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Technology has made it easier to continue education even when it's not possible to physically be in the classroom. Distance learning, or eLearning, has been a mainstay of post-secondary education for many years now. It allows working adults to pursue a degree and remain employed. But for many teachers and students in elementary, middle, and high school, distance learning is not typically part of the school environment.

Distance Learning and PBIS

When circumstances force teachers and students out of the classroom and into an eLearning situation, it can be challenging to stay on track. Maintaining your PBIS initiative might feel impossible in times like these, but you CAN offer PBIS incentives during distance learning! PBIS Rewards makes it easy for you to reward your students anywhere - even when they're not in your physical classroom. Keep connected with your students, award points, and let your students redeem their earnings, all virtually!

Need some ideas for PBIS incentives to use with distance learning?

We've got you covered! You can use these incentive ideas to keep your students engaged and make the most of your time in the virtual classroom.

Some of these distance learning incentives are designed to work in a digital classroom environment, and their effectiveness may depend on your school's approach to eLearning. For example, "Lunch with the Assistant Principal" would be a virtual lunch meeting via Google Hangout, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, GoToMeeting... however you may be connecting with your students. As schools everywhere adjust and adapt to new methods of learning, distance learning incentives can help maintain a sense of togetherness within the school community.

Have an idea for PBIS incentives for distance learning? Share it and we'll add it to the list!

Students get to change their virtual backgrounds on Zoom.

Simply click on the arrow next to Start Video and change your virtual background or add your own image. Students will be motivated to log in to see their classmates' new backgrounds (Minecraft, lollipops, etc!)

Price: Free
Value:
Category: Privilege

Submitted by: Kelly Gordon (Flourtown)

Choose Video Conferencing Virtual Background

Student chooses the virtual background the teacher will use during video conferencing with the class

Price: Free

Category: Privilege

This was our end-of-summer party. I ordered Mickey Mouse ears (Girls & Boys), gift bags, and treats (cotton candy, cracker jacks, ring pops, Mickey Mouse Goldfish crackers, etc.). I delivered them to my students. If you have too many to deliver, you could mail the ears only.

I Zoom shared the 12 most exciting Disney Virtual rides... along with the parade and fireworks at the end. We had a wonderful day at the park. I gave trivia information in between rides and shows. There is also a video taking you into the park and on the monorail.

Everything was purchased on Amazon. About $5 a child for ears/treats. $1.50 per child for ears only.

Price: Bulk

Category: Privilege

Submitted by: Robin Gray (Friendship Ideal Academy)

Students can enter into a monthly drawing/raffle to win a Door Dash lunch delivery.

In distance learning, this can be delivered to their home, instead of to them at the school.

Price: $5 or More

Category: Tangible

Submitted by: Esperanza Soria (Wrenn Middle School, TX)

Send a laptop sticker to students with a personalized message. You can buy laptop stickers in bulk for as low as $5. Consider school branded laptop stickers.

If in distance learning, the sticker and message can be mailed to the student.

Price: Inexpensive
Value:
Category: Tangible

Submitted by: Jacquelin Camacho (Wheeling, IL)

Online Book Reading

Read a book online to your students. Have them choose from an approved selection.

Read, Wonder, and Learn! Favorite Authors & Illustrators Share Resources for Learning Anywhere - Spring 2020

Price: Free
Value:
Category: Privilege

Teachers can create personalized backgrounds for students based on the qualities they wish to recognize.

This is easy to do using Canva, a digital product/print creating platform that has a free upgrade for educators. Educators can use already created Zoom templates and individualize them to match the student.

Price: Free
Value:
Category: Recognition

Submitted by: Tiffany Garbiso (Santa Ana High School)

Student(s) can redeem this rewards and get a fun, silly, or energetic photo ( or video) with their friends that is shared by the teacher or school. This could even be shared via social media by the school, PBIS team, or teachers.

