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20 Interactive Classroom Activities for College Students [Plus: Free List of 45+ Activities]

Planning to use interactive classroom activities intentionally can really transform the learning dynamic. Here are 20 activities to get you started.

online activities for college students

Top Hat Staff

20 Interactive Classroom Activities for College Students [Plus: Free List of 45+ Activities]

How interactive are your classroom activities? Do you have less energy for class than you used to? Do you find student grades declining? And are the teaching methods you’ve always relied on not working as well as they once did? We spoke to two college instructors, Chris Merlo and Monika Semma. Their strategies for interactive classroom activities will energize your class and get the discussion moving again.

Table of contents

  • Why are interactive activities important in college?

6 community-building activities

5 communication activities for college students, 3 motivational activities for college students.

  • 6 team-building activities for college students

Interactive classroom activities, in short

Why are interactive classroom activities important.

Merlo, a computer science teacher, says that interactive classroom activities are not new to students, and one main reason why teachers have trouble connecting is that they fail to adapt to their students’ perspectives.

“My six-year-old son doesn’t find iPads amazing; to him, they’ve always just existed. Similarly, to a lot of students today, experiences like team exercises and flipped classrooms, while foreign to many instructors are not new.

“If we care about reaching today’s students, who seem to have a different idea of student responsibilities than we had, perhaps we have to reach them on their terms.

“In my thirties, I could still find a lot of similarities with my twenty-something students. But now, in my forties? Not so much. What I’ve started to realize is that it isn’t just the little things, like whether they’ve seen Ghostbusters. (They haven’t.) It’s the big things, like how they learn.”

Semma, a humanities TA, found that the chalk-and-talk approach failed on her first day in front of a class. “It was a lot like parallel parking in front of 20 people,” she said. “I looked more like a classmate. I dropped the eraser on my face whilst trying to write my name on the board. One of my students called me ‘mom.’”

“I chalked it up to first day jitters, but that same quietness crept its way back into my classroom for the next tutorial, and the next tutorial and the next. While nearly silent in class, my students were rather vocal in the endless stream of emails that flooded my inbox. That way I knew they wanted to learn. I also knew that I had to find a way to make tutorials more engaging.”

From these experiences, Merlo and Semma now share some interactive classroom activities for students and for teachers that can turn a quiet classroom full of people unwilling to speak up to a hive of debate, making the student learning experience more collaborative for everyone.

Energize your college classroom and get discussions flowing. Download The Best Classroom Activities for College Courses to engage and motivate students.

1. Open-ended questions

Chris Merlo: Open-ended questions don’t take any planning. All they take is a class with at least one student who isn’t too shy. I remember a class a few semesters ago that started with nine students. Due to a couple of medical conditions and a job opportunity, three of the students had to drop the semester. The problem was that these three students were the ones I counted on to ask questions and keep the class lively! Once I was left with six introverted people, conversations during class seemed to stop.

By luck, I stumbled on something that got the students talking again. I said, “What has been the most difficult thing about [the project that was due soon]?” This opened the floodgates—students love to complain, especially about us and our demands. This one simple question led to twenty minutes of discussion involving all six students. I wasn’t even sure what a couple of these students’ voices sounded like, but once I gave them an open-ended opportunity to complain about an assignment, they were off to the races. A truly successful classroom activity.

2. What’s wrong with this example?

Chris Merlo: Students also love to find a professor’s mistakes—like me, I’m sure you’ve found this out the hard way. When I teach computer science, I will make up a program that, for instance, performs the wrong arithmetic, and have students find the bug. In a particularly quiet or disengaged class, you can incentivize students with five points on the next exam, or something similar.

If you teach history, you might use flawed examples that change a key person’s name, such as “King Henry VIII (instead of King John) signed the Magna Carta in 1215,” or match a person to an incorrect event: “Gavrilo Princip is considered to have fired the first shot in the Spanish Civil War (instead of World War I).” Beam these examples on the whiteboard, and let the students’ competitiveness drive them to get the right answer before their classmates.

3. Let students critique each other

Chris Merlo: This can go badly if you don’t set some ground rules for civility, but done well, classroom activities like this really help open up collaborative learning. One of my colleagues devised a great exercise: First, give students about half of their class time to write instructions that an imaginary robot can understand to draw a recognizable picture, like a corporate logo, without telling students what will happen later. Then assign each student’s instructions to a randomly chosen classmate, and have the classmate pretend to be the robot, attempting to follow the instructions and draw the same logo.

After a few minutes, introduce a specific student who can share their results with the class, then ask their partner to share the initial instructions. This method gives students a chance to communicate with each other (“That’s not what I meant!”) and laugh and bond, while learning an important lesson.

This exercise teaches computer science students the difficulty and importance of writing clear instructions. I have seen this exercise not only teach pairs of such students meaningful lessons but encourage friendships that extended beyond my classroom.

Get students participating with these 45 classroom activities

4. Pass the “mic”

Monika Semma: As an instructor, it’s amazing how much information you can gather from a student-centered review session. Specifically, if you leave the review in the hands of your students, you can get an easy and thorough assessment of what is being absorbed, and what is being left by the wayside. The more you encourage participation, the more you’ll see where your class is struggling and the more comfortable students will become with course material. Here’s how to transform a standard review into one of your more popular classroom activities:

  • A week before the review, ask students to email you two to five key terms or theories that they feel they need to brush up on. Take all that data and compress it until you have a solid working list of what students want to review most.
  • In class, provide students with visual access to the list (I found writing all the terms on a chalkboard to be most effective). Instruct the class to have their notes out in front of them, with a pad of paper or blank Word document at their fingertips, and encourage them to take notes as the review is in progress.
  • A trinket of sorts (I highly recommend a plush ball), used as a “microphone,” helps to give students equal opportunity to direct the review without putting individuals on the spot too aggressively. The rules are simple: she or he who holds the “mic” can pick one term from the list and using their notes, can offer up what they already know about the term or concept, what they are unsure of, or what they need more elaboration on.
  • Actively listen to the speaker and give them some positive cues if they seem unsure; it’s okay to help them along the way, but important to step back and let this review remain student-centered. Once the speaker has said their piece, open the floor to the rest of the class for questions or additional comments. If you find that the discussion has taken a departure from the right direction, re-center the class and provide further elaboration if need be.
  • Erase each term discussed from the list as you go, and have the speaker pass (or throw) on the “mic” to a fellow classmate, and keep tossing the ball around after each concept/term is discussed.

Students will have a tendency to pick the terms that they are most comfortable speaking about and those left consistently untouched will give you a clear assessment of the subjects in which your class is struggling, and where comprehension is lacking. Once your class has narrowed down the list to just a few terms, you can switch gears into a more classic review session. Bringing a bit of interaction and fun into a review can help loosen things up during exam time, when students and teachers alike are really starting to feel the pressure.

5. Use YouTube for classroom activities

Monika Semma: Do you remember the pure and utter joy you felt upon seeing your professor wheel in the giant VHS machine into class? Technology has certainly changed—but the awesome powers of visual media have not. Making your students smile can be a difficult task, but by channeling your inner Bill Nye the Science Guy you can make university learning fun again.

A large part of meaningful learning is finding interactive classroom activities that are relevant to daily life—and I can think of no technology more relevant to current students than YouTube.

A crafty YouTube search can yield a video relevant to almost anything in your curriculum and paired with an essay or academic journal, a slightly silly video can go a long way in helping your students contextualize what they are learning.

Even if your comedic attempts plunge into failure, at the very least, a short clip will get the class discussion ball rolling. Watch the video as a class and then break up into smaller groups to discuss it. Get your students thinking about how the clip they are shown pairs with the primary sources they’ve already read.

6. Close reading

Monika Semma: In the humanities, we all know the benefits of close reading activities—they get classroom discussion rolling and students engaging with the material and open up the floor for social and combination learners to shine. “Close reading” is a learning technique in which students are asked to conduct a detailed analysis or interpretation of a small piece of text. It is particularly effective in getting students to move away from the general and engage more with specific details or ideas.

If you’re introducing new and complex material to your class, or if you feel as though your students are struggling with an equation, theory, or concept; giving them the opportunity to break it down into smaller and more concrete parts for further evaluation will help to enhance their understanding of the material as a whole.

And while this technique is often employed in the humanities, classroom activities like this can be easily transferred to any discipline. A physics student will benefit from having an opportunity to break down a complicated equation in the same way that a biology student can better understand a cell by looking at it through a microscope.

In any case, evaluating what kinds of textbooks, lesson plans and pedagogy we are asking our students to connect with is always a good idea.

Brainwriting

Group size: 10 students (minimum)

Course type: Online (synchronous), in-person

This activity helps build rapport and respect in your classroom. After you tackle a complex lecture topic, give students time to individually reflect on their learnings. This can be accomplished through guided prompts or left as an open-ended exercise. Once students have gathered their thoughts, encourage them to share their views either through an online discussion thread or a conversation with peers during class time.

Concept mapping

Collaborative concept mapping is the process of visually organizing concepts and ideas and understanding how they relate to each other. This exercise is a great way for students to look outside of their individual experiences and perspectives. Groups can use this tactic to review previous work or to help them map ideas for projects and assignments. For in-person classes, you can ask students to cover classroom walls with sticky notes and chart paper. For online classes, there are many online tools that make it simple to map out connections between ideas, like Google Docs or the digital whiteboard feature in Zoom.

Group size: Groups of 5–10 students 

Propose a topic or issue to your class. Group students together (or in breakout rooms if you’re teaching remotely) according to the position they take on the specific issue. Ask the groups of students to come up with a few arguments or examples to support their position. Write each group’s statements on the virtual whiteboard and use these as a starting point for discussion. A natural next step is to debate the strengths and weaknesses of each argument, to help students improve their critical thinking and analysis skills. 

Make learning active with these 45 interactive classroom activities

Compare and contrast

Group size: Groups of 5–10 students

Ask your students to focus on a specific chapter in your textbook. Then, place them in groups and ask them to make connections and identify differences between ideas that can be found in course readings and other articles and videos they may find. This way, they can compare their ideas in small groups and learn from one another’s perspectives. In online real-time classes, instructors can use Zoom breakout rooms to put students in small groups.

Assess/diagnose/act

This activity will improve students’ problem-solving skills and can help engage them in more dynamic discussions. Start by proposing a topic or controversial statement. Then follow these steps to get conversations going. In online classes, students can either raise their hands virtually or use an online discussion forum to engage with their peers. 

  • Assessment: What is the issue or problem at hand?
  • Diagnosis: What is the root cause of this issue or problem?
  • Action: How can we solve the issue?

Moral dilemmas

Group size: Groups of 3–7 students 

Provide students with a moral or ethical dilemma, using a hypothetical situation or a real-world situation. Then ask them to explore potential solutions as a group. This activity encourages students to think outside the box to develop creative solutions to the problem. In online learning environments, students can use discussion threads or Zoom breakout rooms.

Conversation stations

Group size: Groups of 4–6 students 

Course type: In-person

This activity exposes students’ ideas in a controlled way, prompting discussions that flow naturally. To start, share a list of discussion questions pertaining to a course reading, video or case study. Put students into groups and give them five-to-ten minutes to discuss, then have two students rotate to another group. The students who have just joined a group have an opportunity to share findings from their last discussion, before answering the second question with their new group. After another five-to-ten minutes, the students who haven’t rotated yet will join a new group.

This or that

Course type: Online (synchronous or asynchronous), in-person

This activity allows students to see where their peers stand on a variety of different topics and issues. Instructors should distribute a list of provocative statements before class, allowing students to read ahead. Then, they can ask students to indicate whether they agree, disagree or are neutral on the topic in advance, using an online discussion thread or Google Doc. In class, use another discussion thread or live chat to have students of differing opinions share their views. After a few minutes, encourage one or two members in each group to defend their position amongst a new group of students. Ask students to repeat this process for several rounds to help familiarize themselves with a variety of standpoints.

6 team-building classroom activities for college students

Snowball discussions  .

Group size: 2–4 students per group

Assign students a case study or worksheet to discuss with a partner, then have them share their thoughts with the larger group. Use breakout rooms in Zoom and randomly assign students in pairs with a discussion question. After a few minutes, combine rooms to form groups of four. After another five minutes, combine groups of four to become a larger group of eight—and so on until the whole class is back together again.

Make it personal

Group size: Groups of 2–8 students

After you’ve covered a topic or concept in your lecture, divide students into small discussion groups (or breakout rooms online). Ask the groups questions like “How did this impact your prior knowledge of the topic?” or “What was your initial reaction to this source/article/fact?” to encourage students to reflect on their personal connections to the course concepts they are learning.

Philosophical chairs

Group size: 20–25 students (maximum)

A statement that has two possible responses—agree or disagree—is read out loud. Depending on whether they agree or disagree with this statement, students move to one side of the room or the other. After everyone has chosen a side, ask one or two students on each side to take turns defending their positions. This allows students to visualize where their peers’ opinions come from, relative to their own.

Get more interactive classroom activities here

Affinity mapping

Group size: Groups of 3–8 students 

Course type: Online (synchronous)

Place students in small groups (or virtual breakout rooms) and pose a broad question or problem to them that is likely to result in lots of different ideas, such as “What was the greatest innovation of the 21st century?” or “How would society be different if  _____ never occurred?” Ask students to generate responses by writing ideas on pieces of paper (one idea per page) or in a discussion thread (if you’re teaching online). Once lots of ideas have been generated, have students begin grouping their ideas into similar categories, then label the categories and discuss why the ideas fit within them, how the categories relate to one another and so on. This allows students to engage in higher-level thinking by analyzing ideas and organizing them in relation to one another. 

Socratic seminar

Group size: 20 students (minimum)

Ask students to prepare for a discussion by reviewing a course reading or group of texts and coming up with a few higher-order discussion questions about the text. In class, pose an introductory, open-ended question. From there, students continue the conversation, prompting one another to support their claims with evidence from previous course concepts or texts. There doesn’t need to be a particular order to how students speak, but they are encouraged to respectfully share the floor with their peers.

Concentric circles

Group size: 20 students (maximum)

Students form two circles: an inner circle and an outer circle. Each student on the inside is paired with a student on the outside; they face each other. Pose a question to the whole group and have pairs discuss their responses with each other. After three-to-five minutes, have students on the outside circle move one space to the right so they are standing in front of a new person. Pose a new question, and the process is repeated, exposing students to the different perspectives of their peers.

Making your classes more interactive should help your students want to come to class and take part in it. Giving them a more active role will give them a sense of ownership, and this can lead to students taking more pride in their work and responsibility for their grades.

Use these 45 classroom activities in your course to keep students engaged

A more interactive class can also make things easier for you—the more work students do in class, the less you have to do. Even two minutes of not talking can re-energize you for the rest of the class.

Plus, these six methods outlined above don’t require any large-scale changes to your class prep. Set up a couple of activities in advance here and there, to support what you’ve been doing, and plan which portion of your class will feature them.

The reality remains that sometimes, students do have to be taught subject matter that is anything but exciting. That doesn’t mean that we can’t make it more enjoyable to teach or learn. It may not be possible to incorporate classroom activities into every lecture, but finding some room for these approaches can go a long way in facilitating a positive learning environment.

And let’s not forget, sometimes even an educator needs a brief departure from the everyday-ordinary-sit-and-listen-to-me-lecture regimen.

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53 Virtual Activity Ideas to Keep College Students Engaged During COVID-19

online activities for college students

Most student affairs professionals pursued this field because we adore connecting with students.

We imagine hours spent chatting on campus and planning programs together. But for many folx, that’s simply not possible right now. (I’m glaring angrily at you, COVID-19.)

Yet, given our patented tenacious #SApro spirits, we won’t let little things like campus closures and the complete disruption of our daily lives spoil all of our activities.

ad with a link for 'take your campus virtual with Presence'

Instead, we adapt. SA pros nationwide are looking for activities that can be run virtually. Although our students cannot physically enter a set campus space together, we want them to log on, plug in, and engage with one another remotely. 

