Don’t make the opening activity a throw-away; it’s prime real estate.
A great opener arouses curiosity and interest, gets people’s attention, and brings people into the headspace of learning. Our brains are wired to remember what we do first and last in a series of items – the Serial Position Effect. The first several minutes are also an excellent time to help participants get to know each other a little and relieve stress, which is the purpose of Icebreakers. You have a great opportunity to create a meaningful opening activity that also facilitates the participant interactions we seek.
Rethink the Icebreaker
If you have been to a workshop, you’ve taken part in an Icebreaker. Taking place at the beginning, they are designed to help us interact with other participants in new group situations, create community, and help people relax and be ready to learn. Admit it, though, as a participant, it can be something we dread. It may seem too random or like a waste of precious time to hear everyone’s favourite hobby or find an item on your desk that starts with the letter “B.” Not to mention, it’s not naturally easy for everyone to participate. Even if attendees understand that the interaction is what is important, not the topic, it can be stress-inducing, reducing our ability to learn. What if you could encourage interaction and engagement but improve reception and accomplish more?
Harness the Serial Position Effect for Good
Imagine better aligning your workshop design with the grain of the brain and how human memory works. Consider the Serial Position Effect and be intentional about what you do first (and last) in a session. Create an effective opener that will both warm up attendees and get things rolling in the right direction. You can accomplish this by designing a starting activity related to your discussion content. It will bring everyone’s focus to the subject and position it to be remembered.
It Doesn’t Have to be Complicated
Asking an open-ended question or having people draw or write something that comes to mind when they hear a specific word or phrase can do the trick. Reflecting on a relevant quote, statistic, or cartoon works well online and in person. The key is to tie it into the workshop topic, making it feel more relevant and purposeful to participants. There are many options out there that can be adapted to your content and include different techniques for sharing and interaction.
BONUS TIP: Build up to Participation
Such activities can trigger anxiety about having to share suddenly, whether someone is an introvert or just hasn’t had enough coffee yet. Remember that stress can make learning more difficult. In your opening activity, allow people time to Think on their own before discussing it in a Pair and then Sharing it with the larger group. The Think, Pair, Share method (HyFlex ToolBox Series) promotes interaction in a way that builds safety and reduces the stress response, creating favourable learning conditions.
Create a Valuable Opener
The next time you design a workshop, think about that valuable real estate at the start of your session. There is no need to ditch the Icebreaker. There’s always space for some fun, silliness, and getting energized (which is also shown to improve learning outcomes). Transform it into a relevant and intentional opening activity to help it feel more meaningful and make your learning goals top-of-mind. Take advantage of how human brains learn and remember – all the while warming up the audience and setting the stage for learning.
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