Icebreakers

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Icebreakers
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What are icebreakers?

• Icebreakers are tools and/or short exercise
  that enables interaction, stimulate creative
  thinking, challenge basic assumptions, illustrate
  new concepts, and introduce specific material.

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Icebreakers are used in group processes or
projects to

• Help a group get acquainted and feel more
  comfortable with each other.
• Creates a non-threatening environment and trust
  within a group.
• Provide a preview of topic for discussion.
• Teach a skill.
• Encourages people to have fun and participate.

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Icebreakers are also used to

• Evoke a response
• Create awareness
• Move a team forward in a project

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How are icebreakers used?

• Used anytime during the meeting
• Appropriate to the group, application, or content
• Structured

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Icebreakers work best when participants are
given

• rationale for the activity.
• objectives of the activity.
• structure of the activity.
• opportunity to ask questions.
• permission to participate at their own level of
  comfort.

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Examples of Icebreakers

• Change
• Warhead Exercise

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Examples of Icebreakers

• Awareness
• Recall Exercise

DE-X-ES
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Examples of Icebreakers

• Introduce topic for discussion
• Cartoon Qualities

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Icebreaker Resources

• http//www.odportal.com/training/icebreakers.htm
• http//www.humanpingpongball.com/index.html
• http//www.astd.org
• Local Library