Breaking the Ice: Exploring Icebreakers and their Value

Event Date & Time

  • May 2, 2017
    9:15 am - 10:45 am

Event Description

Why do we need icebreakers? There are many reasons! For example, for learners they provide an opportunity to get to know the person they are sitting next to and may work with. For instructors, icebreakers play a role in building group cohesion and discovering group dynamics. But, not all icebreakers are the same. So, the question then becomes, when should we be using certain types of icebreakers over others? In this workshop, we will experience some icebreakers and explore the value they bring to your classrooms and learning activities that you may consider designing. This event is part of the Grad Mini Conference. See below for a full outline of events.

Learning Objectives:

1) Experience and examine the utility of icebreakers in the context of teaching and learning

2) Reflect and evaluate on the purpose and appropriateness of different icebreakers

Facilitated by: Arnab Ray & Katharina Rothe

Grad Mini Conference Schedule

Day 1: 9:15-4:45

9:15 OPENING: Dr. Joseph Topornycky, Manager of Graduate Student Programs, CTLT, UBC
9:15-10:45 60 min Participatory session: Breaking the Ice: Exploring Icebreakers and their value
(Arnab Ray & Katharina Rothe)
10:45-11:00 Break
11:00 – 12:00 60 min Participatory session: The Fundamentals of Developing Effective Learning Outcomes
(Gurprit Randhawa)
12:00-12:45 Lunch Break
12:45–2:30 Icebreaker/ energizer (Jens Vent-Schmidt)
90 min participatory session: Designing Classrooms that Promote Learner’s Awareness
(Mabel Ho, Arnab Ray & Jens Vent-Schmidt)
2:30-2:45 Break
2:45-3:45 60 min participatory session: Guidelines for Developing an Impressive Teaching Dossier/Portfolio
(Gurprit Randhawa)
3:45-4:00 Break Poster session:

  1. Connecting the Dots: A Practical Approach to Transforming Lesson Design (Mabel Ho & Jens Vent-Schmidt)
  2. Sociology TA Training (Silvia Bartolic)
  3. BioTAP: Biology Teaching Assistant Professional Development Program – Building a teaching community (Kathy Nomme)
  4. TA Professional Development in UBC Physics and Astronomy (Deborah Good, Jeff Bale & Dominik Neuenfeld)

 

4:00-4:20

 

Round tables:

  1. Fostering community of practice to support undergraduate learning (Stephanie Cheung, Laura Super, Analise Hofmann & Lachlan Caunt)
  2. How important is historical context within introductory classes? (Analise Hofmann, Laura Super & Stephanie Cheung)
  3. Facilitating content connections to undergraduate students’ daily lives (Laura Super, Stephanie Cheung, Sina Fazelpour & Amir Maleki)
  4. Understanding Learners & Learning (Shawn Hetherington)
  5. How should learners be changed by my discipline? (Joseph Topornycky)
4:20-4:25
(Break and Rotate)
4:25-4:45


Day 2:
9:30-4:30

9:30-11:15 Icebreaker/ energizer (Mabel Ho)
90 min participatory session: Creating Inclusive Classrooms: Universal Design for Learners
(Deborah Chen & Mabel Ho)
11:15-11:30 Break
11:30-12:30 60 min participatory sessions: Integrating Reflection into your Teaching Practice
(Jason McAlister)
12:30-1:15 Lunch break
1:15-1:45 30 min Presentation: Students as Public Scholars In Training
(Madeleine Ransom)
1:45-4:00 Panel:
Dr Glenn Deer, English Department, UBC
Dr Silvia Bartolic, Sociology Department, UBC
E. Jean Buckler,PhD Candidate, School of Kinesiology, UBC
Christine Sumner, PhD Candidate, Animal Welfare, UBC
4:00-4:30 CLOSING

Venue:  

Venue Website:

Address:
1961 East Mall V6T 1Z1, Vancouver

Description:

formerly Lillooet Room.