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Icebreaker
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Early in Module 1 participants are asked to cross the threshold and begin active participation by posting an 'icebreaker' on the theme of respect. This is a social ‘icebreaking' discussion that allows the new online learner to practice online discussion in a low threat, yet engaging fashion. What follows is a copy of the activity, and the post I used in the Fall 2002 session. I make it a habit to personally respond to every icebreaker post as a way of saying hello to my students. |
Activity 2: Respect Icebreaker: Getting to Know You
This is like introducing yourself on the first day of school. Please tell us:
- Your name and location on the planet.
- Your current work assignment.
- What does respect mean to you?
- What does it mean to show respect for someone?
- What does it mean to be shown respect by someone else?
In your first letter to the group, relate an experience you had where you showed respect to another. (Co-worker, student, spouse, friend, you decide.) Also, describe an important moment in your life when respect was shown to you. This will help us get to know each other. Please post your response to the course email list as soon as possible.
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Email Subject Line:
Mod 1: Icebreaker (Dennis O'Connor)
Hello everyone! My name is Dennis O'Connor, I'm the course author and instructor for this class. I'll be working with you from my home at Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada mountains. I live in California on the Nevada border. Since I'm up here at 6500' I suspect I'll see some snow before we're through. Right now it is magical Indian summer. My favorite time of year.
I work full time as an online instructor -- this after 26 years in school districts and public school classrooms, so the fall always seems like the right time to get back to work and learning.
When I hear the word respect I think of a lot of things.
I think of Aretha Franklin spelling it out.
I think of respect as the key to relationships, with a lot of empathy thrown in as well.
Respect means time, attention, and focus as well. I pay attention to people, ideas, institutions I respect. As a classroom teacher I wanted my feelings of respect to shine through to my students. It was modeling in part. But I still respect the kids I worked with. 15 years as a middle school teacher taught me to admire the incredible optimism and strength kids have as they take a daily emotional pummeling that would crush most adults. I tired (as best we can, giving what we deal with day in and day out) to show respect to my students. This meant not wasting their time, paying close attention to each individual's needs, and focusing on the job at hand. Bottom line, I gave the best I had at that given moment.
To be shown respect? I see it as the reciprocal of paying respect to others -- time, attention, focus.
That's why your decision to spend time here earns my respect. There's never enough time in a teacher's day. I respect you all for striving professionally (and for being pioneers seeking growth through online education.)
I welcome you all and look forward to learning with you in the coming months!
Dennis@Tahoe
ps. Let's all sign our posts with our names and locations? That way we can see who and where we are! |
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| On this page: |
| Module 1 Icebreaker and my first post to the entire class.
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