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Learning patterns/Icebreaker

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Icebreaker
problemYou want to make the people attending your event relaxed, excited, and ready to work together.
solutionOrganize an icebreaker game at the beginning of your event that encourages people to move around, meet each other, and (if possible) laugh
creatorJtmorgan
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created on21 October, 2013


Having fun in a group exercise at Wikimania 2013 Grantmaking Learning Day

What problem does this solve?

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People who find themselves in a room full of strangers sometimes don't want to introduce themselves. But most Wikimedia events are supposed to be interactive and collaborative, which doesn't work as well if people don't want to talk to each other.

What is the solution?

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Have an icebreaker game at the beginning of your event. A good icebreaker can help people relax and start having fun, while they get to know each other.


General considerations

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Examples

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  • Wikimedia Italy organized an icebreaker at their 2013 Wikimedia conference where attendees were divided in groups of 4-5 people each and they had to find a way to throw an egg out of a window and make sure it didn't break; building some kind of "device" to protect the egg using only straws and tape (provided by the facilitators).[1]
  • Once people know some editing, you can ask participants to leave a message on the talk page of the person to their left.

Endorsements

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See also

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References

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