So, to get you started, my coworkers and I put our brains together and came up with 53 suggestions of activities that can be run and enjoyed through the magic of technology. Enjoy!

(Ah, but first, be sure to read up on tips — like these from the University of Maine — on facilitating online discussions. Sure, you’re likely an unofficial expert at in-person facilitation, but online chats and webinars require additional skills and insights.)

Mainly for fun

1. playlists.

Get your students in tune with one another by encouraging them to contribute to a collaborative playlist . You could even have a Playlist of a Day, inviting everyone to listen to a set of songs curated by students or staff. 

Perhaps you’d like to create a playlist with song titles that cleverly allude to digital technology or dealing with change . Rita Wilson made a great “Quarantunes” playlist that I’ve been jamming out to. 

2. Dance Parties

Speaking of jamming out, you can dedicate some time each day or week to virtual dance parties. In the morning, energize students by tweeting out a video of a catchy pop tune. Or in the afternoon, help students stay awake with a quick digital dance-off to the best boy bands, show tunes, or your institution’s fight song.

Note: No ballet barres, tap shoes, or the slightest bit of dance talent required. 

3. Movie discussions

Go ahead; make students’ day. Pick a film or TV show that can be streamed for free from Vudu or Tubi . Give students a few days to watch it, then gather them online to discuss their favorite bits and the storyline’s relevance to their lives.

4. Paint classes

Get your Bob Ross on! Perhaps an art instructor or a talented student can host, guiding students through a fairly simple landscape or object to paint.

True, most students probably won’t happen to have paint supplies at home, but the video can be relaxing in and of itself. You could also make it interactive, with students making suggestions to the painter. (“Use bright blue!” “Add an owl to the tree!” “More glitter!”)

5. Youtube Video of the Day 

Pick a staff, faculty member, or student of the day to showcase their favorite YouTube video. By setting a time limit of five minutes or less per video, you can encourage folx to savor a quick laugh, a bit of inspiration, or some animal cuteness — without much of a commitment. (I’ll start off with this contribution .)

6.Video performances

You may have acting majors or theater troupe performers who had been rehearsing for weeks, only to have their shows canceled or indefinitely postponed due to the coronavirus. So, reach out and see if they’d be interested in performing via video conference. 

They may not be able to pull off a full-scale production, but a comedic monologue or broadway show tune can still be highly entertaining. Perhaps a band or a capella group would like to perform, with each member doing their part from home. 

7. Improv games

Whose line is it anyway? Your students’!

Many improv games can be slightly adapted to work well virtually, including One Word Story , Convergence , and 5 Things .

8. Door decoration classes

Who says you need a residence hall to put up door decs ? 

Enlist some RAs to show off how they crafted their most masterful door decorations. Students watching the recording or livestream can follow along, making decorations to hang up in their homes.

If possible, try to focus on decorations that require only limited supplies, as students are unlikely to have a whole art supply store stored away at home.

9. Weird holiday celebrations  

Every day is a holiday. Obscure ones like National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day (April 2), International Juggler’s Day (April 18), and Lost Sock Memorial Day (May 9) can inspire quirky digital celebrations or simply daily notifications that’ll make students smile.

Ah, and of course may the force be with you to celebrate May 4, aka Star Wars Day. You could organize a tournament of Star Wars games , ask students to vote on a character bracket , or host a trivia show . Disney even has a free downloadable activity sheet .

10. Hobby Webinars

Are you a pro at origami? Have a coworker with a knack for crocheting? Know a student who always manages to take the perfect mobile phone photos?

Consider passing these hobbies on to students through 101 webinars. Participants will learn something new and the experienced hobbyists will get some fun teaching experiences.

Alternatively, you can search YouTube for tutorials to watch together. Embrace how bad you’ll be at it initially; it can be relatable and hilarious.

Now excuse me while I learn how to make towel animals .

11. MTV Cribs

Remember MTV Cribs , through which celebrities showed off their homes? Well, your students likely don’t have pure gold staircases, exotic pets, or eight-car garages, but they still may love showing off the decor in their homes. 

Be sure to emphasize the creativity of their home stylings and the fun of the videos, rather than the wealth put into their homes. 

12. Word searches and crosswords

Word puzzles are a great mix of rewarding and challenging. You can find numerous premade ones online, or better yet, create your own word search or crossword puzzle . Consider incorporating words related to your institution, classes, or, for a smaller group of students whom you know well, inside jokes.

Friendly Competition

13. pet photo competitions.

Who wouldn’t smile at a dog in a tutu? A hamster with a bowtie? A cat in a hat? Ask students to post their photos on social media with a hashtag like #PresenceUniversityPets or #PetsOfPresenceU. 

You could even have daily contest themes, such as moods or characters for pets to convey. Add in a capture contest for some extra engagement!

14. Charades

With a video platform, charades can be fun, energizing, and challenging. You can generate charade prompts here or use the free Charades! app . 

15. Live game shows

Use a tool like Kahoot or Quizziz to challenge students to a fun round (or two or 50) of trivia. You could get creative with themes that are either serious (such as national news, politics, and institutional history) or wacky (like types of pasta, famous Instagram cats, and memes.) Each day’s top scorer can earn the privilege of creating the next day’s questions. 

16. E-Sports tournaments

E-Sports are one of the few activities that COVID-19 can’t put a damper on. Many institutions already have varsity e-Sports programs. But for the less e-athletically inclined, consider creating intramural teams . Enlist some veterans to teach newbies how to play.

17. TikTok competitions

This could be like a film festival, minus the red carpet. Even if you are far from proficient in the art of TikTok-ing, many of your Gen-Z students are likely experts and can take the helm on creating and managing a competition.

18. Internet scavenger hunts

Scavenger hunts always involve, well, scavenging. But it doesn’t have to be conducted through a physical realm; you can go digital. Think of your institution’s various webpages and social media accounts as the locations that participants have to search through. Incorporate cryptic clues, graphics with double-meanings, and embedded games or videos to lead students on a wild internet chase.

Here are some scavenger hunt ideas . To digitize it, simply instruct students to take screenshots or find clues within web pages, rather than taking photos or collecting physical items.

19. Board game tournaments

Get board, not bored. Students can join multiplayer board games through Pogo , Tabletopia , or Poki . Score!

20. Bad joke contests

“I like elephants. Everything else is irrephalant.”

I also like bad jokes like that one… and I bet many of your students do, too. So, ask your students to submit and/or perform their best so-bad-they’re-good jokes live via video conference.

Students who are parents can also have their kids join in on the fun!

Both laughs and groans are guaranteed. 

online activities for college students

21. Karaoke or lip-sync 

Use an online karaoke catalog like Karafun , SingSnag , or Smule for an off-the-charts competition. Or, you can simply search for karaoke versions of popular songs on YouTube. 

22. Make-Your-Own Holiday competitions

Remember those eccentric holidays I mentioned in idea #9? It seems like just about anyone can dream a holiday into existence, so why not your students? 

Have them propose an original holiday, complete with traditions, mythology, and associated foods. The entire student body or select judges vote on the winner, which your entire campus community can celebrate together a few days or weeks later.

Co-curricular learning

23. recordings of previous guest speakers.

Don’t let the words of wisdom that were previously brought to your campus from guest speakers disappear into the abyss. 

If you recorded video or audio or transcribed their speech, share it again. You could follow it up with a group discussion. Perhaps the speaker will even be available and willing to video conference in for a Q&A session or follow-up speech.

24. Short story, poem, quote, or TED Talk of the day

Share a piece of art or learning each day, perhaps nominated by a different student, professional, or faculty member each time.

The person who nominated it can explain, via a short video they record or a letter they write, what their selection means to them.

25. Hot Drinks and Hot Topics

Dive into discussions around hot news topics or longstanding issues, while students sip coffee, tea, hot cocoa, or another drink of their choice. You could also title it “Hot Cookies and Hot Topics” or “Hot Wings and Hot Topics,” though I’m betting that students are less likely to have fresh baked cookies or hot wings sitting around their homes.

Not sure what to discuss? The University of Michigan-Flint has dozens of ideas . 

26. Breakfasts in Bed, Lunches and Learn, or Discussions Over Dinner

These programs can be similar to the Hot Topics idea but with a lighter touch. You could discuss strange Wikipedia articles , laugh over memes, or simply encourage students to enjoy unstructured time catching up with each other. 

Oh, and since this is college, I have to suggest a program involving pizza. So, I propose to you: Pizza and Prose.

27. Podcasts

Move over, Serial and This American Life ; it’s time for your own podcast to shine. Podcasts are great ways to mix up engagement, as listeners can enjoy it while cooking, doing laundry, or really any passive tasks.

Here are some content ideas for your ‘cast:

  • Interviews with the institution’s president, SGA members, beloved faculty, or underappreciated staff members who do amazing work (such as chefs, librarians, cleaning staff, or grounds crew).
  • Advice for online learning
  • Short lessons from faculty on fascinating topics
  • Recordings of live institutional game shows (see tip #15)
  • Short stories (fiction or non-fiction) submitted and read by students

You can also encourage students to listen to any of these podcasts produced by institutions nationwide. Perhaps you’d like to schedule a massive listening party, wherein students can type in their reactions live.

Oh, and be sure to read these recording tips so you’ll sound great.

28. Alumni career connections

Your alumni may be sympathizing with the difficult situation your students currently find themselves in and wondering how they can help. 

One way they could do so is through career networking. Consider asking alumni to discuss their careers with students via video chat, conduct video tours of their home offices, or give students a glimpse into their work via screen share.

29. Videoconferencing and webinar hosting tutorials

Many of the ideas here involve students taking the lead by hosting videoconferences or webinars. But they might have no idea how to do so and would appreciate a lesson or two.

So, consider conducting a videoconference on… videoconferencing! You can share some of the tips for engaging webinars here and facilitating awesome videoconferences here . 

30. Online learning tutorials

Relatedly, you can help students learn how to, well, learn. Consider hosting a webinar that incorporates some of the tips found here or here . 

31. Adulting 101 workshops

We offered 105 ideas here . Oh, the joys of adulthood!

32. Cooking demonstrations

With so much time being spent at home, now may be the perfect time for students to learn how to cook. I recommend sticking with fairly simple recipes, with ingredients that students are likely to already. 

You could get inspired by these microwaveable creations , livestream yourself cooking of a favorite meal that’s even loved by picky kids, or ask your dining hall chefs to reveal how a beloved campus staple is made. Bon appétit!

33. Online saving workshops

It’s more than just Groupon ; amazing sales abound on the world wide web.

Here are just some saving sites and tools, which you can help students get acquainted with (and, of course, enjoy yourself):

  • Camelcamelcamel
  • Target Circle
  • Coupon Sherpa

34. “Morality and The Coronavirus” chats

Speaking of online shopping, is that ethical right now, given the work required of distribution centers and delivery people?! Perhaps it’s safer than going to a physical store? 

I don’t have a simple answer. But your students might be wondering about these sorts of quandaries. Consider facilitating a discussion around it, perhaps with a philosophy professor. You could also discuss this article or pose some of the questions within it.

The Good Place (available on Netflix) is also an excellent show to inspire conversations about ethical decision-making.

35. Personality tests

Students don’t need to leave their homes to find out their Myers-Briggs Type indicator , CliftonStrengths , or True Color .  

Or, for pure laughs, have students share their results from any of these 50 personality quizzes on Buzzfeed . (Knowing what your taste in frozen yogurt flavors “says about you” is clearly as important as knowing if you’re an introvert or an extrovert.)

36. Volunteering

Your students can still put some good out into the world from their couches. Multilingual students can serve as webpage translators , empathetic listeners can volunteer with 7 Cups , and sighted students can download Be My Eyes to lend a hand — er, eye — to blind and visually-impaired folx. 

You can find more opportunities here and here .

Plus, the local non-profit groups that your campus usually partners with and the philanthropies that student orgs support may also appreciate virtual help. Reach out to see how you and your students can continue supporting their work.

37. Digital Student Org Management Courses

Just as you’re having to learn how to engage students digitally, your student leaders are having to figure out how to maintain their co-curricular organizations from afar. Help them out. Host webinars to assist them in running board elections online, facilitating video conference meetings, recruiting new members through social media, and more.

38. Pride Celebrations

Although Pride Month festivities in June will likely be disrupted due to COVID-19, they don’t need to fade from existence completely.

Consider facilitating discussions on books related to LGBTQIA+ topics or written by queer-identified authors , inviting speakers to address students virtually, creating a Pride-themed virtual scavenger hunt, sharing this guide on Coming Out as a Supporter , retweeting LGBTQIA+ activists from your office’s account Twitter account, or hosting a virtual Pride parade .

Connect with your institution’s LGBTQIA+ support center or student groups to see what other ideas they have.

39. Museum Tours

You don’t have to literally step foot inside a museum to enjoy a museum. Check out these virtual tours offered by some of the world’s most famous museums. Encourage students to take these tours at the same time or at their own convenience, then host a discussion.

Health & Wellness

40. journaling.

Journaling can be deeply therapeutic . You can support students in their journaling habits by suggesting daily prompts or hosting group journaling sessions during which you livestream relaxing music.

41. Gardening videos

Help students experience the joy of gardening… by osmosis. A student or staff member could film a cute video of themselves watering their houseplants or you could show off some gardening documentaries . 

Better yet, if your campus has a garden or greenhouse, you can help students still enjoy the beauty of it via livestream or a watering demonstration.

42. Meditation

Help students relax and focus via online meditation sessions. You or a student can lead the sessions yourself, using the tips here , or you can encourage students to check out these guided meditation recordings from UCLA . Namaste.

43. Workout videos

Channel your inner Richard Simmons! Record or livestream your yoga poses, weightlifting practice, or cardio routine.

These desk-friendly exercises can inspire students to get their heart rates’ up and stretch their tired limbs, even if they don’t have a desk.

Students can also make their own videos, showing off the creative workouts they’ve come up with. Who knows; maybe they’ll engineer the next fitness craze.

44. Connect with incoming students

Your next crop of first-year students are surely anxious and filled with uncertainty now, too. So, encourage your current students to connect with them — through writing letters filled with jokes, encouragement, or insight into your institution. 

Perhaps you can set up email pen pals, host group video sessions, or arrange for current students to lead virtual tours for accepted students who are deciding whether or not to enroll.

45. Puppy cam

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then live video footage should be even more valuable. If a staff member has many pets (perhaps through fostering), ask them to set up a video stream through Facebook Live or your institution’s website. 

Alternatively, you could partner with your local animal shelter to show off the adorable antics of their animals that are up for adoption. Maybe this will even inspire some students and families to adopt!

Or you can turn to Explore for live cams of not just puppies and kittens, but loads of wild and exotic creatures, too. ( Lions , tigers , and bears — oh my!)

Digitize campus services

For other campus opportunities and services, you don’t need to completely reinvent the wheel; just rearrange it. (Is that the proper metaphor for wheels? Clearly I’m not a mechanic.)

Here are just some of the offerings that you can work with your colleagues to digitize:

  • Study groups taught by TAs
  • Resume and cover letter reviews with career counselors
  • Writing appointments with the writing center
  • Tutoring sessions with peer tutors
  •  Academic advising, especially for fall course registration
  • End-of-year award ceremonies
  • Support groups facilitated by the counseling center
  • Religious services lead by chaplains and student groups

What other program ideas do you have? We’d love to hear them. Connect with us @themoderncampus . 