See example on Instagram

Price: Free
Value:
Category: Privilege

Submitted by: Mrs. Ashton, Rio Vista Elementary in Anaheim, CA

Students can have their picture/photo/video (if allowed by a parent/guardian) shared as a social media shout out on the school's social media account(s).

This would have to be verified by the teacher in order to have the student's name/picture/video release.

Price: Free
Value:
Category: Recognition

Submitted by: Samantha McBride (Houston, TX)

Spirit Week

Participate in a Spirit Day activity, i.e.:

Elementary:  Monday - Wear Pajamas, Tuesday - Crazy Hair, Wednesday - Crazy Socks, Thursday - Dress Like Your Teacher, Friday - Hat Day

Secondary: Monday - Wear Pajamas, Tuesday - Wear School Colors, Wednesday - Crazy Socks, Thursday - College Gear, Friday - Hat Day  Being on time for video lessons

Price: Free

Category: Privilege

Spoon Balancing Challenge

Students can challenge the teacher or other students with the spoon balancing challenge. Place the spoon on the bridge of your nose so that the handle is pointing down towards the floor and whoever can get the spoon to stay on their nose for the longest period of time wins!

In distance learning, this can be adjusted to be during a Zoom/Classroom video session.

Price: Free
Value:
Category: Privilege

Allow students add X test points for use on a future test of their choice.

Price: Free

Category: Privilege
Value:
Submitted by: Maria Price, Nimitz Sr High School, Houston, TX

Share Your Incentive for Distance Learning

Do you have an incentive idea for distance learning that would be a great addition to our list?
Share Your Idea
Here are some related articles you may find interesting:

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This list of incentives for distance learning is a great asset for your PBIS program and virtual PBIS implementation. Have one to add? Share it.

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Symonds Research Training Course Materials

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Page Updated on February 2, 2023

Here are 21 free to use icebreakers for online teaching that you can use. Icebreakers are an important part of any training program, as they encourage people to participate from the start of a session, to get to know each other and to feel comfortable working with others.

How do you run icebreakers for online sessions though? We have written a separate post on 'How to run group activities in virtual classrooms for your students here. 🙂

There are many icebreakers you can do in face-to-face training sessions and some of them are classics that corporate trainers all over the world have been using for quite a while.

In this guide, we have put together some icebreakers specifically designed to be done online and others that are normally done in traditional classrooms and we explain how to adapt them for the online environment.

1. 'Two Truths and a Lie' Icebreaker

This is a classic icebreaker, which can be adapted to an online class.

Instructions

1. Ask one participant to write three statements about themselves: 2 true and 1 false.

2. Ask the other participants to vote on which statements are true and which is false.

3. After the first person has shared their statement and the group has decided which statement is false, the first person will reveal which statements were true and which one was false.

4. Move on until each person in the group has shared their statements.

5. The person who manages to correctly guess the most lies wins. Alternatively, you can play this game in a non-competitive way just for participants to get to know each other.

This is intended as a fun icebreaker so it's a nice activity for very early in any training or teaching.

Online tools you can use

2. Table Topics

Table topics are a set of cards, which you can find for sale online, on sites such as Amazon. Each card has a question on it to start a conversation and every pack of cards contains just over one hundred questions.

They are a great way to start a conversation for participants to get to know each other or to start a discussion on a specific topic. You can choose questions pertinent to the topic of your workshop

Instructions

You can type some of the questions from the card on a chat board and ask participants to write down their thoughts.

Alternatively, you could separate the participants into breakout rooms and assign each group one or two questions so that each person in the group can answer.

Some examples of questions include:

Is there such a thing as perfect?

Where would you most like to go and why?

Who's the funniest person you know?

Would you rather live for a week in the past or the future?

What is the meaning of 'peace' to you?

Who do you trust and why?

How would you describe your future in three words?

If you can go back in time to your 15-year-old self, what advice would you give your 15-year-old self?

What is your definition of being wealthy and why?

What can you do today that you were not capable of a year ago?

Online tools you can use

Breakout rooms (which are available in many web conferencing platforms, such as Zoom).

Online whiteboards and chats.

