Learning patterns/Icebreaker

Icebreaker
problemYou want to make the people attending your event relaxed, excited, and ready to work together.
solutionOrganize an icebreaker game at the beginning of your event that encourages people to move around, meet each other, and (if possible) laugh
creator• Jtmorgan
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created on21 October, 2013
Category:Learning patterns Category:Teamwork patternsCategory:Pages using Probox


Having fun in a group exercise at Wikimania 2013 Grantmaking Learning Day

What problem does this solve?

People who find themselves in a room full of strangers sometimes don't want to introduce themselves. But most Wikimedia events are supposed to be interactive and collaborative, which doesn't work as well if people don't want to talk to each other.

What is the solution?

Have an icebreaker game at the beginning of your event. A good icebreaker can help people relax and start having fun, while they get to know each other.


General considerations

Examples

  • Wikimedia Italy organized an icebreaker at their 2013 Wikimedia conference where attendees were divided in groups of 4-5 people each and they had to find a way to throw an egg out of a window and make sure it didn't break; building some kind of "device" to protect the egg using only straws and tape (provided by the facilitators).[1]
  • Once people know some editing, you can ask participants to leave a message on the talk page of the person to their left.

Endorsements

See also

References

Category:Learning patterns Category:Event management learning patterns Category:Programs learning patterns Category:Draft learning patterns Category:Learning patterns not yet ready for translation Category:Communications learning patterns Category:Participation learning patterns Category:Low complexity learning patterns
Category:Communications learning patterns Category:Draft learning patterns Category:Event management learning patterns Category:Learning patterns Category:Learning patterns not yet ready for translation Category:Low complexity learning patterns Category:Pages using Probox Category:Participation learning patterns Category:Programs learning patterns Category:Teamwork patterns