of a course, some introduction is needed for the instructor to get to know their learners and for the learners to get to know each other as well. This can be easily done in an in-person environment, however it becomes more of a necessity with online learners (University of Illinois Springfield).