3. 'Three Words' Ice Breaker

This is a good warm-up activity and it can also be useful to discuss the importance of adapting to changing situations and thinking on one's feet.

Instructions

1. Ask participants to agree on a random topic. It can be anything from food to dogs, to rugby.

2. Explain that each person should contribute with three words to the story (and three words only at a time) and they will take turns to contribute.

3. Encourage the participants to say the first three words that come to their mind. It does not matter if they make sense or not.

4. Try to move from one person to the other quickly.

Online tools you can use

Online whiteboard, chat board, and other collaboration tools such as Padlet or Lino.

4. 'Same and Different' Team Building Game

The aim is to learn information about other people. Hence, this activity can be either a great icebreaker or a way for people within an established team to know each other better and communicate.

Instructions

Online tools you can use

Breakout rooms

Online whiteboard, chat board, and other collaboration tools such as Padlet or Lino.

5. 'Big Lottery Win' Warm-Up Activity

This game is good as a warm-up, for participants to familiarize themselves with each other and also to think creatively.

Participants can discuss together or be separated into breakout rooms, depending on the number of participants.

Instructions

1. Explain to the participants to imagine that they have just won the lottery. They have won 25 million Euros, GBP, dollars, or any big amount in the local currency of the country they are in.

2. Give participants 5 minutes to list all the things they would do with the money. There is no limit to the number of things they can put down, as long as they can write them within 5 minutes.

3. After 5 minutes are up, ask everyone to talk about their list and discuss.

4. If you wish to, you can then sort the items on the lists into logical groups that you will find naturally evolve according to:

1. Material items

2. Friends and family

3. Travel and luxury

5. Some other categories may also emerge

6. Allow 5 minutes for the group to discuss the list. This normally will occur very easily.

Online tools you can use

Online whiteboard, chat board, and other collaboration tools such as Padlet or Lino.

6. 'Storytelling' Icebreaker | Team-Building Activity

Because of the creative and cooperative nature of this game, it is a good activity to use either as an icebreaker or as a team-building activity. It can also be useful for a training session on creativity.

Instructions

1. In advance of the training session, prepare some documents or boards (you can use MS Word or create boards with an image manipulation program) with a set of 4 pictures on each.

2. On the training day, separate the participants into groups of 4 people in breakout rooms and assign each group one of the files with the photos.

3. Give the groups 10 minutes to look at the photos and to create their narrative that creates a story that connects the four images.

4. When the 10 minutes are up, ask each group to share their story onto a virtual board and to spend up to three minutes telling the story of their images. Allow other groups to then suggest how they might have developed the story and if they would have used the images differently.

Online tools you can use

Breakout rooms

Online whiteboard, chat board, other collaboration tools such as Padlet or Lino.

7. 'Introducing Each Other' - Ice Breaker

This is a good activity to get participants to get to know each other so that they find themselves in a familiar environment.

Participants can do this activity either before the session, in their own time, or during the session.

Instructions

1. Pair up participants in twos.

2. Give them a list of questions to ask each other.

3. Ask each pair to interview each other, either via email or in breakout rooms.

4. When all the participants convene together in the same virtual room, each participant will introduce the participant they interviewed.

Online tools you can use

8. 'Hope and Fears' Icebreaker

This is a classic icebreaker, which is good as a reflection tool or to assess what the participants' expectations are from the training.

Instructions

1. Ask participants to write down their greatest hope (for example, for the session, for the current year or for a specific project) and then their greatest fear.

2. In a face-to-face class, the participants differentiate the answers by, for example, writing each answer on a sticky note of a different color.
Online, you need to find another way to differentiate them. For example, you could use Padlet or Lino, which allow you to create virtual sticky notes of various colors.

3. Read all the hopes first and then the fears and discuss.

Online tools you can use

Online whiteboard, chat board, and other collaboration tools such as Padlet or Lino.

9. 'Childhood Dream' Ice-breaker

This icebreaker is useful to start a discussion on how priorities and goals can change throughout a person's life.

