Build Community From “Hello”: Course Introductions
Student introductions are more than icebreakers; they’re an opportunity to foster connection, reduce anonymity, and humanize your course. Multimedia tools like Padlet, VoiceThread, and Moodle Forums give students creative ways to express themselves and begin forming community from day one.
Padlet
Best for quick, visual and creative sharing. Here are some tips and ideas using Padlet.
- Use a “Meet the Class” Padlet wall where students upload a photo or selfie, write a short intro, and answer a fun prompt like “What’s one thing we’d never guess about you?”
- Encourage students to comment or emoji-react on at least two other posts to spark interaction.
- Try the “Shelf” or “Map” layout if organizing by section or geographic location.
- Students can include GIFs, drawings, or short video/audio clips directly from the Padlet interface.
VoiceThread
Best for personal, expressive voice and video introductions. Here are some tips and ideas using VoiceThread.
- Set up a VoiceThread with a prompt slide (e.g., “Tell us about you!”) and invite students to record a voice or video response.
- Offer the option to respond with audio-only for those who are camera-shy, while still encouraging visual engagement.
- Ask students to reply to a classmate’s post to practice verbal interaction early in the course.
- Model it first! Post your own friendly video intro to break the ice.
Moodle Forums
Best for asynchronous dialogue and peer-to-peer conversation. Here are some tips and ideas using Moodle Forums.
- Start a “Welcome Forum” and ask students to upload a short video clip, a photo, or even a recording.
- Add a fun or themed question (e.g., “What’s your favorite place to learn?” or “What’s your ‘learning superpower’?”) to make responses more meaningful.
- Encourage students to reply to at least two others to build momentum and engagement.
- Let students choose their format (text, image, video) to promote comfort and creativity.
Ready to build community from day one? Check out these related articles from DELTA’s Teaching Resources library to learn more.
