Ice Breakers – Starting the Online Discussion
Research has shown that addressing social presence and building a sense of belonging can encourage those who are less certain to join in (Garrison & Arbaugh, 2007). One technique to encourage students to engage in a discussion is to create a Starter Activity or Ice Breaker. This activity can take place in its own place or folder and can be the first activity for students before tackling more in-depth discussions related to readings, video lecturers or other content.