Instructions:

Online tools you can use:

Online whiteboard, chat board, other collaboration tools such as Padlet or Lino.

10. 'Take a Picture of Something' Class Activity

This is a fun activity, which is good to get people to know each other using visuals and creativity.

Instructions

1. Ask participants to take a picture of something.
Typically, you choose a specific theme. For example, ask participants to take a picture of their shoes or a picture of something that is on their workstation or the view outside their window.
Remember to ask participants to take a picture and upload it before the training session starts, as otherwise, it might take too much time out of the training session if they were to do it in real-time.

2. Ask participants to share the picture on a virtual board.

3. Start a discussion. For example, you could ask why they chose that particular item on their desk, or what they like the most about the view they can see from the window, etc.

Online tools you can use

Online whiteboard, chat board, other collaboration tools such as Padlet, Evernote, or Lino.

11. 'Asking Questions' Icebreaker

This is a good way for participants to get to know each other in a relaxed manner.

Remember to ask questions that are light-hearted though, as you want to start on a positive note.

Instructions

Online tools you can use

Online whiteboard, chat board, other collaboration tools such as Padlet, Evernote, or Lino.

Tools that allow you to create a survey, such as Survey Monkey or Google Forms or a wiki, such as Slimiwiki.

>> Buy course training materials

12. 'Show a Map' Fun Teaching Activity

This is a good activity if your participants are located in many different geographical locations.

Instructions

Online whiteboard, chat board, other collaboration tools such as Padlet, Evernote, or Lino.

Tools that allow you to create a survey, such as Survey Monkey or Google Forms or a wiki, such as Slimiwiki.

Online tools you can use

13. 'Lost in Space' Online Training Activity

This is a good activity to get to know participants in a way other than just asking the usual questions.

1. Ask the participants to imagine that they are living in a space station. All of a sudden, the space station malfunctions and they have to evacuate. They are only allowed to take 5 items with them. Which items would they choose?

2. Ask participants to share their answers in the chatbox, explaining why they chose those five items.

Instructions

Online whiteboard, chat board, other collaboration tools such as Padlet, Evernote, or Lino.

Tools that allow you to create a survey, such as Survey Monkey or Google Forms or a wiki, such as Slimiwiki.

Online tools you can use

14. One Word (or One Image) Activity

This is another activity suitable for participants to share information about themselves creatively.

Ask participants to choose one word that best describes them or their life and to explain why.
Alternatively, you can ask them to choose an image (they can download it from the Internet or take a picture with their smartphone, for example).

Ask them to share their answers via the chat feature or on a virtual whiteboard.

Instructions

Online whiteboard, chat board, other collaboration tools such as Padlet, Evernote, or Lino.

Tools that allow you to create a survey, such as Survey Monkey or Google Forms or a wiki, such as Slimiwiki.

Online tools you can use

15. 'One Random Object' Virtual Training Activity

This icebreaker is a fun game, aimed at making participants feel relaxed and creating a sense of community. You could also use it as an energizer, if needed, when you sense that your participants are losing focus.

1. Ask a participant to pick one random object that is in their room and not tell anyone what it is.

2. Explain that the other participants will have to guess what it is, by asking questions that require a yes or no answer.

Instructions

You could use a chat board for this, but it is not necessary. You could just run the activity by speaking and maybe use a virtual board to record the scores. You can also, if you wish to, make it a competition, whereby the participant who correctly guesses the most objects wins.

Online tools you can use

16. 'Accomplished Goals' Online Group Activity

This is a good activity to focus on positive things (i.e. people's achievements). It is also a networking tool, as participants could be interested in achieving the same goal that another person in the group has achieved and whom they might ask for advice from.

Instructions:

You could use a chat board for this, but it is not necessary. You could just run the activity by speaking and maybe use a virtual board to summarize the discussion at the end and highlight what can be learnt from each person's experience.