Jodi Tandet

About the author: Jodi Tandet (she/her) is Modern Campus's Content Marketing Strategist. She's a proud graduate of Emory University, where she majored in Creative Writing, and of Nova Southeastern University, where she earned her master's degree in College Student Affairs. She previously worked for Hillel: the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, where she engaged students in co-curricular programming at Cornell University and The University of Pittsburgh. Learn how we can help get your students involved .

online activities for college students

online activities for college students

35 Fun Activities for College Students (interactive, team building, games) 

online activities for college students

As a recent graduate, I know first hand how hard it can be to get a classroom of college students engaged in an activity. In my time in college, I’ve had my fair share of fun activities, but also activities that did not go over well in a college classroom.

Getting a classroom full of college students to participate in an activity can be a real challenge. Fortunately, there are some activities that students find fun and will engage in.

In this post, I share 35 fun activities for college students, that will actually get them participating. These interactive classroom activities involve games, team building exercises and interactive assignments.

online activities for college students

35 Fun Activities for College Students

1. shark tank.

Shark Tank is a great interactive team building game for college students. This is a great way for students to show off their leadership skills, presentation skills and creativity.

Similar to the Shark Tank TV show, students in small groups will come up with a product, a pitch and a presentation. This activity can span across one class or multiple classes, depending on how much time and effort you want students to put into this assignment.

To make this activity extra fun, select a panel of students to be the “Sharks”. Their objective will be to bring up questions, find the flaws in the product and give credit, where credit is due.

Even though the Shark Tank game seems like it might apply best to business and marketing classes, this activity can be played by any group of students for and adapted for any subject.

When I was in college, this was one of the best activities that left a positive impact on me. It’s a really fun way to get the class interested and engaged in an activity.

Kahoot! is a trivia game that is great for new students. Most high school students and new students are probably already familiar with this game, and it’s super easy to set up.

Before you play this game in class, you will first need to enter the trivia questions on the Kahoot website. Once this is done, you can set up the game by logging into your account.

When you are ready, you will be given a code which students should type into their phone to join the game. Divide the students into teams. Team members will have to answer the multiple choice questions gameshow style.

This activity is loads of fun and a good way to get the class involved. Kahoot does not take much time to set up or play, and it’s a great way to test students on course material.

3. Scavenger Hunt

A scavenger hunt around campus was one of the first activities I did as a new student. This was a great ice breaker which allowed me to make new friends, get used to campus and have fun.

For this activity, you will need to come up with some sights around campus that students can visit. Once this is done, divide the students into groups and they will have to go on a scavenger hunt!

Students can take pictures of the sights and the winning time can get a prize. Scavenger hunts are always a fun group activity and a friendly competition that students will love.

Related: 75 Side Hustles For College Students & Ways To Make Money

4. Elevator Pitch

online activities for college students

The elevator pitch is an activity that I did when I was in college and I didnt realize how valuable it would be later on in life. For this activity, students have to come up with a 30 second pitch about themselves.

They can talk about their interests, hobbies , job, career, what they are studying etc.

This activity will even come in handy after a student is done their college years. As someone who graduated recently, I find myself giving the elevator pitch constantly when I meet new people.

Related: 12 Best Backpacks For College Guys

5. Two Truths and a Lie

Two truths and a Lie is a class game and a great ice breaker. This is a great activity for students to get familiar with new people and learns some little things about their classmates.

This is a very easy game to organize, students will be separated into small groups. The students will the have to tell their group members two truths and a lie. Their classmates will have to try and guess the lie.

6. Question of The Day

online activities for college students

Question of the day is a fun activity for students to express themselves. At the beginning of class you should ask your students a question. Then ask them to write a paragraph answering the question.

This is a good creative outlet and a great way for students to practice critical thinking. This activity can be done a few times during the school year or regularly throughout the semester.

Here are some examples of questions you can ask your class:

  • What is the biggest struggle that young people are currently facing?
  • Where will technology be in 10 years?
  • Would remote learning improve your academic experience? why or why not.
  • If you could go back to middle school, what piece of advice would you give yourself?
  • Should men and women be allowed to live in dorm rooms together? why or why not.

A potluck is a fun activity that students will absolutely love. Speaking as a former student, I can guarantee that I’m not skipping class if I know there will be food!

There are so many different ways of doing this activity. Students can make food using local produce, students can make a food from their culture or students can make their best recipe.

This is a super fun way to celebrate the end of the semester and a great activity that students will love.

Doing a debate is a great way to get students to fully immerse and inform themselves on a topic. The great thing about doing a debate is that students will get educated on both sides of the matter at hand.

Doing a debate was one of the more memorable and fun classroom activities I did during my time in college. Having an in-class debate will boost student involvement, because no student wants to look uninformed in front of the class.

Start by dividing the class into a few different groups. Then, assign each group a topic and give them some time to prepare. Regardless of the outcome, a debate will have a positive impact on your students.

9. Local Tour

This activity is great for freshman. Giving a local tour is a great way to show the students around campus and even the college town. For many students, college can be an overwhelming experience. Therefore, giving them a local tour will make them feel more comfortable.

Consider showing them where the gyms are, the dining hall, where they can sign up for clubs and where they can meet with faculty members. These are some essential places that every college student should know.

10. Cup Pong

online activities for college students

Now, we all know that beer pong is part of the college experience, but who says it can’t be educational? This game is super easy to set up and it will get the whole class participating, excited and having fun.

To set this game up, all you will need is 12 red solo cups, a bit of water and some questions to ask your students.

Begin by separating the class into two teams.

Each team will have the chance to answer a question. If they get it right, they get to take a shot. If they get it wrong, the other team gets the chance to answer. The game goes on until there are no cups left!

Playing cup pong may seem like an unconventional way of teaching, but it will get the class involved and the students will have a blast.

11. Case Studies

As someone who studied business in college, I did my fair share of case studies. A case study is an amazing way to learn about the ins and outs of a specific business and industry.

The cases assigned to students can be adapted based on the subject matter being taught in the course. This is one of the teaching methods that prepared me the most for the real world.

Case studies can be done individually or in larger groups. If you expect a lot out of your students, giving a divided assignment and a lot of time for them to complete it, will ensure that they learn a lot and do a good job.

12. Guest Speakers

online activities for college students

Having the class attend a guess speaker lecture is a good way to give your students a break from regular student life. Sometimes, having a laid back class where they get to hear a guest speaker is a nice change.

Having your students attend a live event, like a guest speaker, will get them out of their dorm rooms and attending the event.

13. Video Presentation

Video presentations are a really fun activity for students to express their creativity. It’s super easy for a group of students to create video presentations using social media apps like TikTok or Instagram.

You can have students create an advertisement, skit or educational video on a specific topic. When I was in college, these were my favorite kind of group activities. It was so much fun seeing what other students would create.

14. Hangman

Now, we all know the classic game Hangman. However, it’s a great ice breaker for new students. When freshman first arrive to college, they are super nervous. S o playing a game of hangman can put them at ease.

To make things interesting, give a small prize to the first student who guesses the answer.

15. Word Limit Answers

Word limit answers are is a creative way for students to express themselves. This may sound like a lazy student’s dream, but it’s actually more challenging than you might think.

Having your students answer a question with a limited word limit is pretty hard. Students will have fun with this activity and they will have to get creative when answering the question.

16. Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down

online activities for college students

Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down is an ice breaker that every student is going to be familiar with. This is a game that students in elementary school, middle school and high school have all played before.

A few students come up to the front of the class, while the rest put their heads down on the desk, with their thumbs up. Each of the students standing at the front must choose one person at a desk, and put their thumb down.

The students who had their thumbs put down then have to guess who did it. This is a great way to have new students feel at ease in college.

17. Interview Role Play

Interview role play is an awesome activity for current students who are nearing the end of their time in college. Have your students pair up in groups, give them a scenario and have them interview each other.

This is a great activity, as you will have some students in leadership rolls doing the interview. Those students who are being interviewed are going to get valuable experience as well.

18. Attend an Upcoming Event

online activities for college students

On college campus, there is always some sort of interesting upcoming event that is happening. Invite your students to a great event on that’s happening campus and they will have loads of fun.

Here are some educational, fun and special event ideas:

  • Live concert
  • Cultural events
  • Sporting events
  • Guest speaker

19. Breakout Rooms

Breakout rooms were a very popular method of getting students to interact when online classes were happening. It encouraged students to have group discussions, get to know each other and help one another get better grades.

Breakout rooms can be done in person and also online. Many students really liked doing school remotely, so having an online breakout room class once in a while is fun change.

20. Therapy Dogs

There are plenty of programs that will bring therapy dogs to schools. You may need to have this run by the office of student activities, but it’s a really good one.

Therapy dogs are great for mental health. Plus, what student doesn’t want to spend some time with adorable dogs?

College can be hard on students and get stressful . A recent study suggests that dogs lower stress , so why not bring animals in for your class and even the whole student body?

21. Building Card Towers

online activities for college students

Building card towers is a super activity that encourages classmates to work together to achieve the common goal of building a card tower.

To run this activity, you will need to separate the class into groups, give each group a deck of cards and let them figure it out. This is one of the most fun ice breakers and a great way for students to make new friendships.

22. Mystery Puzzle

A mystery puzzle is another fantastic ice breaker that gets students working together. This one takes a bit of creativity, but if done properly, students will really enjoy it.

Begin by creating a few scenarios that cover a various different themes. When the mystery is created, separate the classroom into groups and have them solve it!

23. Favourite Song Project

Every student listens to music on their free time. What better way to get them engaged in an activity than to ask them to write about their favorite songs?

This is a really easy activity to organize. Just ask your students to write a bit about their favorite song, or songs, and why they like it so much.

24. Photo Challenge

online activities for college students

The photo challenge is a great ice breaker for new students. This is a nice way for freshman to get familiar with the college campuses and get see what similar interests they have with their classmates.

For this activity, students will have to either take a cool, fun or interesting photo around campus and present it to the class. The more effort and creativity that goes into this challenge, the more fun it will be.

Related: How to Make Money as a College Student

25. Classroom Charades

Everyone knows how to play charades. Charades is a great game to get students out of their comfort zone and to create an environment in class where students feel comfortable.

For some students, they may feel shy or absolutely dread the idea of going up and doing charades in front of the whole class. It’s important that everyone has fun and feels comfortable doing this activity.

26. Bus Trip

In college, activities are often done indoors, but what about the outdoor activities? Taking a bus trip to a local museum or a local landmark is a great way to get students out of the classroom.

It’s a fun way to get to know your students outside of class and one of my most memorable trips I ever did in college, was an overnight camping trip. I got to know my teacher really well on the drive down and made some awesome memories.

27. Board Games

online activities for college students

Nowadays, it can be hard to get a Gen Zer to name 5 different board games. For many college students, playing board games is a really fun experience.

There are some cool board games that can be played in the classroom and it’s a real change from phone games or video games. Having a class where you play some board games will a great activity for the whole class!

Board Game Recommendations:

  • Snakes and Ladders
  • Connect Four
  • The Game of Life

28. Community Service Activity

If you’re looking to show school spirit while making a positive impact on campus, consider organizing a community service day. This is a great opportunity for students to bond with each other while making a positive impact on the community.

Invite students to volunteer at local organizations. Whether at an animal shelter, a nursing home, or a hospital.

If planning a field trip is not an option, you can always do something on campus. Organizing a trash cleanup is a good way to get the students outside and do something positive for the community.

29. Adult Coloring Books

Adult coloring book

If you’re looking for an activity that college students absolutely love, then check out Adult Coloring Books! This activity is relaxing engaging, making students feel young again.

Throughout my time in college, I had one teacher plan this activity during exam time. She gave the class the option of studying or doing adult coloring, and most students decided to color.

Coloring was an excellent way to wake our minds off of exams, and it was quite therapeutic.

30. Use YouTube For Classroom Activities

YouTube is a great tool for classroom activities. On YouTube, there are plenty of useful resources that can lead to some fantastic class discussions. Throughout my time in college, the professors would use TED Talks to inspire us and to get the class talking.

There are plenty of YouTube videos that encourage students to think outside of the box. Oftentimes, these videos can be very impactful, and they will resonate with them.

31. Collaborative Concept Mapping

Splitting the students into small parties and having them develop a concept map is a great activity that encourages teamwork, critical thinking, and group discussion. Since a concept map requires students to work together, this is a great activity for students to break the ice.

Start by giving the student a blank sheet of paper and giving them a concept. After 10-15 minutes, most groups should be done and ready to share their ideas with the class.

You can end this activity by having the students present their concept map to the class.

32. Crazy Hair Day

When it comes to campus events that get student engagement, Crazy Hair Day always works!

Planning a day where students can come to school with crazy hair is one of the best college event ideas. This activity is great because any student can get involved, it’s easy to plan.

A good way to encourage students to come to school with crazy hair is by making it a competition. Around lunchtime, host an event where students can vote on who has the craziest hair!

This is a great activity for Spirit Week, and it is a fun way to get your fellow students excited about an event.

33. The One-Minute Paper

If you’re looking for a fun activity for college students, consider trying the One-Minute Paper. This fun activity encourages students to think independently and develop their writing skills.

For this activity, you will begin by giving the students a prompt. The students will have one minute to write about the prompt, and then they can either read it to the class or submit it to the teacher.

This is an activity that I did several times throughout college, and I always found it a fun way to build writing skills.

34. Moral Dilemmas

Group Work

Moral Dilemma is an interactive activity encouraging students to converse and voice their opinions.

For this activity, you create a few groups of students and provide them with an ethical dilemma. Students will then have to think outside the box and come up with a creative solution.

When students are coming up with a solution, they may share their personal experiences, which can lead to some heated discussions. It’s important to monitor the conversations and make sure students are pushing the conversations forward instead of arguing.

35. Movie Day

If you’re looking for an activity that every student loves, planning a movie day is a great idea. These movies can be classics, educational, or relevant to a theme you are trying to cover.

As students, we appreciate a fun activity that doesn’t involve “traditional” school work. Even if it’s a movie that leads to an assignment, college students will appreciate it.

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  • Best Shoes for College Students (for Girls and Guys)
  • Ways to Be Happy in College – Advice From a Recent Graduate
  • Reasons Why College is Stressful & What You Can Do About it
  • College Desk Essentials Every Student Needs

Final Thoughts on 35 Fun Activities For College Students

Getting a classroom full of college students to participate in an activity can be a real challenge. On the bright side, there are plenty of activities that are tons of fun for college students.

As a recent college graduate myself, I can say that all these activities mentioned above are really fun and a great way for students to get to know their classmates and teacher better.

What’s your favorite activity for college students? Please let me know in the comments below.

Ethan Schattauer

3 thoughts on “ 35 Fun Activities for College Students (interactive, team building, games)  ”

“I can guarantee that I’m not skipping class if I know there will be food!”…..haaa, truth though….total truth! 😁✌🏼

Crazy Hair Day – oh my gosh, I literally LOL’d when I saw that one! 😂💯

If I were one of the college students, I think my favorite activities would be Kahoot! (love that name), Two Truths and a Lie, the potluck, a bus trip, and definitely those coloring books – crayons, coloring, and drawing are the best!

Mr. Ethan – would love to see a post under lifestyle/miscellaneous where you give your own personal recommendations of some good books to read that are authored by Gen Z’ers.

The minds of Gen Z are….to be perfectly honest here…legendary. I’ve watched several online movies and series that revolve around Gen Z, not to mention witnessing the actual lives of Gen Z’ers that I know in real life, and the mindset with which you guys face this often times crazy world that you were born into is so uniquely smart and respectable. You are a generation that is both futuristic and classic at the same time – as I always say, you rock a bold 80’s vibe with a far superior level of 20’s sophistication.

The thoughts you guys have about life and the world in general are so on point and profound. I have had some of the most brilliantly engaging conversations ever with the 20-something members of your gen, and I would love to find at least one good book that delves even further into the inner mind and perspective of its Gen Z author as they navigate life in the new millennium.

Wow, superb blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your site is magnificent, as well as the content!

