Education | Icebreaker Spot

### Intro

As an educator, I’m always looking for new and engaging ways to help my students connect with each other and the course material. One fun way to do this is by using education-themed “This or That” icebreaker questions. By asking questions related to learning styles, study habits, and career goals, you can create a dynamic and interactive atmosphere that encourages open communication, active listening, and critical thinking.

How to incorporate Education themed This or That questions

To incorporate education-themed “This or That” questions into your event, follow these steps:

Prepare a list of questions beforehand that are related to education, learning, and career development. You can find inspiration from researching educational theories, trends, and best practices.
Print out the questions on cards or display them on a screen or a poster board. Encourage your students to form small groups of 3-5 people and take turns asking each other the questions. You can also create a rotation system where each group moves on to the next question after a set amount of time (e.g., 2-3 minutes).
Make sure everyone has a chance to answer each question and listen actively to their responses. Encourage follow-up questions, comments, and discussions that build on the initial answers. You can also share your own insights and opinions about education to keep the conversation flowing.
After everyone has had a chance to answer all the questions, gather your students in a larger group and ask them to share their favorite or most surprising answers. You can also use this opportunity to highlight any commonalities or connections that emerged during the activity.
Consider using some of the insights or stories that came up during the “This or That” icebreaker as a springboard for further discussions, projects, and assignments throughout the semester. For example, you could create a group project based on exploring different learning styles or organize a career panel featuring professionals from various fields.

Ideas on different themes of questions

To keep your education-themed icebreaker questions fresh and engaging, you can explore different themes and categories that are relevant to the field. Here are some ideas:

Learning styles: Ask questions related to the different ways people learn and process information (e.g., “Do you prefer visual or auditory learning?” or “Which learning style do you find most effective for retaining information?”).
Study habits: Ask questions about how students approach their studies and manage their time (e.g., “Do you prefer to study alone or in groups?” or “How do you stay organized during finals week?”).
Career goals: Ask questions that help students reflect on their future plans and aspirations (e.g., “What type of job are you interested in after graduation?” or “What skills do you want to develop to achieve your career goals?”).
Teaching methods: Ask questions that explore different teaching styles, strategies, and technologies (e.g., “Do you prefer traditional lectures or interactive activities?” or “Which digital tool do you find most helpful for learning?”).
Diversity and inclusion: Ask questions that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in education (e.g., “What challenges have you faced in accessing education?” or “How can educators create a welcoming and inclusive classroom environment?”).

By incorporating these different themes of questions into your education-themed icebreaker activity, you can help students connect with each other, the course material, and their own learning journey. So why not give it a try and see how it can enhance your next class or workshop!

My favorite Education themed This or That questions

Reading textbooks or watching videos to learn?
Writing notes on paper or typing them on a laptop?
Studying alone or in a group?
Taking online classes or traditional classroom classes?
Printing out readings or reading them on a screen?
Listening to podcasts or reading articles to learn?
Studying early morning or late night?
Making flashcards or creating mind maps to study?
Using highlighters or taking written notes to study?
Attending big universities or smaller colleges?
Taking a gap year or going to college straight after high school?
Taking summer classes or having a summer job/internship?
Eating breakfast or skipping breakfast before class?
Studying intensely for one day or studying for a few hours each day?
Joining a club or playing intramural sports in college?
Taking electives in various fields or sticking to your major in college?
Participating in class discussions or sitting quietly and listening?
Using a planner or keeping everything in your head?
Living on-campus or off-campus during college?
Taking advanced placement (AP) classes or regular classes in high school?
Using a tutor or relying on your own self-study?
Going to a public or private college/university?
Using virtual reality technology or traditional lectures to learn?
Going to a local college or moving away from home for college?
Using mnemonic devices or repetition to memorize information?
Doing a thesis or a capstone project in college?
Going to office hours or asking for help online from professors?
Taking physical education classes or focusing solely on academics?
Attending lectures in person or watching recorded lectures at your own pace?
Using traditional textbooks or e-books for studying?

About the author

Jon Zajac

Founder & Chief Icebreaker

I started Icebreaker Spot because I truly believe that strong connections are the foundation of successful teams. I wanted to create a platform that would make it easy for people to find and share icebreakers and team building activities, empowering them to build trust, foster collaboration, and ultimately, achieve greatness together.