Online tools you can use:

17. 'Describe Yourself in a Tweet' Activity

This activity is different from the traditional introduce yourself type activities, in that it has an additional challenge. That is, participants have to manage to communicate as effectively as they can, using a very limited number of characters.

There is a limitation to this activity though, as participants will need to have a Twitter account and not worry about their tweets being seen by everyone as tweets are public (direct messages used to be limited to 140 characters but, in 2015, the limit was extended to 10,000 characters).

1. Ask participants to describe themselves in a tweet.

2. You could do this activity before the training session and then take screenshots of the Tweets to show during the online class.

Instructions

Twitter social media account for you and the participants.

Online tools you can use

18. 'Bingo' Icebreaker

This is a classic icebreaker that can be adapted for online teaching.

In a traditional face-to-face session, you would prepare a table with a series of interesting facts and then give each participant a copy of the sheet so they can move around the room trying to find somebody to whom that fact applies.

1. To run the activity online, create a 5 by 5 table with interesting facts, one for each box of the table. For example, you could write things such as: speaks more than two languages, has been to Argentina, etc. Or, it would be a good idea to tie the facts with the topic of the class.

2. Share the file with the table with your participants, either in advance or during the session. You can share by email, through the file-sharing feature of the web conferencing system, or with an online sharing tool such as Google docs, Dropbox, or Evernote. Alternatively, you could do the activity in real-time using a tool such as Padlet or Lino.

3. Ask participants to write their name under each of the statements that apply to them.

4. Ask participants to share the answers and discuss.

Instructions

Online whiteboard, chat board, other collaboration tools such as Padlet, Evernote, or Lino.

Tools that allow you to create a survey, such as Survey Monkey or Google Forms or a wiki, such as Slimiwiki.

Email

Online tools you can use

19. 'Interests and Hobbies' Activity Online

This activity helps participants to get to know each other but with an element of fun.

Ask participants to post three links that reflect their hobbies.

The other participants have to guess what their hobbies are.

Instructions

Online whiteboard, chat board, other collaboration tools such as Padlet, Evernote, or Lino.

Online tools you can use

20. 'Time Machine' Virtual Training Activity

This activity is suitable for those who like history and as a trainer, it can help you to introduce a bit of imagination to your icebreaker.

1. Ask your participants: 'If you could go back or forward in time, where would you go?' 'Why?' You can then follow up with questions such as 'Is there a person you would like to meet?'

2. Ask participants to share the answers.

Instructions

Online whiteboard, chat board, other collaboration tools such as Padlet, Evernote, or Lino.

Tools that allow you to create a survey, such as Survey Monkey or Google Forms or a wiki, such as Slimiwiki.

Online tools you can use

21. 'Where in the World' Icebreaker for Online Training

This is another game that allows participants to know each other in a fun way.

Instructions

Online whiteboard, chat board, other collaboration tools such as Padlet, or Lino.

>> Buy course training materials

Online tools you can use

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21 Free fun Icebreakers for Online Teaching and virtual remote teams

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Free activities and icebreakers for online teaching for freelance online trainers or teachers. Virtual classroom lessons and workshop fun team-building games.

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elieve it or not, teachers can create inclusive learning environments even though students may not be physically present in the classroom this fall.

Using research-based teaching strategies and activities, teachers can build an online community that is inclusive of students with a wide variety of abilities and interests. These teaching techniques can facilitate inclusion. Thus, not only will the student be present in the daily lessons, but he or she will also be an active participant.

Most importantly, students will continue to have opportunities to develop their social, emotional, physical, and intellectual abilities.

In this post, I list 10 easy ways for teachers to make their virtual classroom inclusive of all students, regardless of ability. It is important to note that the activities are suggested with the following assumptions in mind:

Your students have access to the school learning platform.

Your students has the necessary supports in place to be able to use the school learning platform.

Your students are participating in a way that is most appropriate and comfortable for them.