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12 Online Games for Classrooms: Activities for Higher Ed Students

online activities for college students

What if learning could be as engaging as playing your favorite video game? The concept of gamification in education has gained immense popularity and for good reason. It transforms traditional lectures into interactive, immersive experiences. (Remember what it was like playing The Oregon Trail back in the day?)

For instructors, the quest to captivate the minds of students can become even more of a challenge if they’re leading a hybrid or virtual class. Luckily, there are multiple digital engagement tools like Poll Everywhere with the potential to transform your classroom into a gameshow, head-to-head trivia competition, or another interactive activity. We’ll share 12 dynamic online game ideas for your classroom that are playable online and offline. Ready, set, go!

12 engaging online games for classrooms

1. icebreakers.

PE-icebreakers

Source: Poll Everywhere

Works for: Online, in-person, and hybrid classes

The start of a semester can be awkward for both instructors and students. Thankfully, icebreakers can transform a room full of strangers into a vibrant community of engaged, collaborative learners. Using a handy tool like Poll Everywhere ensures all students can participate with their cell phones—even in a hybrid class, everyone can chime in.

Here are five icebreaker questions to get you started:

  • What's your ultimate career goal, and why does it inspire you? Encourage students to share their long-term aspirations. Meanwhile, their answers help you tailor your teaching where possible.
  • If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be, and what would you ask them? Dive into the realm of history while learning about your students’ interests.
  • Share the title of a book or movie that left a lasting impact on you and explain why. This question reveals personal tastes, sparking discussions on literature, cinema, and the emotional connection to art.
  • What's one skill or hobby you've always wanted to learn, and why? This question helps students build connections with each other based on shared interests and aspirations.
  • Share a fun or unusual fact about your hometown or the place where you grew up. Promote connection and a sense of diversity within your classroom.

Need more icebreaker ideas? Try these fun trivia ideas for the start of the new semester.

2. Minecraft

minecraft

Source: Minecraft Education

Works for: Online classrooms (possibly hybrid and in-person if students bring their personal computers)

Most everyone who plays games on a computer knows about Minecraft, but did you know this popular game also offers educational opportunities?

For example, Dr. Valentina DeNardis, director of classical studies at Villanova, worked on a project with her students to create an immersive Minecraft map featuring ancient landmarks . The students built everything from the Parthenon to the Temple of Portunus.

Additionally, Minecraft also allows computer science students to learn and apply their coding skills in a responsive environment. The Minecraft Education site features multiple tutorials for using the building game to engage students in science, math, history, art, and multiple other classes.

3. Pictionary

Pictionary is rooted in the age-old joy of drawing and guessing, but that doesn’t mean you can’t play it in a virtual or hybrid classroom. Using a whiteboard app like Canva , you can break the monotony of lectures and foster a lively and interactive learning environment.

Online Pictionary encourages students to get creative and use deductive thinking to compete with one another. For smaller classrooms, students could go head to head, while larger classes can be split into teams.

Feel free to theme your Pictionary prompts to coincide with your course materials to promote additional discussion.

4. Model UN

Cultivating well-rounded and globally aware students is a necessity in today’s classrooms, and you can use classroom games to help students improve their diplomacy, critical thinking, and negotiation skills. A model United Nations (UN) simulation can be a fun and highly engaging exercise where students can step into the shoes of international diplomats.

Using a random country generator , you can assign each student a country they must represent in the given scenario. Along with current events, you can choose from historical event scenarios—the United Nations Association of Greater Boston offers free ideas for Model UN scenarios if you’re out of ideas.

5. Pointless

Based on a popular British TV game show, Pointless is like a backward Family Feud. Contestants aim to submit answers that no one else has chosen (whereas in Family Feud contestants try to choose answers that more people have chosen to earn more points).

To start, give students a topic from a recent lesson. Then ask them to submit the first answer they can think of using Poll Everywhere’s word cloud feature. (It may help to set a timer.) Start by disqualifying any incorrect answers, then determine the answer that shows up the least—this is the winner.

Try this: Challenge your class to a round of trivia with pre-built Poll Everywhere games.

6. Can you spot the mistake?

Put a spin on your next lecture by challenging students to spot your mistake. This game works for multiple areas of study, and here are some ideas to help you brainstorm more:

  • Math: Solve a problem on the board but include a miscalculation when showing your work and see if students spot it.
  • History, literature, and art: Change the name of a famous figure or work of art. Years, battles, and countries are also good candidates for a quick switch.
  • Biology and physics: Use the wrong theorem to solve a problem or label a diagram incorrectly.

This game works well for online and hybrid classes if you’re able to project your lecture notes or record them. Alternatively, you could use a whiteboard or simply rely on videoconferencing.

Presenting your course content in different ways can capture students' attention and also make the information more accessible . A challenge like this one can help shy students come out of their shells or encourage more extroverted students to lead their group to victory.

7. Scratch coding projects

glide-around

Source: Scratch

If you teach a computer science class, Scratch may offer a break from your usual lines of code. Using a friendly visual coding approach, Scratch helps new coders learn the basics of coding projects that make letters dance, move objects around the screen, and more.

Scratch also offers multiple tutorials, guides, and support groups for educators to share ideas, ask questions, and learn from one another.

8. Google Earth scavenger hunt

If you and your students are feeling particularly adventurous, a Google Earth scavenger hunt is a great way to let them explore the natural wonders of the world.

Challenge students to find and screenshot the seven wonders of the world or locations mentioned in literature and history, such as the Royal Shakespeare Theatre or Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. More ideas for locations students can check off their scavenger lists include the following:

  • The Great Wall of China
  • Niagara Falls
  • La Sagrada Familia
  • Machu Picchu
  • The Great Barrier Reef
  • Cafe des 2 Moulins
  • Atacama Large Millimeter Array

9. “What would you do?” ethical dilemmas

Promote critical thinking and thoughtful discussion by presenting students with a moral or ethical dilemma and asking what they would do to solve the problem.

You can tailor the dilemmas to your course material, choose problems based on current events, or go back in history to investigate issues from the past. Some ideas to help you get students talking include the following:

  • Should employers monitor employees at work?
  • Is it okay for one person in a relationship to ghost the other?
  • Should home sellers be responsible for costs if they don’t disclose existing issues?
  • When is it okay for a business to compromise on product quality?
  • Is it ever okay for healthcare professionals to lie to patients?
  • Should AI be able to harvest online data without user consent?

10. “What if…” scenarios

Get students invested in classroom discussion by posing a broad question or “What if…?” scenario that could have multiple correct answers. Have students write down their answers in a discussion thread, on a collaborative whiteboard, a Poll Everywhere open-ended question , or share them verbally.

The main goal is to encourage students to express their thoughts and opinions. No matter their answer, students must use critical thinking to communicate their answer successfully and why they believe it’s correct. This type of intellectual exchange allows students to learn from you as well as each other.

Some example questions include the following:

  • What if all forms of currency suddenly became obsolete?
  • What would happen if humans could communicate with animals?
  • What if the internet disappeared overnight?
  • What would be different if the global pandemic never happened?
  • How would the world be different if there were no national borders or countries?
  • What would the world be like if humans could communicate even if they speak different languages?

11. Improv games

Improv isn’t just for actors. These types of scenarios encourage students to think on their feet and use their communication skills in innovative ways.

Role-playing and storytelling can inject a dose of fun and interactivity into your classroom. While improv games are traditionally tailored to in-person groups, you can include online attendees by focusing on more verbal-oriented improv situations.

Some ideas for improv games that can boost student collaboration and communication include the following:

  • Students must count to 20 as a group, but no one is assigned a number and no one can talk at the same time.
  • Two to three students act out a scene on camera. When the instructor rings a bell, one of the participants must grab a nearby item and use it in the scene.
  • Challenge a student or group of students to lead a discussion about a subject that another student suggests. If you want to take this one a step further, you could also provide PowerPoint slides that the improv actors must use in their discussion.

12. Jeopardy!

Most everyone knows and loves Jeopardy!, so why not use it to reinforce learning in your classroom? You can put together your own game board or start with a template for Google Slides . Select five different topics and five questions for each topic. Don’t forget to add a Daily Double to the board as well, which awards participants double points if they get the answer right. Additionally, you’ll want to create a question for Final Jeopardy.

8 benefits of online games for higher ed classrooms

Online games are an effective teaching tool even in higher education. Here are some of the classroom benefits of replacing your lecture with a game :

  • Improve engagement: There’s no better way to make learning fun and interactive, and online games motivate students to participate.
  • Promote active learning: Games encourage students to apply their knowledge and problem-solving skills in a practical context.
  • Enhance critical thinking: While games may seem simple at first, many require students to use critical thinking and decision-making skills.
  • Encourage collaboration: Pairing students up or even having them compete with each other helps them develop essential interpersonal skills.
  • Adapt to your classroom: Online games are often customizable, so you can ensure they meet the needs of all your students and promote an inclusive learning experience.
  • Provide instant feedback: Students don’t need to wait for you to grade their exam or homework to get feedback, allowing them to improve and learn from their mistakes right away.
  • Teach real-world skills: Games encourage students to develop skills they can use in the real world, like problem-solving, time management, negotiation, and more.
  • Foster creativity: Students have a chance to be creative to excel at games, including developing innovative solutions or approaches to challenges.

Learn more: Discover additional ways you can gamify classroom activities with achievement badges, quests, and opportunities for students to level up.

Build online games into your lesson plans with Poll Everywhere

Capturing students’ attention may feel like an immense hurdle, but online games for classrooms in higher ed are almost like a cheat code for student engagement.

In a 2010 TED Talk, game designer Jane McGonigal said, “Playing a game together actually builds up bonds and trust and cooperation. And we actually build stronger social relationships as a result.”

Instructors can help build those social relationships in classrooms with many of the online games we shared above. And you don’t even need a game design degree to do it. Tools like Poll Everywhere help you capture your students’ attention and engage them with exciting in-class games without needing to spend hours, days, or weeks on setup.

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30 Virtual School Activities That Students & Educators Love

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Written by Laney Kennedy

Save time, engage your students and offer differentiated learning online with Prodigy Math game!

  • Teaching Activities
  • Virtual learning games & apps for online learning
  • Traditional learning activities to bring online
  • Fun virtual field trips to try
  • Virtual first day of school activities

More ways to make virtual school fun

As a teacher, you know better than anyone how much the past year has transformed learning. And although our circumstances will continue to change, virtual learning is still a reality for many students and teachers.

No matter what teaching looks like this year, building a sense of community is so important for you and your students, especially if they’re learning at home . 

But with hundreds of virtual teaching platforms to choose from, how do you make sure your students are getting the best resources to learn and grow — and have fun while doing it?

We’ll help you narrow it down with a complete list of 30 virtual school activities for students of all ages. Whether you teach elementary school, middle school or high school, this list has your remote learning needs covered!

Try these virtual learning games & apps for online learning

Learning outside of the classroom can be easy and fun with these virtual school must-haves. Use these free virtual resources to engage students online and make your virtual classroom feel like home.

1. Prodigy Math Game

Price: Free. The optional Premium Membership provides extra in-game features for students and additional tools for parents, starting at $4.99 USD per student, per month. 

In or out of the classroom, math games are a great way to keep students excited about learning math — even when it comes down to tricky concepts. 

With Prodigy Math Game , you can keep math class fun wherever students are!

Prodigy Math Game in-game Badges

As your students create unique characters, explore virtual worlds, collect pets and enjoy all the fun in-game adventures Prodigy offers , they’ll also answer curriculum-aligned math questions . Plus, Prodigy’s adaptive algorithm is built to meet students where they are, so they’ll receive questions that match their progress level.  

Use your free teacher account to create a classroom and:

  • View in-depth data on student and class progress 
  • Create Assessments that align with your lesson plans
  • Differentiate in-game content based on individual student needs

Parents can also sign up for their own account to view and support their child’s progress and motivate them even more!

Ready to make math an adventure this year?

P.S. Check out these free resources to help you use Prodigy in your virtual classroom!

  • How to use Prodigy to fight summer learning loss
  • How to use Prodigy in your everyday virtual teaching strategies
  • How to benchmark student progress with Prodigy’s Test Prep tool

Price: Free or paid versions, with education plans for schools and classrooms. 

In the past year, Zoom has become a close friend to many of us. And it’s no wonder! 

Zoom is a reliable and accessible way to engage your class with virtual teaching. Use it to:

  • Host online classes with video and screen sharing
  • Engage your classroom with online polls, breakout rooms and virtual chats
  • Host zoom games where students can join the fun from home or at school!

P.S. Want to add some pizzazz to your next online lesson? Try one of these custom Prodigy Zoom backgrounds !

3. Flipgrid

Price: Free

Come up with discussions that really get your class talking! Flipgrid offers over 35,000 conversation starters to spark student creativity. Students can respond to each prompt with their own videos, which are displayed on the response board for the rest of the class to see.

The best part? It’s filled with fun editing resources so students can add animations, emojis and text to create fun videos they can be proud of.

TEDEd was specifically designed to celebrate student and teacher ideas. 

You’ll find free online lessons in tons of subjects — including Earth School , where students watch videos, answer quizzes and complete quests to learn more about the natural world. 

Plus, the TEDEd program lets students create their very own TED talks to share what they’re passionate about with the rest of the class!

5. Google Classroom 

Encourage virtual teamwork with your one-stop-shop for lessons, assignments and class discussions. 

Google Classroom provides access to:

  • Google Meet — Host video lessons and presentations online. 
  • Google Forms — Host surveys and quizzes for your class to fill out.
  • Google Calendar — Keep track of lessons and give students insight into the structure of their day. 
  • Google Slides — Present lessons in a presentation format and include visuals to keep your class engaged.

Price: Free for the basic plan, with optional paid teacher or school plans starting at $10 USD per month. 

Start meaningful conversations and encourage student engagement with the online platform that “creates a powerful learning loop between students, teachers, and families.” 

With Seesaw, students have a digital space to share their thoughts and give you insight on how they’re learning. Plus, you can keep families in the loop with an exclusive space for home-to-school connections. 

7. YouTube Kids 

Price : Free

The good old days of TV stands on wheels are long behind us. Now, students can watch fun, educational videos no matter where they are!

Image of tablet with YouTube Kids videos on the screen

YouTube Kids was built with kids in mind. This means the video content you choose to share with your class will always be safe and appropriate for their age group. 

Have students download the app or watch directly on their browsers, then assign them videos on art, science and everything in between!

Price : Free for the basic plan, with optional subscription plans starting at $8 USD per member, per month. 

See new ideas spark and virtual collaboration happen right in front of your eyes — and add a pop of color to make the day a little brighter.

Miro is an online whiteboard that lets your class collaborate through tables, flowcharts, sticky notes and more. Perfect for brainstorms or team projects ! 

Virtual learning can never be dull when you have this many fun effects and templates to choose from! 

Whether you’re using it for lessons or encouraging students to create their own, Prezi makes online presentations easy and fun with plenty of design resources and a user-friendly interface. 

Create presentation decks, videos, infographics, maps and more. Let student creativity take over and see the amazing results!

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Ready to make learning an exciting adventure?

Boost engagement in your classroom with two captivating standards-aligned learning games for math and English!

6 Traditional learning activities to bring online 

In today’s digital world, virtual learning is more prevalent than ever. But that doesn’t mean we should say goodbye to our favorite in-class activities!

Here’s how to transform classic school activities into online activities that are perfect for distance learning. 

1. Digital escape rooms

No room needed! Bring this classic team-building activity online and transform your classroom or students' homes into haunted houses, pirate ships or even the North Pole! 

Try these: 

  • Virtual Escaping rooms
  • 20+ Free digital escape rooms 
  • Build your own escape room through Google Forms

2. Two Truths and a Lie

Put a spin on this classic icebreaker game through online polls, presentation decks, or quiz platforms like Kahoot! . Compile student submissions into a quiz format. Then have them vote on each other’s options and see the submissions on-screen right away.

You can also use this game to supplement lessons. For example, add two truths and a lie questions during activities that review science concepts or historical figures. 

