A well-thought-out icebreaker can transform uncomfortable silence at the start of your online classes into lively discussions that encourage each student to loosen up and engage in the virtual lesson ahead. And since online learning is here to stay, it’s helpful to have a few solid icebreakers in your arsenal, especially on the first day of class.

Looking for a few ways to kick start your first Zoom class next term? Here are eight Zoom icebreakers to help you and your students get to know each other.

1. Try an “Introduce Yourself” Icebreaker

Want an easy icebreaker that helps you and your students get to know each other without taking up too much time? Try a simple“introduce yourself” prompt.

You could ask each student to directly say their name, why they’re interested in the course, and what they’re hoping to achieve by the end.

Throw in a fun question or two as well. Ideas for questions can include:

  • What’s the last thing that’s happened that’s made you cheer?
  • What superpower would you choose?
  • What’s a hidden talent of yours?
  • What’s a movie/book/show you wish you could watch or read for the first time again?

You could also consider relating the “fun” question to your class’s topic. For instance, if it’s a marketing class, ask what campaign has caught their attention recently. If a business course, encourage them to share a business they feel is making a positive impact on the world.

2. Play “Things in Common” Using Zoom Breakout Rooms

Looking to initiate interactions and foster connection among your students? Maximize the Zoom breakout rooms to help students learn more about each other.

Create groups of three to five students (you can even use a random group generator) and place them in an individual breakout room. Then, have them list at least three things they all have in common.

To speed it up, set a countdown timer so students are automatically returned to the main class, where each group will share their common interests with the rest of the class.

To make the experience even more personal, have each student add context such as a personal story related to the common fact. Consider pre-assigning students to breakout rooms before the lesson to save time. Check out how to pre-assign Zoom breakout rooms to help you get started.

3. Play Charades

Sure, charades is a classic game played physically, but you can adapt it into a fantastic ice breaker for your college Zoom class with a bit of creativity.

For example, use the name picker on Zoom to randomly select a player, send a secret word to them via Zoom chat and then have them act it out. The rest should guess the answer until they get it right.

4. Play Two Truths and a Lie

This is an interactive icebreaker that never grows old. Have the students write down two truths and one lie about themselves. Then, have them read it to the class while the rest of the class tries to guess the lie.

By the end of the exercise, you and the class will have learned unique tidbits about each other, easing any first-day tension and motivating students with common facts to interact. Plus, you could even share a fact about yourself that’ll help make you more relatable to the students.

5. Ask Students to Share a Recent Photo

A fun way to make use of photos and visual content is to ask students to share the most recent photo they captured and succinctly tell the story behind it. At the end of the game, participants will have shared new facts about themselves.

6. Have Fun with Virtual Backgrounds

If you prefer a fun but quick icebreaker that’ll help your students know each other, have everyone switch their Zoom background to something they find fun or interesting.

Once the backgrounds are up, briefly explain your background and encourage the students to do the same. This will help your students familiarize themselves with you and each other.

Note: as the admin, you’ll have to enable the virtual background feature for the students to use it. Here’s how to get this set up.

7. Ask “How’s Your Mood?”

If you’re looking to start a conversation and get a general idea about how each student feels about the class and course ahead, “how’s your mood” is an excellent icebreaker to try.

You might ask them to submit an emoji that best describes their current state of mind. Based on the results, you can tell whether your students are enthusiastic about the lesson. If most of them aren’t feeling it, this is an opportunity to make it better for them and deliver impactful learning since you can always ask them to share thoughts on how to improve it.

8. Break the Ice

Online learning can be convenient for both instructors and students. However, Zoom classes can make it more challenging to connect with students or foster interaction between them.

Use the icebreakers above to encourage interactions and learn more about your students while enabling them to know each other.

Finally, consider asking your class what they find difficult about online learning. Use this as an opportunity to encourage participation by having other students share ideas or suggestions they feel will address the issue best. This will help you create a supportive, engaging environment for your students to learn.

If you’re a faculty member looking for more ways to engage your students, consider incorporating interactive course materials such as Lumen Learning to enhance the online learning experience for students and achieve more impactful teaching practices.

If this sounds interesting, Request a Demo of Lumen today.