The activities will be delivered using the appropriate goals, accommodations, and modifications that are outlined in the student's 504 Plan or Individual Education Plan.

who recommends making the survey as an assignment rather than an option. Here is another example from All About Me! - This traditional beginning-of-the-year activity doesn't have to be dropped just because classes are online. Use this activity (whether by survey, questionnaire, or project) to find out about your student's likes, dislikes, learning preferences, favorite subjects, and more. The wealth of information that you collect will help you plan future lessons and activities. Check out this great example from teacher Catlin Tucker Modern Homeschool Family:

Set the Stage - Even though instruction will be delivered virtually, it is still important to set student expectations. Furthermore, these expectations should be explicitly taught so all students understand what is asked of them. For example, students must learn how to respond to instruction appropriately online. The teacher might have them use an emoji, a hand signal, or respond in the chat box depending on the lesson. Have a look at this videothat discusses classroom etiquette when learning online.

Routine Round-Up- Ensure that routines are established in your virtual classroom. Routines provide predictability and security in addition to helping students develop their executive functioning skills. For example, create routines for students to sign in and out of class, submit homework, and take bathroom breaks during instruction. You can use this checklist by Carrie Presley to help you create your own procedures.

Make a Class Motto - Class mottos are a great way to develop a positive, class culture. They can help build class relationships, confidence, and purpose. With your class, brainstorm a motto that you and your students can refer to at different times in the school day and/or year. Have a look at these helpful steps for making a class motto! Also, check out my teacher resource book, Inclusion in Action, for reasons why class mottos are essential.

Morning Meeting - This powerful activity can be just as effective online as it is in the physical classroom. Regardless of grade, set aside some time at the begi nning of the school day to welcome students to class, outline the agenda for the day, make important announcements, and ask students how they are doing. Check out this link for examples of Morning Meeting activities that can be adapted for a variety of grade levels.

Who Am I? - Now, more than ever, our students need to connect with one another. Social distancing and self-isolation over the past few months severely limited the time that students interacted with one another. Make sure to build time in the day for students to socialize and build relationships. Games such as, "Guess Who" is a great icebreaker that allows students to share information about themselves. Classmates are given clues about a "mystery student" (such as their favorite sport or favorite place to visit) and asked to guess their identity. Look at this linkfor an example of a "Who Am I" template which can be adapted for different grade levels.

, students turn "mistakes" into masterpieces. Using a doodle created by the teacher, students can work together or independently to turn the doodle into a drawing. Afterwards, the students can share their artwork and discuss how oftentimes the mistakes we make aren't so bad after all. Freeze Game - Not all our students will be able to sit and pay attention to a class lesson on a computer screen. Be sure to build in breaks that get kids moving and keep their brain engaged in learning. Playing a simple game such as "Freeze" will give all kids some time to shake, squirm, and wiggle. Simply ask the students to stop what they are doing and move their bodies in some way (dance, jump, shake, etc.). As soon as you say the word, "Freeze", they are to immediately stop (no matter what position they are in). Make sure to explain the activity before trying it and practice it a few times so students understand how the game works. This video offers some different ways of playing the game and can be adapted to the online learning environment. Let's Do Lunch- Building connections with our students online is just as important as it is in the physical classroom. Students still feel the need to belong in a safe, warm, and welcoming environment. In return, teachers have the opportunity to get to know their student's interests, talents, and challenges. Invite a small group of students (depending on the student and their comfort level) to have a virtual lunch break with you. Rotate the students through the year and enjoy the time you have getting to know them! Here is an exampleon how to plan a virtual lunch with your students. Mistakes are Meant to be Made - As students adjust to a way of learning, teachers can create a safe online space where patience is practiced and mistakes can be made. In this activity borrowed from , Zoo U Go to this link and show your students some examples of accidental art!

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10 Easy Ways to Create an Inclusive Virtual Classroom

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elieve it or not, teachers can create inclusive learning environments even though students may not be physically present in the classroom this fall. Using research-based teaching strategies and activities, teachers can build an online community that is inclusive of students with a wide variety of abilities and interests.

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Button-Based Hompage

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Canvas for Littles Series: Creating a Button-Based Homepage