3. Virtual journal writing

Instead of daily journal entries on paper, encourage virtual journal submissions through an online platform like Google Docs. 

Student typing on a laptop in class

Or, take it to the next level and start a classroom blog . Students can compile their entries and reflect on each others’ submissions, then look back on their great work at the end of the year.

4. Virtual Scavenger Hunt

Create a checklist to bring your scavenger hunt online. Then have your students submit pictures to check items off the list.

Your list can include:

  • Items they can find around their home ( find 3 items that have stripes )
  • Information they can find online ( when was the telephone invented?)
  • Information about one another ( find a classmate who is left handed )

Host one big scavenger hunt, or provide one daily checklist item for them to find by the end of the day.

5. Read aloud videos

Record yourself reading a book out loud, then send the video to your students and have them listen during class time. Or find author read alouds that introduce students to the authors of their favorite books, so they can hear the stories straight from the source. 

6. Virtual brain breaks

Brain breaks are an effective way to keep kids energized and ready to learn more. And there are so many options for online brain breaks! 

  • Videos that encourage activity (like an action song or yoga video ) 
  • Online games (try assigning five minutes of Prodigy time between class tasks)
  • Fun discussion topics that prompt online chats (Ex. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream?)

Take one of these exciting virtual field trips

Even if they don’t happen in person, field trips can still be informative, exciting and hands-on! In fact, virtual field trips may be even better, because you can visit places that are hundreds or even thousands of miles away! 

Here’s how to encourage classroom community building and bring your students to brand new places, without ever leaving your home or classroom. 

1. Virtual zoo or aquarium

Lions and tigers and bears … and penguins and sharks and monkeys! Oh my!

A virtual zoo visit is super fun for younger students, or a great way for students of any age to learn more about animals and their habitats. 

  • Videos from the San Diego Zoo
  • Live cams from the Monterey Bay Aquarium
  • 3D animals to turn students’ homes into their own zoo!

2. Virtual national park tours 

Your class can visit some of the most famous parks and learn more about nature without even stepping outside! Use Parks Through Your Screen to explore different parks and see them from a brand new perspective.   

3. Virtual walking trails

Let your class explore mountains, trails, forests or even the pyramids! These virtual walking tours from across the globe provide an exciting online escape along with plenty of learning opportunities.

A man on a hike facing away from the camera, with a mountain view in the background

4. Ellis Island tour

Provide students with a hands-on history lesson through this interactive online tour of the historic Ellis Island . They’ll find stories, photos and notable facts at each stop. 

4. Museums and art galleries 

Some of the most well-known galleries in the world offer amazing online exhibits anyone can enjoy. 

  • The Louvre online tours 
  • Google arts & culture collections
  • The Metropolitan Museum of Art online

Outside view of The Louvre Museum in France

6 Virtual back to school activities for the first day of the school year

Back to school is the best time of year! And there are so many ways to make your first day of school activities welcoming and fun, whether they’re online or in person. 

1. Play virtual ice breaker games 

On the first day of school, it’s important for classmates to get to know one another, and for you to get to know them! 

Ask icebreaker questions through online chats, play virtual games (like two truths and a lie) or have students create quick online profiles that feature fun or important facts about them. 

Student on laptop wearing headphones and chatting to others online

2. Set expectations

Whether learning is remote, hybrid or in-person, it’s important that students know your classroom expectations and where to find everything they need. 

Make sure to: 

  • Share your digital class schedule
  • Let students know the best way to ask questions online
  • Communicate classroom rules (try using Bitmojis to keep things light and fun!)

3. Send fun virtual questionnaires

Give students fun questions that will help them find out what they have in common and build community for the rest of the school year. 

Ask questions like:

  • What’s your favorite movie?
  • What’s your favorite thing about school? 
  • What’s one thing you want to try this year?

Send them through fun online questionnaires through Google Forms, or create storyboards in Miro to display responses. Don’t forget to share your answers too!

4. Design virtual lockers 

Use a fun Bitmoji template and have students create virtual lockers to display their personal style or show off their favorite things. To take it a step further, create a whole virtual classroom where students can customize their own space.

Bitmoji template for a virtual locker from Kapwing Resources

5. Share summer stories

Encourage your class to get creative and talk about what they did during the summer in whatever way they’d like. 

This could be:

  • Digital art
  • Presentations

Or anything else they can think of!

6. Send out student learning surveys

Once you’ve shared your expectations for them, let students share theirs, too!

Send an online survey to each student asking questions like:

  • How do you learn best?
  • What’s your favorite way to learn?
  • What questions do you have for me? 
  • What do you want to learn the most this year?

We couldn’t forget these activities! Here are a few more ways to make your online classroom awesome. 

1. Encourage socialization 

Social emotional learning is critical for student success. 

And the best way to help students practice their social emotional skills? Provide them with plenty of opportunities to socialize and collaborate in fun, easy ways. 

  • Assign social emotional learning activities online
  • Have frequent breakout rooms for students to socialize in small groups
  • Create a collaborative class playlist on Spotify or listen to music as a class
  • Hold regular discussions with the whole class and allow students to use chat functions or speak out loud

2. Hold virtual morning meetings

Have a daily check-in with morning meetings where you and your students can share feelings, thoughts and ideas for the day. Then go through your schedule and make sure everyone has all the online resources they’ll need.

3. Host theme days

Have regular theme days where the class wears a certain color or accessory, or dresses as a specific character. 

For example, create a “color of the week” where every Friday, students wear as much of a specific color as they can find. Then let them show off their outfits in your online classroom! 

Get the most out of your virtual classroom

Online teaching can be a tough balance. But with such a wide range of virtual school activities to choose from, there’s no shortage of fun your class can have while they learn! 

Add a few of these activities to your online lesson plans to help students learn, play and collaborate — no matter where they are!

Looking for an online activity to supplement your math lessons?

Prodigy can help make learning math fun! 

Prodigy Education brand characters

Assign curriculum-aligned math questions that match learning progress and grade levels , easily track student data , and provide your students with a fun way to practice math online — all while they embark on new adventures and battle friends to win rewards! 

Create an Assessment for your Prodigy classroom today to keep students on track and differentiate for individual learning needs. 

NEW! Guidance on handling classroom disruptions

Resources to help instructors handle disruptions to instructional activities in the classroom.

Engaging Online Activities

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Varying activities can be an effective way to mitigate fatigue and make learning more engaging for students online. Consider these activity ideas to build interactivity into lectures, invigorate discussion sections, and create dynamic learning experiences.

Breakout sessions

Live Zoom sessions do not always have to be one-to-many interactions with one speaker talking while the class listens. With breakout rooms, students can be placed into small groups so that interactions among students can happen more easily and comfortably. Specific prompts for what students should accomplish during their time in breakout sessions can help make the dialogue even more lively and engaged.

Collaborative writing

A task where students write together, whether it is a study list on a particular topic or a response to a case study, can be a dynamic way to encourage students to create something together. Writing can be a way for students to work through a concept actively, regardless of which discipline you're teaching in. Asking students to write on a document or assignment together can spark creativity and can be implemented synchronously or asynchronously. Google Documents and other Google Suite tools are commonly used for collaborative writing.

Guest speakers

Bringing in outside perspectives and voices can be a great way to get students thinking about how other voices beyond the instructors are part of critical disciplinary conversations. Speakers could join for a live Zoom class session or they could pre-record a video that could be included in your course Canvas site.

Audience polling

Quick feedback on how your students are understanding course content is useful for informing your teaching and for prompting students to reflect on their own learning.

A synchronous poll using a Zoom poll or a  Poll Everywhere  activity can help you see how students are understanding core concepts. If you make the poll results accessible to students too, they also get a sense of how their peers are understanding core concepts. Polls can also be a great way for students to share anonymous short answer responses so that students can see their peers' perspectives in response to a particular question. Poll Everywhere can also support asynchronous polls or surveys.

Peer review

A peer review task is a concrete activity where students can get feedback on work from their peers. Creating a heuristic or rubric for students to use to review and give comments on each other's projects, writing assignments, or even problem sets can be a good way to get students talking to each other about core course concepts. Peer review activities can be facilitated synchronously through Zoom breakout rooms or could be facilitated asynchronously in a Canvas Discussion or through a Canvas Assignment . Either way, students have the opportunity to get input from another person beyond the instructor.

Small group activities

These small group activities are suitable for a breakout session in Zoom. These activities can be adapted for use with any learning objective or course format.

Sticky notes

In a face-to-face classroom, using paper sticky notes can be a great way to get students to brainstorm quickly. Online sticky notes can similarly encourage students to engage in valuable brainstorming or a process of organizing disparate ideas. Think of each "sticky note" as a place where students can write down words or phrases and then quickly organize those words or phrases into an organized grid. Activities involving sticky notes could be done in small groups or with individuals synchronously or asynchronously using the Jamboard tool, which is part of the Google Suite of tools offered by UIT.

Real-time conversations don't just have to happen with audio and video over Zoom. There are various versions of text chat tools available in Zoom, Canvas, and Slack that can help facilitate dialogue among students. Text chat could be used for synchronous dialogue, but could also be used to have quick Q&A sessions asynchronously.

  • Successful Breakout Rooms in Zoom , Teaching Commons (2020).
  • Text Chat , Teaching Commons (2020).
  • Digital Sticky Notes , Teaching Commons (2020).
  • Small Group Activities , Teaching Commons (2020).
  • Peer Review , Teaching Commons (2020).
  • Live Audience Polling , Teaching Commons (2020).
  • Guest Speakers , Teaching Commons (2020).
  • Collaborative Writing , Teaching Commons (2020).

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15 active learning activities to energize your next college class

Tricia Whenham

The evidence just keeps growing – postsecondary students engage more, learn more and accomplish more with active learning. In yet another proof point, a meta-analysis from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that student exam scores improved 6% when active learning approaches were used. And students in traditional classes were 1.5 times more likely to fail than those being taught with interactive methods.

During uncertain times like these, it might feel simpler to stick with what’s familiar. But even if your classes have moved partially or fully online, that doesn’t mean you’re limited to lecturing. Even taking 5 or 10 minutes to shift from knowledge intake to interaction can make a difference.

Are you ready to move to a different way of teaching but need some ideas to get you started? Or maybe you’ve been running your courses this way for years but want ideas that work for the new reality. Whether your classes are in person, online or somewhere in between, here are 15 active learning activities to try with your students this semester.

1. Think-pair-repair

In this twist on think-pair-share , pose an open-ended question to your class and ask students to come up with their best answer. Next, pair learners up and get them to agree on a response. Get two pairs together, and the foursome needs to do the same thing. Continue until half the group goes head to head with the other half. If your students are online, breakout rooms in your conferencing software let you do the same thing virtually. Here’s how it works in Zoom .

2. Improv games

If your classroom is museum-level quiet no matter how you try to liven things up, try some low-stakes (read: not embarrassing) improv activities. In the three things in common game , pairs figure out the most unexpected things they share (this can also be done online in breakout rooms). Or challenge your students to count to 20 as a group with one person saying each number – but no one is assigned a number, and if two people talk at the same time, everyone starts again at 1. (If some students are in the room and some remote, you’ll need classroom audio with full-room coverage for this to work. Here’s how Nureva audio can help .)

3. Brainwriting

You’ve probably tried brainstorming, but have you tried brainwriting ? In this approach, students are given time to come up with their own ideas individually before sharing them out loud or posting them to an online whiteboard or other shared platform. Building in space for individual reflection leads to better ideas and less groupthink.

15-active-learning-activities-subimage-july2020-update-3

Help students build accountability by teaching each other. Start by dividing them into “home groups” (4 or 5 people works well). Again, breakout rooms in Zoom or Google Meet make this simple even if everyone is remote. Assign each person in the group a different topic to explore – they’ll regroup to work with all the students from the other groups who are exploring the same idea. Once they’ve mastered the concept, students return to their home group and everyone shares newfound expertise.

5. Concept mapping

Collaborative concept mapping  is a great way for students to step away from their individual perspectives. Groups can do this to review previous work, or it can help them map ideas for projects and assignments. In pre-COVID times, you may have covered classroom walls with sticky notes and chart paper – now there are many online tools that make it simple to map out connections between ideas.

15-active-learning-activities-subimage-july2020-update-5

6. The one-minute paper

How much could you explain in one minute? At the end of class, set a timer and ask students to record their most eye-opening revelation or biggest question. This activity lets students reflect on learning and build writing skills – plus you’ll get a window into their understandings and misunderstandings. Here are  more prompts  you can use to get students writing.

7. Real-time reactions

When students are watching a video, a mini lecture or another student’s presentation, have them share their real-time reactions. This helps students spot trends and consider new points of view. You can set up a hashtag to allow for  live tweeting , or use the chat function in your conferencing software.

15-active-learning-activities-subimage-july2020-update-7.3

8. Chain notes

Write several questions on pieces of paper and pass each to a student. The first student adds a response (use a timer to keep things moving quickly) and then passes the page along to gather more responses. Multiple contributions help build more complete understanding. A digital alternative involves using shared documents that multiple students are invited to edit. Then your class can examine the responses and identify patterns and missing pieces.

9. Idea line up

Choose a question that has a range of responses, and then ask students where they stand – literally. If you’re not social distancing, have them come to the front of the classroom and organize themselves in a line, based on where on the spectrum of answers they find themselves. In a blended classroom or a physically distanced one, get them to place themselves on a virtual number line instead.

10. Mystery quotation

Test how well students can apply their understanding of an issue or theoretical position. After they’ve explored a topic, show them a quotation about it they’ve never seen before. Their task is to figure out the point of view of the person behind the quotation – and justify it to the class. Students can debate this issue in small breakout groups before beginning a whole-class discussion.

11. Idea speed dating

Have students cycle through your space, or through breakout rooms in Zoom or Google Meet, sharing insights about a topic or their elevator pitch for an upcoming project. As they present their learnings multiple times on several “ speed dates ,” students’ presentation skills and perspectives will grow.

15-active-learning-activities-subimage-july2020-update-11

12. Peer review

The process of peer review is as old as academia, and it’s never too early to start. Have students swap drafts of their essays, proposals or lab reports, and then come up with comments and questions for each other. Make sure to be clear about what the goals are (using rubrics helps). For example, students could identify compelling arguments, unanswered questions and holes in logic.

13. Quescussion

Ever played Jeopardy? Then you’re ready for  quescussion . It’s like a standard class discussion but only questions are allowed (students call “Statement!” if someone slips up). If you play this game at the beginning of the course, the questions can help shape your course. If you have students both in the room and calling in from a distance, make sure the remote learners get equal airtime and that your audio system is picking up student voices clearly.

15-active-learning-activities-subimage-july2020-update-13

14. Sketchnoting

Instead of taking traditional lecture notes, try getting your students to sketch a picture that represents what they’ve learned during class. Remember, it’s not about the quality of the art – it’s about how drawing prompts students to visualize their understanding and look at their learning from a different perspective.

15. Empathy mapping

Take a page from the designers’ handbook and get students to explore deeper by embracing a perspective. It’s deceptively simple – write down what a person says, thinks, does and feels . The ability to slow down and immerse yourself in another point of view is valuable. In design thinking, empathy maps help designers create better products for users. But this process can be just as valuable for analyzing characters from literature, historical figures or political stances.

Checklist: 8 audio essentials for HyFlex and hybrid learning

Do your higher ed audio systems support active learning? In a hybrid classroom, students need to be able to hear each other easily, no matter where they are. Instructors need to be able to change the room layout for different activities, as often as they like. See what else is on our audio essentials list – download your checklist today (no email address required).

Editor’s note: This post was originally published August 2018 and has been updated.

online activities for college students

Topics: Higher education Active learning Hybrid learning Learning Activities

Posted on April 2, 2020

9 questions to create a powerhouse active learning classroom

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12 student engagement activities for online learning

Create beautiful charts & infographics get started, 04.08.2021 by infogram.

