joseph,
"Icebreaker" activities are an effective way to get the class started. I also use icebreakers for the first day of the course, however I try to find new ways to deliver them. For instance, I may ask the students to interview classmates or conduct an impromptu, collaborative assignment before they get to know the other students. Either way, they typically establish a level of comfort with their peers and are able to have productive discussions thereafter.
Tremayne Simpson
