Icebreaker

ICEBREAKER

Also referred to as opener, icebreaker is a short activity or game designed to help participants, particularly strangers, of a learning or training event to overcome initial anxiety. It is a facilitation exercise intended to help participants to know one another and to begin the process of forming themselves into a team. It can be either a fun activity or one tied to specific topics or training goals. [1]

Functions of Icebreakers

Openers/Icebreakers contribute four basic functions to a group:

• Individual development - by encouraging alternatives, coping mechanisms and thinking.
• Team building - bonding through the completion of a task.
• Networking while becoming acquainted.
• Icebreaking - reducing tension and breaking the link with the workplace by focusing the learners'attention in the classroom.

Basic Types of Icebreakers

• Openers/Icebreakers that get people talking to each other, better communicate.
• Openers/Icebreakers that generate familiarity and cooperation through problem solving and successful task completion.
• Openers/Icebreakers that introduce concepts upon which the course will dwell in greater depth. ^[2]

Using Icebreakers

Job Aid Using Icebreakers

Web Resources

Below you have a list of selected websites where you can find some interesting examples of icebreakers:

Additional Materials

Openers - Icebreakers by Bob Pike Icebreakers and Teambuilding Exercices by P. Smith

References

1. ↑ E-Learning Solutions on a Shoestring, Jane Bozarth, 2005, www.thefreedictionary.com (29 July 2008), encarta.msn.com (29 July 2008), en.wikipedia.org (29 July 2008);
2. ↑ 50 Creative Training Openers and Energizers, Bob Pike and Lynn Solem, 2000, (27 October 2008);