Student engagement has always been a focus for educators. How can you hold the attention of your class when their ability to focus is waning? And more importantly, what student engagement strategies foster a greater desire to learn?

With remote learning, the discussion of online student engagement has risen dramatically. Many teachers are wondering how they can bring a spark to a student’s eyes when they’re teaching remotely.

Read on to learn how to tackle student engagement online, and get the answers to common questions, like:

What is student engagement?

  • What are the different types of student engagement?
  • Why is online student engagement important?
  • And discover 12 proven activities to increase student engagement during online learning.

student is sitting at the laptop and doing homework

Student engagement is “the degree of attention, curiosity, interest, optimism, and passion” students express during the class. In other words, it’s their will and ability to get involved in the learning process.

With online student engagement comes additional concerns.

  • Will they turn on the camera during the lecture? If not, are they present?
  • Are they watching the presentation or scrolling their social media feeds?
  • Do they ask questions and get involved in discussions?
  • Do they get their homework done by themselves and in time?
  • How to develop networking and communication skills for children in the digital era?

Types of student engagement

There are two forms of student engagement : Ongoing engagement and reaction to challenge.

Ongoing engagement refers to student behavior, emotions, and thought processes during learning. Think about it in three parts:

  • Behavioral engagement is about the effort and time students spend learning and focusing, the ability to stay on task, and how they show initiative when given the opportunity.
  • Emotional components refer to positive attitudes that students exhibit during learning activities, such as enthusiasm, curiosity, and interest.
  • Cognitive engagement is about students’ understanding of why they are doing what they’re doing and why it’s essential.

Reaction to challenge refers to students’ coping strategies for dealing with challenges in school like failures, bad grades, and withdrawals. They tend to use effort, strategic thinking, problem-solving, and experiments to deal with those challenges.

But why is online student engagement important?

teacher sitting at the computer during online class with students

When students are engaged, their academic performance improves . It results in higher grades and greater motivation to learn new things, develop skills, and deal with challenges.

Face-to-face learning is effective in bringing in positive behavioral changes along with improvement in students’ academic achievements. In contrast, online education gives greater autonomy to students.

They can study at their own pace, or use the abundance of multimedia and on-demand content to study faster than they would in a traditional setup.

12 online student engagement activities

Use the following ideas in your online classes to boost student engagement.

1. Use stories in the online learning process

teacher sitting at the computer during online lesson and using a whiteboard

Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools to convey an important message to another person. It provides deeper meaning, and context, and brings knowledge and truth to life.

Students remember stories much longer than statistics or facts. I still remember learning about the story of the Trojan Horse in my world history class. Would I remember anything if my teacher had just talked about the time of the Trojan War? I don’t think so.

You can literally tell anything like a story, not just historical events or biography.

Combining storytelling and data visualization can make a difference by triggering your students’ visual perception. Empower your students with visual learning by using creative infographics , charts, presentations, and other data visualization formats. That can add massive value to every story you tell, as 65% of all of us are visual learners .

2. Go beyond traditional online lessons with Prezi Video

Instead of sharing your screen, use Prezi Video to connect to any video conferencing platform and show your content right alongside you as you present.

Why should you try it?

  • Prezi Video will surprise your classroom and keep them focused.
  • You will no longer be a small rectangle in the corner of students’ Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, or any other video meeting. With your slides appearing next to you on screen, you can grab students’ attention and boost online student engagement.
  • Prezi will inspire you to try new formats in storytelling, presenting, and creating assignments. Also, students will develop their creative and presentation skills with every homework assignment.
  • You can use Prezi Video to present in online lessons (regardless of the video conferencing app you’re using), and easily record videos for students to watch and rewatch anytime.
  • Students love Prezi. See what educators say about their experience with Prezi Video.

3. Encourage accountability in the classroom

A culture of accountability plays a vital role in society. In the classroom, it means that every student knows their role and accepts responsibility for fulfilling it, whether it’s a group project or individual work.

Engage your students in group projects to teach them all the necessary skills of teamwork , such as dealing with responsibilities, showing initiative, staying accountable for assigned tasks, learning time and quality management, communicating with different people, and so on.

Not everyone feels comfortable when working in groups, but it’s crucial to practice accountability now in order to be a better team member later in life.

4. Update and improve online lessons

While the facts and history may not have changed, the approach on how to express them has. There’s nothing unusual about sharing the same .pdf files or presentations with students year after year, but a little format experimentation never hurt anybody.

Here are some ideas:

  • Record a video to explain complex ideas like math formulas or Newton’s laws. By that, you will help students understand the material thoroughly and have a video they can rewatch whenever they forget something.
  • Create an infographic to tell a story in an engaging and easy-to-understand format about a specific event, person, or process. You can include texts, charts, timelines, maps, images, videos, and even GIFs and stickers to catch students’ attention.
  • Express geographic information with customized maps . Students will learn the geography of countries and cities and understand the data better because they can visualize it.
  • Build zooming and engaging presentations that emphasize the story in-depth, not just move from one slide to another.
  • Use dashboards and reports to build comprehensive material with plenty of data, numbers, and charts, like regional financial development reports or election results.
  • Create posters to draw attention to important messages like equality in society, cybersecurity, or fun events.

Take a look at this in-depth, interactive solar system infographic made with Infogram.

Pretty cool, huh? If you’d like to view it in more detail, open this link and click the button in the top right corner to view it on full screen.

5. Try different feedback methods to engage students

Feedback is something that tends to be underrated among students. Giving and receiving constructive feedback is actually a kind of “art for better social living,” so it’s a great idea to include it into your online lessons.

You can emphasize the importance of feedback in three ways:

  • Ask students to evaluate your work. Let them rate the lesson material and their feelings during the lesson. Their answers will help you improve the material or your approach, and bring new ideas to your online classes.
  • Ask students to give feedback to each other using the traffic light approach or any other feedback method. They can highlight good things about classmates, areas of improvement, and learn to express criticism in a way that doesn’t hurt anyone.
  • Give feedback to your students. This one is critical – an individual approach will engage students and make them feel important and appreciated. Feedback will build trust between you and students and motivate them to work on their weaknesses.

Collect quantitative feedback and create a dashboard with results at the end of the semester. You’ll see what’s changed and how you’ve developed.

The sooner students start to develop the skill of giving feedback, the easier it will be to become team leads, communicate with others, express their opinions, and deal with criticism.

6. Engage students during online lessons with live reactions

Interactivity can be a headache for every virtual presenter. Many video platforms allow you to add reactions during a virtual call like applause or a thumbs up or down, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Take student engagement to the next level, allowing them to instantly show a picture, video, GIF reaction, or sticker right next to their face with Prezi Video .

Here’s an idea: Ask students to share a GIF expressing how they feel when the lecture starts. That’s a great way to break the ice, lift the level of energy, and choose an approach based on how they feel today.

7. Mood boards for online student engagement

a person creating a moodboard in the computer

A mood board is a well-known type of collage with text, images, objects, and compositions. It is often used in interior design, event planning, and fashion to visualize a particular style or concept.

It’s also a fun idea to use in education. When you make mood boards, periodically ask your students to visualize what they’ve learned, what emotions they experienced, or whatever is on their minds right now.

How? Encourage students to sign up in visualization tool like Infogram and create a mood board with images, icons, fun GIFs, videos, and text. In this way, they can express themselves in endless ways, showing their creativity, wit, and knowledge, and you’ll have valuable feedback about your work.

8. Mini TED talk contest

happy girl presenting presentation on the computer

Presenting is a set of skills, ranging from time management and information analysis to visual content creation and public speaking. Everyone should begin to develop presentation skills during their school time.

Inspire your students by offering a collection of the most remarkable TED talks about topics they might find interesting, such as science, nature, relationships, technology, and design. Let them see what a great TED talk looks like, discuss the components of a successful presentation , and encourage them to create one by themselves.

Make a list of topics (plus a free choice), set the deadline and speech requirements, and give them tools to create an outstanding virtual presentation like Infogram’s slide templates or Prezi’s student software .

And what’s most important – make the day of virtual presentations a celebration! Presenting in front of an audience is not easy. It’s a huge step your students will make towards their growth. Celebrate these wins together!

9. Debate: The highest level of student engagement

two person debating

Organizing debate virtually could be a challenging task, but it’s totally worth it. Debate stimulates student engagement, critical thinking, and helps develop speaking skills.

Create small groups of 4-5 people, assign debate topics , and raffle a position for each group. To provide insight into the case, you can create a comparison infographic with some ideas, resources, or data.

Every debate comes together with a gamification and competition element that urges students to learn the topic, stick together, prepare bold arguments, make a great speech, and win. Enjoy the battle!

10. Flipped classroom for deeper discussions

In the flipped classroom model, traditional ideas about classroom activities and homework are reversed. Students interact with the lesson materials individually at home as text, pre-recorded video, or data visualization projects. Online classroom time is reserved for discussions and interactive projects.

The goal of a flipped classroom is to make a virtual class an active learning environment. Students are able to learn at their own pace, and the educator has more time for one-on-one time with each student.

11. Student collaboration for increased engagement

Encourage students to collaborate and work together with each other. It’s especially crucial in online learning.

Offer a wide range of group activities: Fun sessions to get to know each other, breakout rooms for discussions, group projects, “study buddy” programs, and more.

All these group activities provide students the socializing experiences they miss out on because of remote learning and give them the chance to improve communication and problem-solving skills and learn from each other.

student at the computer joining a virtual team meeting

12. Assign interactive homework

Homework is an integral part of the learning process. Do students like it? Not always. But there are ways to offer practical projects that can engage students. Here are some examples:

  • Encourage students to create a synopsis about the topic in any form they like.  For example, comprehensive infographics , blog posts, animated or recorded video , presentation , web page, essays.
  • Assign group projects that encourage students to express their creativity to its fullest and acknowledge when they make extra effort. If it’s a research project about cultural diversity, inspire them to wear suitable clothes and makeup, try out an accent, learn some rituals. Help their creativity thrive!
  • Involve social media by letting them discover and explain how the TikTok algorithm, Twitter hashtags, or Instagram feeds actually work. Social media is where most students spend their time every day, so you can use their natural interests for educational benefit.
  • Develop students’ ability to analyze information, find the central message, and create dashboards, charts, and reports even without design skills.
  • Use different education tools for digital engagement and deeper learning like Brilliant and ixl .
  • Prepare for class before the class.  Bring the knowledge to students before the online course starts with pre-class quizzes to evaluate their knowledge, add gaming elements, and create a hook for further learning.
  • Make students’ concerns and questions part of your lecture plan. Create a form where they describe a situation that you’ll later solve during the class, for example, some confusion about personal finance or pet care.

So, what’s next?

Online learning is here to stay – and you’re doing great!

Reading this article means that you’re ready to work on your teaching techniques and improve online student engagement.

You’re not alone. We at Infogram offer a wide range of templates designed to help educators and students create data visualization projects quickly and effortlessly.

Sign up and start for free!

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The power of infographics in presenting college statistics, infographic examples for students: enhance learning with infographics, how to use infographics in the classroom: 10 infographics examples for students.

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17 Best Virtual Orientation Ideas for Students in 2024

You found our list of the best virtual orientation ideas .

Virtual orientation is the first week of remote college and university years, and the goal is to provide social activities and onboarding to students. Online orientation ideas are ways to welcome first year students to campus remotely. These online activities can help students adjust to the social and academic aspects of college life online.

This event is similar to virtual spirit week , kind of the opposite of virtual graduation and may include online classroom games .

This list includes:

  • virtual college orientation ideas
  • fun orientation activities for students
  • online orientation ideas

So, here is the list!

List of virtual orientation ideas

From virtual icebreakers for college to digital university classifieds to online freshmen anthologies, here is a list of online orientation ideas to welcome new students with a bang.

1. Online icebreaker and ice cream social

Icebreakers and college orientations go hand in hand. So, one of the most obvious virtual orientation week ideas is to host icebreaker sessions on Zoom, WebEx or other online conference platforms . To sweeten the deal, you can pair this activity with another welcome week favorite: the ice cream social.

Simply invite attendees to bring a favorite frozen treat to the meeting. To encourage strong attendance, you can include sundae making kits or vouchers for popular ice cream chains in your welcome packages. Once all participants join the video call, separate the crowd into breakout groups and start conversations using icebreaker questions .

Check out our list of virtual event ideas for more inspiration, and this list of interactive games to play on Zoom .

2. Virtual orientation Bingo

orientation week bingo

Virtual orientation Bingo is a game that incoming freshmen and volunteers can play online over video conference software. The easiest way to play is to divide participants into breakout groups for easier interaction. To win, players must mark five squares in a row, but players cannot use the same name on more than one square.

You can use the above template as a guide for your game. Feel free to add other identifiers. Make sure you randomize the order of the squares, or else everyone will call Bingo at once!

You can review the rules for Online Team Building Bingo too.

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3. Online Office Games

online office games

Competition gives groups a shared sense of purpose and strategy provides strangers with talking topics. You can build bonds and crown champions during virtual frosh week with spirited rounds of Online Office Games. Despite the name, the game does not have to be played exclusively by coworkers. In fact, since college often requires so much group work, freshmen can use the games as a chance to hone skills and practice remote teamwork tactics like communication, negotiation, and time management.

Learn more about Online Office Games .

4. Buddy blind dates

College orientations are intense because you meet so many new people. Virtual orientations offer less interaction, yet the classmates who do meet online are likely to make stronger and more intimate connections because introductions are scarce.

One of the most dynamic virtual orientation week ideas is matching students for random online buddy blind dates. You can add all incoming students to a Slack channel and use an app like Donut to assign pairs. Students can then connect through video chats to get much needed face-time, or can communicate via chat. You can keep Donut active throughout the year so that students can meet new friends and make new connections anytime.

5. Digital college classifieds

One of the perks of living in dorms is that anything you need is only ever a few steps away: aspirin, a ride to the mall, a Call of Duty partner, the notes from the 8am History lecture you missed. Often, you don’t even have to knock; neighbor’s doors are usually wide open.

Unfortunately, online campuses make crowdsourcing essentials much harder. You can remedy this disconnect and foster a community of sharing by launching a digital classifieds page for your incoming class. Social media groups like Facebook pages or subreddits are great outlets for this kind of exercise, or you could dedicate a section of your school’s online forum to swaps. Students can advertise and search for items or services, from textbooks and class supplies to room decor to Greek letters or tutors. Students can even teach each other lessons like study skills or basic guitar.

6. Virtual o-week badges of honor

virtual orientation week badges

Virtual events sometimes suffer from weak attendance. Participants who feel that online events will pale in comparison to real life counterparts may flake or decline the invitation upfront. Experts suggest that you should make online orientation mandatory, but required attendance does not typically extend to entertainment. Hyping your fun events can ensure a better turnout, but you can also sweeten the deal by offering collectable badges of honor.

You can commission an onstaff graphic artist to design fun badges to disperse at every virtual event. Students can display these badges on social media or student profiles to show off which virtual frosh week events they attended. These badges can serve as fun participation incentives, conversation starters, and means of tracking down coeds who attended the same events.

You can also award badges for winners of remote team building games .

7. Upperclassmen entertainment guide

Students who will eventually relocate onto campus will want to learn more about the surrounding area. Gaining bearings will take time, but you can speed up the process by inviting upperclassmen to recommend favorite local spots.

orientation week guide

As part of your online welcome offerings you can include an entertainment guide curated by savvy connoisseurs. Students and staff can submit reviews to places like that diner with heavenly pancakes, the best late-night snack spot, the independent bookstore with a shop cat, or the hike with a secret swimming spot. Contributors can snapshot reviews directly from sites like Yelp, or can write original entries.

This activity is a fun way for upperclassmen to pass on recommendations to the freshmen and facilitates bonds between classes.

8. Social media challenges

The average American uses social media around two hours a day , and the standard for the average American college student is likely much higher. One of the most interactive free virtual o-week ideas is to engage your incoming class by posting daily social media challenges.

Virtual orientation social media challenge ideas:

  • The Twitter “My roommate” challenge: Ask students to tweet about their pet, but refer to the pet as “my roommate.” Examples: My roommate just made eye contact while knocking over my glass of water. My roommate won’t stop licking my face. I think my roommate is about to shed his skin.
  • Facebook friend search and find: Every day, challenge students to find and friend classmates that fit certain criteria. For instance: Someone that attended your rival high school; someone who has traveled to a country you want to visit; someone with the same taste in movies.
  • Instagram-a-swag: Send students stickers of the university logo and instruct them to place the stickers on random objects to share the most creative piece of college swag.

Social media challenges offer free publicity and great engagement opportunities. You can host multiple challenges throughout your virtual welcome week. Whatever prompt you post, you should outline specific rules and monitor hashtags to ensure appropriate content.

9. Hometown maps

College programs unite individuals of various unique backgrounds. One way to capture a snapshot of your incoming class’s diversity is by assembling a hometown map.

To make a hometown map:

  • Create a map using an app like uebermaps or Google maps
  • Invite all students to collaborate
  • Instruct freshmen to pin home cities
  • Feel free to add any missing locales
  • Save and share the map with students and faculty

These maps can serve as a great conversation starter. One student may reach out to another to share memories from a past trip to the hometown, or with questions about the destination. You can also use the map to highlight geographical diversity in the school’s marketing materials.

10. Welcome packages

Free T-shirts are a big deal at college orientations. I think I received at least three tees during my undergrad welcome week. Sending care packages of college swag to your incoming freshmen is one of the best ways to welcome new students remotely.

Virtual student welcome package ideas:

  • Snacks like chips, granola bars, cookies, and of course, ramen
  • Coupons to places like bookstores, electronic stores, home goods stores, and takeout restaurants
  • Samples from local businesses
  • Charging cables
  • Water bottles
  • Highlighters, sticky notes, and other school supplies

Another especially neat idea is to send students a white T-shirt with an outline of the school logo or mascot and fabric markers. You can instruct students to style the shirt and upload photos of the creations online with a hashtag. This activity is a fun way to engage with students, connect the community, and marvel at the incoming class’s creativity!

11. Virtual team trivia

team trivia

Your digital college orientation needs exciting entertainment options, and virtual team trivia ranks among the funnest online welcome week activities. This online event is a guided trivia game with customizable topics. An emcee will oversee the festivities and energize the virtual crowds. The event lasts approximately one hour and can accommodate hundreds of participants. This online activity is a great way for new students to blow off steam, connect with classmates, and maybe even find a study buddy!

Here is a guide to running virtual trivia nights .

12. Online campus tour

A big part of orientation is students being able to physically orient themselves on campus. During welcome week, students stumble around the grounds and memorize the locations of the library, academic buildings, and of course, the cafeteria. Though your freshman class may not be able to stroll through the quad during an online orientation, students can still explore campus on their laptops through a virtual campus tour.

Fun online campus tour ideas:

  • Enlist theatre students to give a dramatic performance. ( Billy On the Street style, perhaps?)
  • Hide the mascot throughout, and offer a small prize to students who catch every sighting
  • Provide a drone’s eye view of campus
  • Create a virtual scavenger hunt to add an interactive element to the tour
  • Present views of campus throughout all seasons
  • Offer downloadable tour through an app like Junket so students can explore campus independently upon arrival

Even if the school is entirely remote, then you can still recruit a high-energy guide to record a video or facilitate a real time virtual tour exploring all available digital campus resources.

Here is a list of online tours for inspiration.

13. Parent passports

Parental presence is standard during traditional frosh weeks. After all, freshmen need help transporting the futon, and mom and dad need a teary quad sendoff. Though online schooling may keep the nest filled a little longer, you should still encourage parent participation during your online orientation. You can create an online parent passport program that grants guardians access to remote events. You do not need to limit the invitations to financial aid information sessions or commencement ceremonies; parents can join events like Zoom karaoke, Virtual Team Trivia, and online movie nights too. In fact, the whole family can join the fun, including siblings, children, spouses, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and perhaps even the noisy neighbor. The more the merrier, and you can try activities from our list of virtual games for large groups .

14. Campus cafeteria cookoff

Whether your school boasts multiple campus eateries, a culinary program, or cooperative restaurant neighbors, you can incorporate fun food-related entertainment into your digital welcome week. Culinary competitions add elements of excitement into your program.

You can host contests of popular cooking show challenges such as bake-offs and cook-offs, including events where participants must use special ingredients. Students can send recipes ahead of time and contestants can choose dishes to create. For further participation, audience members can use online polls to vote on appearance and overall appeal. You can invite the school president, notable alumni, and local restaurateurs to serve as judges.

An especially fun variation on this exercise is to add a college-cuisine theme to the contest. For instance, constants must make packaged ramen gourmet, re-purpose cold pizza, or whip up the best mug cake.

15. Digital mentor programs

College is a big adjustment. Beyond the major curriculum, there is much more to learn: effective study skills, budgeting tips, the tightrope walk of class-work-social balance, the weird world of coed dating culture, and the fact that 8am classes are a bad idea about 90% of the time. Navigating all these new rules can be overwhelming, especially if your freshmen are not physically on campus. You can help bridge the knowledge gap by offering a digital mentor program.

How to start a digital college mentor program:

  • Ask upperclassmen to volunteer as mentors.
  • Offer new students the option of mentorship.
  • Then, assign your mentees and mentors.
  • Communicate the maximum time commitment and outline acceptable/unacceptable questions
  • Introduce your pairs via email or chat app and encourage the students to connect!

The time commitment should be minimal. Mentors should not spend more than a couple of hours during orientation, and the activity should not interfere with the mentor’s academic obligations. The aim of this program is to answer basic questions and introduce a friendly face. If a student has needs beyond the basic, then the mentor can always direct the mentee to the proper campus resources.

16. Online freshmen anthology

Every incoming freshman has special skills, talent, and knowledge that will enrich fellow students. You can kick off the peer knowledge exchange compiling an online freshmen anthology. To build your collection, ask incoming students to each submit one page. Contributors can send anything, from works of art or poetry, to the perfect mug cake recipe, to dance instructions or beauty tutorials, to laundry directions, to a list of shower thoughts.

Once you receive all submissions, you can collect the works into a PDF and send to the entire class. Allowing upperclassmen voluntary access and archiving the collection is also a nice touch. This activity is a great way for faculty and peers to learn more about the new batch of students and makes for an excellent talking point.

17. Faculty meet and greets

The relationship between students and professors is one of the most important bonds of the college career. Distance learning can easily turn teachers into strangers. Without a strong introduction to departmental figures, students may hesitate to reach out for help.

By planning for department-specific online events and virtual meetings with professors during your remote orientation week, you induct virtual learners into an online community and establish a strong support network. You can facilitate practical online affairs such as advisor conferences and initial office hours as well as more informal gatherings such as departmental online open mics or virtual competitions.

At these events, you can include icebreaker games to encourage more connections.

Virtual Orientation Week Tips

Assembling upperclassman volunteers, stocking up on snacks, and reserving auditoriums is second nature to college administrators planning in-person orientations, but virtual welcome weeks are brand new territory.

Here is a quick list of tips to make your online college orientation successful.

1. Seek innovative ways to interact

Opportunities for interaction can make or break any online event. The ability to participate draws attendees to attend a live event instead of watching a video tutorial. Your orientation week may be mandatory, but your students will focus better and have more fun if you build engaging interactions into your program. Examples include distributing digital badges for event attendance, posting social media challenges, and hosting online socials through video calls.

You can also play online minute to win it games , or improv games for large groups .

2. Do a test run to uncover any bugs

You want your students’ orientation experience to be amazing and, ideally, error-free. While you cannot prepare for every glitch or technological snafu, you can run-through your software and root out any initial bugs. Partnering with your campus IT team to test functionality and security is a good idea. You may also want to enlist upperclassmen as guinea pigs to demo the program and confirm that your o-week is fun and accessible.

3. Proactively accommodate your class

Orientation is a welcome to all students, but not every student will attend a virtual orientation from the exact same environment. When on campus, all students can access the same resources such as computer labs, wi-fi, and the library. You should remain sensitive to the fact that some of your students may face hiccups like unreliable internet access, lack of a quiet or private space, or firewall issues. By encouraging students to reach out with any environmental challenges pre-event and offering support and workarounds, you will ensure that no co-ed misses out on the festivities.

4. Incorporate tactile elements

What I remember most about my own undergrad orientation is the sheer amount of free T-shirts I received. Though your events may all take place online, you can send goodies like school swag, props for online games, books, and snacks to round out the experience.

Freebies are fun, but there are other tactile aspects that can enhance your event. For instance, you may issue a geocaching challenge, invite students to give a virtual hometown tour, or prompt attendees to produce physical objects during online scavenger hunts. Adding elements of touch and movement can make your event more exciting and distinguish the orientation from more routine computer-based activities.

There are many other online orientation tips that can spice up your event, but the advice in this list covers the basics for designing an inclusive and rousing web-based welcome week. For similar pointers, you can check out our post on virtual conference ideas .

Starting college is a significant occasion, regardless of whether instruction takes place in lecture halls or on laptops. With careful planning and creativity, virtual welcome weeks can be momentous.

If you have both remote and live students, then check out this list of hybrid learning activities .

For more suggestions, check out our post on virtual field trips and this one that includes virtual team building activities for students . For work, we also have a list of onboarding books and this list of internship orientation ideas .

FAQ: Virtual Orientation

Here are some of the most common questions and answers about virtual orientation.

What is a virtual student orientation?

A virtual student orientation is a new student welcome week conducted remotely. As online college courses increase, more campuses move o-week activities online.

What are the benefits of a virtual student orientation?

Student bodies are diverse. College attendees often come from many different states and countries. Virtual student orientations give students the opportunity to meet classmates without having to travel to campus. Because online student orientations are more flexible, you can host remote activities before the academic year officially begins, over the summer for instance.

What are virtual orientation week ideas?

Virtual orientation week ideas are ways to engage the incoming class and mark the transition into college. Though the student’s physical environment may not change, online welcome weeks distinguish the start of the school year as a new chapter in the learner’s life.

What are good virtual orientation activities?

Some good virtual orientation activities include scavenger hunts, social media challenges, and online campus tours.

How do you plan a virtual student orientation?

You should start planning a virtual student orientation months in advance. Though you will want to nail down the technical details early, you can continue to plan online events and entertainment in the weeks leading up to the gathering. Your online orientation should offer a mix of academic onboarding, digital university resources, and fun remote social time. When planning, you should create an agenda and determine which events will be mandatory or optional. Be sure to send the schedule to students and faculty well in advance so that all parties can prepare and plan accordingly.

Author avatar

Author: Angela Robinson

Marketing Coordinator at teambuilding.com. Team building content expert. Angela has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and worked as a community manager with Yelp to plan events for businesses.

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12 Best Virtual Games for Classroom Fun & Learning

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1. Dance and Pause

2. first letter, last letter, 3. pop up quiz , 4. complete a story , 5. guess who, 6. twist your tongue , 7. know your friends , 8. pictionary, 10. what would you do if you were.

As things get back to normal after almost two years, students are back in classrooms, and teachers are now teaching without screen barriers. However, teachers still need to be careful, and one way to ensure that is through virtual games. 

Teachers avoid taking students to field trips and indulge in extracurricular activities to mitigate the chances of spreading any infection. It is necessary for safety, but it impacts students’ engagement and social interactions.

Fortunately, virtual games are a simple solution to this problem. Teachers can host virtual game periods in classrooms to provide students with an engaging and fun environment. They can easily play and learn new things on a Zoom call, Google Meet, or online multiplayer games. 

So, let’s check out cool virtual games that you can play with your students today. Looking for more Math games and ELA games to educate and engage your kids? Here are more online educational games to check out!

12 Fun Yet Educational Virtual Games for Students

Student playing on desktop virtual games

Games help create an informal classroom environment to develop better bonds between students and teachers. Playing virtual games can help students learn new things and interact with other students and teachers without stepping outside their homes. Here are some cool virtual games that you can play in your online classroom:

This game is a virtual version of musical chairs. You can play some music in this game and ask your students to dance their hearts out. You can suddenly pause the music, and then all your students have to stop dancing. However, students who keep dancing even after the music stops will get eliminated from the game. You can keep playing this game until a student remains in the game. 

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This is an exciting word game that can help you improve the vocabulary and spelling of your students. You have to give an alphabet letter to your student, and they have to name an animal starting with the letter, like D for a dog. After that, the next student will have to use the last letter of the word to name an animal, for example, G for the giraffe. The circle keeps on moving until the student can’t name an animal from the given letter. 

The best way to analyze your students’ performance in a fun way is by organizing a virtual pop-up quiz game. You can give a theme to your students for a quiz-like Disney, Math, Harry Potter, etc. You can use different props to make the quiz more interesting, like buzzers, timers, and costumes. Just try to make your virtual quiz as fun as possible for students. 

This virtual game can help you stimulate creativity and passion for reading among your students. You can give a line or prompt to students to create a story around it, like a man walking in the city or a girl dancing in the rain. For this game, you can divide your class into smaller groups so that each group can compete with one another to create a beautiful story.

Young men playing video games with desktop

If you want to test your students’ history knowledge, you can create riddles around famous historical personalities. This way, you can make your students learn about famous historical personalities and their achievements. For example, who is a naturalized-French physicist and chemist who researched radioactivity? The student who answers correctly will get a score, and the person with high scores will win the game. 

If you want to improve the pronunciation skills of your students, you can host virtual tongue twister games for them. You can give five chances to each student to say a tongue twister ten times as fast as possible. You can create a fun environment in your virtual class and make your students’ speeches clear. Some of the popular tongue twisters are:

  • Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers
  • Betty Botter bought some butter
  • She sells seashells by the seashore
  • I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!

This simple virtual game will help you build relationships with your students. With this game, your students can learn new things about one another. To play this game, you should ask questions like — “name the friend who has a birthday this month,” “name the friend who likes red colors,” etc. 

Pictionary is a traditional game that can help to improve students’ creativity and drawing skills. You can make your students share the screen and open the Paint application to draw. You can make the game even more enjoyable by dividing your class into small teams. This will boost team coordination and communication skills among your students. 

This game can help you improve your students’ cognitive and acting skills. You can send guessing prompts to your students via personal chat for this game. And ask a student to turn off his microphone and use gestures or lips to narrate the word to other students. The student who guessed the word right will get a score. You can also divide your class into groups to create a healthy competition. 

This classic game will help improve your young students’ imagination and decision-making capabilities. In this game, you will give an imaginary position to your students and ask them what they would do if you were in a particular situation, such as what would you do if you were president for one day? These questions will make your students think about new things and situations, leading to a logical and problem-solving mindset. 

You can develop observation skills by sharing puzzle pictures with your students. You can find several puzzle pictures online with different objects and colors. In this game, you have to ask your students to find an object or color in the image. The student who will identify more things mentioned on your list will win this game.

12. Sharp Memory 

As the name suggests, this virtual game will help you sharpen your students’ memory. You need to collect a few things and show them to your students via your camera to play this game, like a pen, paper, chocolates, etc. But only show the items for 20 seconds, and then ask your students to list down all the items you have just shown them. Finally, students who write down the most things will win the game. 

Parting Remarks

Girl playing online virtual games

Virtual games are the best way to improve cognitive skills and develop bonds between your students. Especially if lockdown is still prevailing in your country, virtual games can help you create a stress-free environment for your students. So, let’s not hold back any longer and host a virtual game period today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are virtual games important.

Virtual games are essential for character development and skill growth among young students. Students learn to communicate and work in a team by playing online games. They also learn to express their emotions and be creative without any judgment. For overall mental and physical development, virtual games are beneficial. 

Are online games beneficial to students?

Online games can provide different learning and improvement opportunities to students. Through games, students can learn to write, better pronounce words and express themselves. They can also come out of their inner shell and freely communicate with teachers and other students during a fun game environment.

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10 fun virtual team building ideas for students

10 fun virtual team building ideas for students

February 09, 2021 •

6 min reading

All groups needs a spirit of collaboration in which to thrive. In the midst of the current pandemic, maintaining close relationships has proven especially challenging, including on the higher education level where students often have to juggle between numerous group projects throughout the year. With classes taking place online and a limited access to campus, feeling isolated from friends and colleagues has become the norm among students rather than the exception.

With this in mind, we all need to rethink ways to keep the team spirit alive in a remote context. How can we bring students together mentally, if not physically? 

Without further ado, here is a list of creative team-building activities for groupmates looking to add some sparkle to their virtual meetings.

1. Team-building Bingo

Life at home seems rather dull and uneventful compared to the daily ritual of coffee breaks between classes. As a result, when a virtual meeting comes up, no one possibly knows what anecdote to share with their teammates. This bingo will help break the ice and spark funny conversations among colleagues:

Virtual teambuilding games

Did someone admit to wearing pajama bottoms to a video meeting? Cross it off the list. Was your meeting interrupted by your teammate’s delivery man or barking dog? Cross it off too! A remote work bingo will help dedramatize the situation and make working from home seem more eventful, and eventually fun too.

2. Guessing the Emoji board

You are probably used to include emojis practically anywhere, from personal texts to work emails. But have you ever wondered which ones your colleagues use most often and why? To start off the activity, each teammate should take a screenshot of their phone or computer keyboard and share it with the group. Then ensues the burning question: Why does your colleague Kelly use a “clueless” emoji so much?

Virtual teambuilding

Here is how to play the “Guess the Emoji board”:

  • Create a list of all players and distribute it to each colleague.
  • Within 5 minutes, each player should guess the top 5 used emojis by each person on the list.
  • When time is up, reveal the answers and award points based on accuracy, similarity of emojis and getting them in the right order.
  • If time remains, spark a discussion to find out the reasons behind using the funniest or most intriguing emojis.

3. Virtual Pub Trivia

Meeting up with classmates to have a drink after work seems like a distant memory. But who said the experience can’t be replicated at home? 

Here is how to organize a virtual pub trivia quiz: Invite participants to a call and ask them to bring their favorite drink. The designated event host then divides participants into smaller groups and reads out questions. As for a traditional trivia game, the fastest team to give the right answer wins.

Trivia questions are endless, but you can find a few ideas organized into categories to get started here.

To make the activity more work-related, you could also thematize the trivia game and ask questions related to your industry, company or specific department.

4. Tiny Campfire

What better setting than a campfire, marshmallows and scary stories to form bonds? While meeting in a forest to camp is not very realistic for now, nothing stops you and your teammates from camping at home.

Arm yourself with tealight candles, matches, and s’mores ingredients (marshmallows, crackers and chocolate), prepare some spooky stories and you will be ready for a virtual camping night with classmates!

For more of a Swiss touch, don’t hesitate to convert this tiny campfire into a fondue or raclette evening – different ingredients, same teambuilding effects!

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5. Exciting Sponge

Has the title caught your attention yet? Exciting Sponge  consists of a storytelling game where each team member tells a story about an object within arm’s length. If no object is available, or if inspiration is lacking, one can default to telling a story about a sponge.

The goal of this slightly absurd game is to make a seemingly uninteresting object exciting and worthy of attention. Who knew a post-it or a USB stick could be so fascinating?

6. DIY Craft Challenge

An effective way to spark creativity among teams can be found by organizing a DIY challenge. DIY activities come in various shapes, for instance, participants could craft the same object at the same time by following a step-by-step instruction manual. The choice of DIY craft is not the most important here. What matters is for colleagues to perform the activity simultaneously, help each other out and have fun together.

Another, more creative approach consists of organizing a crafting competition where each person builds an object from material available at home within a certain time limit. A great opportunity to test your creativity and empty drawers of unused materials at the same time! When everyone is done, votes are attributed to the most creative project – prizes optional.

7. Virtual Book Club

Reading is mostly a solitary activity – but it doesn’t always have to be. In fact, it could very well be turnedinto a social endeavor. The principle of a virtual book club is rather similar to an in-person one: a common book is read at a similar pace by all members who regularly meet to express their opinion about it.

Not everyone is an avid reader, and literary tastes tend to vary. Therefore, it might be wise to start with short stories, novellas or even graphic books. Each week or so, club members could meet and share their thoughts on their current reading. Then, every month, members could vote on which book to read next.

To make it more “work-oriented”, you could also decide to read non-fiction books specialized in your field of study. This way, group members would have the opportunity to share their thoughts on books while increasing their knowledge in a particular field.

8. Remote Team Dinner

Sharing food is not only a delicious activity, it is a great opportunity to spend time with other and foster relationships. At a time where sharing lunch with co-workers and organizing team dinners proves difficult in person, remote dinners are a viable option.

Gather your team for an online dinner: you could choose to cook the same meal or ask each person to prepare their favorite dish. Another fun activity could be to start the meeting a bit earlier and go through the recipe together - laughs guaranteed!

Here as well, a contest could be organized and a prize awarded to the best-looking or most creative dish. This will also give everyone a sneak peek into which teammate is the best cook, to keep in mind when in-person dinners are allowed again.

9. Virtual Dance Party 

In these times where working at home equates with sitting down for 8+ hours each day, shaking off physical and emotional tensions is crucial more than ever. For those who are not afraid to show off some moves, a virtual dance party could well be the solution.

Feel free to make it a quick activity at the start of a meeting to loosen the atmosphere or make it a designated event. Don’t worry if you don’t know any fancy dance moves, the important part is to have fun! Here are some ideas of engaging songs to make your team dance to:

  • Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars
  • Heavy, California  by Jungle
  • Kiss  by Prince
  • Get Lucky  by Daft Punk & Pharrell Williams
  • Money by Michael Kiwanuka & Tom Misch

Of course, the list of songs is endless and subject to your team’s preferences.

10. Rose/Thorn virtual icebreaker

In this activity, each person will get the chance to share how they are feeling at the moment, in terms of work and/or personal life. One after another, each team member shares his or her “rose” (a positive thing that makes them feel happy, proud or grateful) and a “thorn” (a challenge which made them feel down and that they want to overcome).

This activity will act as a short icebreaker and can be used at the very beginning of a meeting to strengthen communication and support within the group.

These are just a few activities among many more which can be used to make classmates feel closer during difficult times. Are you convinced yet? Then do not hesitate to try some of the suggestions on this list and let us know how they worked for your team! 

  • Bizbash.com: 10 new foodbased activities for virtual team building
  • Museumhack.com: virtual team building for remote teams

Lorraine Van Nijen

Academic Assistant at EHL

Dr Lohyd Terrier

Associate Professor at EHL

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12 Virtual Event Ideas for College Students

  • January 7, 2022

Krishnan MLN

Krishnan MLN

Looking for new virtual event ideas for college students? If yes, then this article is perfect for you.

In this article I explain 10 catchy virtual event ideas that can be used and offer advice on how to make them work. We also have a curated list of gamification ideas for e-learning

Virtual events for students usually are of the following types

  • Virtual Onboarding of Freshers 
  • Virtual Socials 
  • Virtual Happy Hours 
  • Virtual Graduation 

The key to success lies in creating an enjoyable experience that engages college students. This article will provide you with fun virtual event ideas for college kids. Don’t forget to use a reliable hybrid event platform and an event app to run these games.

So, here is the list of online events ideas for college students!

1. Virtual Crib Tour

This has been the best idea we have seen work to learn about each other. A guided tour of your house is similar to MTV cribs . You get to show off your work or cool posters to create a personal connection.

2. Photo Contest

Hosting a photo contest is a fun way to bring people together. Everyone gets involved by taking photos at the event and uploading their entries online. Then, the winners are announced at the end of the party.

3. Online Game Night

Play online games such as Candy Crush Saga, Pictionary, Chess, or Mario Kart. These types of games allow you to connect better because you won’t be distracted by your phone calls and emails. For a productive brain exercise, you can try this customizable jigsaw puzzle .

Of course, the most fun are virtual reality games 🤣

4. Trivia Game Show

Put on a trivia game show where every question has a tie-in with the virtual event.

For example, ask questions about references made during the event or about famous college alumni. Having multiple rounds or different formats makes it exciting.

Plus, it’s a lot of fun to watch others try to figure out the answers before anyone else does.

5. Fashion Show

Create a fashion show that includes the latest trends or make it funny. Get as creative as you would want your guests to be. Some ideas we have seen work are Dress-like-celebrity, Traditional-cultural-dress, Ugly-Christmas-Sweater

6. Movie Marathon

Instead of watching movies alone, why not invite everyone over virtually and watch together?

Go with the classics and don’t forget you’re 🍿

7. Book Club Discussion Group

Yea we know who reads a book anymore, But it’s why organize a book club discussion group, where each guest brings a book and discusses it while connecting with other attendees.

8. Virtual Watch Party

Whether it be Super Bowl or a Formula 1 race or the Oscars everyone loves a watch party.

With a virtual watch party, you can chat in real time with screen share.

9. Powerpoint party

We know powerpoints are boring. But that’s why convert a boring activity to a fun activity.  Don’t believe us ?

Pick a topic that everybody gets to learn something. And Give our prizes for the most creative PowerPoint, the funniest powerpoint, or the most boring.

10. Pictionary

No one can go ever go wrong with Pictionary. Goofy sketches that create memories

Time to doodle Skip OR Sasquatch OR Lollipop and let your team guess.

All you need is an event app that allows you to do it seamlessly and make teams !

11. Online career fair

Graduates can’t wait to find the perfect job opportunity! By hosting a virtual career fair , you’re giving them the chance to connect with several potential employers – it’s a great way for them to start their careers.

This is no better way than this to create a strong professional network. It’s an excellent opportunity to get ahead of the game!

12. Organize a virtual AI hackathon

AI & ChatGPT is the buzz in the town. So why not leverage it ?

This is one of the best online technical event ideas for college students. Online hackathons are a fabulous opportunity to connect with tech enthusiasts and developers

All participants have the exciting opportunity to come up with a working solution to a given technical challenge within a predetermined timeline.

Seek event sponsorship and provide various prizes as incentives to further add to the fun of the event!

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Additional Team Building Resources

Feb 16, 2022

17 Fun Virtual Team Building Activities for Students

online activities for college students

Anecia Ascalon

Team Building Expert

Most people think about the workplace when they hear the term “virtual team building.” But, as all teachers know, virtual team building isn’t just for adults at work! It’s an essential part of learning as a student. Team building for students, no matter what age and grade is incredibly important for the learning process. Virtual team building activities teach students skills like effective communication, intentional listening, and creative thinking.

However, because so many classrooms have moved to remote learning, it’s made putting together team building activities a little more difficult. Teachers and leaders are having to think creatively on how to build this culture of team building virtually.

Table of Contents:

  • Elementary School
  • Middle School
  • High School and College
  • Virtual Team Building Benefits

There are tons of directions you can go in when planning a team building experience for your class. For older students, you might want to try challenging activities to really engage them and keep their attention. With younger students, you may want to choose team building activities that don’t take too long, since their attention spans aren’t very long.

Check out these virtual team building activities for students that may just be the perfect choice for your classroom and reap all of the team building benefits !

Virtual Team Building Games for Elementary Students

redheaded boy cheering while using a laptop

Teachers know how valuable it is to help students learn at an early age how to work together and build friendships. When planning these team building activities for elementary students, you may need to alter some details to work for your age group!

1. Smithsonian Virtual Tour

One of the most exciting parts of school is taking field trips! If you’ve got a remote classroom, you can still bring the joy of field trips to your students. The Smithsonian National Museum of History Virtual Tour allows groups to take self-guided tours through different exhibits either on a computer or mobile device. Your students will love getting to see the 11-ton elephant in the rotunda, the Hall of Fossils, and the Sant Ocean Hall with over 600 specimens!

2. Stand-Up And Sit-Down

Prepare a series of “yes or no” questions with only two options for answers. For example, “Do you like apples?” Students stand up if the answer is “yes” or sit down if the answer is “no.”

Get Your Free Game

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A ready-set-go game to run at your next fully remote or hybrid meeting without the hassle or added pressure of developing a team-building exercise yourself. Get it here →

3. Once Upon A Time

One student begins the story with something like, “Once upon a time, a man was walking down the road. Just as he turned the corner, he saw…”

That student can then pick the next person to share, and so on. The story finishes once everyone has gotten a turn! With your students’ creative minds, who knows where the story will go!

4. Sixty-Second Sketch

Pick a topic and have students draw it for one minute. Or pause during reading time and ask them to draw a picture of something happening in the book!

boy using a computer smiling at camera

5. Break The Ice

Compile a list of  icebreaker questions  for students to answer and number each of them. Students will use an  online dice roller  to roll the dice and answer the question it lands on. It’s a great opportunity for the students to learn a little bit more about each other and get their little minds thinking. 

6. Virtual Scavenger Hunt

It’s a good idea to communicate with parents in preparation for this one. Create a list of virtual scavenger hunt items for parents to place in easy-to-find spots around the house. Announce the first item and have the kids run to get it. Give each student the next item as they return. The first person to find all the items wins!

Virtual Team Building Games for Middle School Students

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Middle school is tough enough in normal times. Throw a pandemic into the mix and teachers have an extra hurdle trying to help their students develop emotionally and relationally. Here are some team building activities for students to help them out of their shells and work together!

Share an online bingo board with your students and select themes that match a subject your class is learning.

Don’t forget a prize for the winners! Maybe they get no homework or their choice of the next group activity.

8. Detective

Pick a student to be the detective. This person closes their eyes and counts to thirty. While this happens, choose a student to be the spy.

The spy begins with an action (like waving their hand or tapping their nose), and all of the other students will follow along. Now the detective opens their eyes and observes their classmates.

The spy continues changing actions as the other students follow. The detective’s job is to figure out who the spy is!

two children using a laptop

9. Two Truths and a Fib

Have each student write down two true things about themselves and one fib. Each student will read theirs to the class and you can have the whole class vote on which they think is the fib. This is a fun game to get the creativity flowing as they have to think of a believable, yet fun fib. It’s also a great way for the students to get to know each other better as they may have not known the other truths about each other. 

10. Waffles or Pancakes 

This is a great game to engage all the students, even those who struggle to speak up in class. There are no right or wrong answers! Start with one student and ask “Which do you like more—waffles or pancakes?”

The student answers and gives an explanation why. Then using their answer, add a new option and ask another student. For example, “Which do you prefer, waffles or hot dogs?” The game continues this way!

Virtual Team Building Activities for High School and College Students

girl in green smiling at laptop

One of the best parts of teaching high school and college-aged students is that you can give them unique, challenging projects and watch them rise to the occasion! Check out some of these options your class is sure to enjoy!

11. Virtual Escape Room

At Team Building Hub , we’ve put a lot of thought into how to make an epic online team building activity for students and a virtual escape room is a fantastic option. Your students can play a real escape room using a live camera feed. Each room has a Game Guide actually in the room who acts as your eyes, ears, hands, and feet. Along with the Game Guide, students progress through the room using their digital dashboards, 360 room scans, and an inventory system. Find a list of virtual escape room options here.

12. Online Mystery Game

If you have a bigger class, an online mystery game is also a great option. Your students will be broken into teams of 5–7 secret agents who race to solve a crime before the other teams. You can raise the stakes here and offer extra credit for the winning team. Or maybe even offer a pass on some homework!

It’s simple and there are so many options out there for virtual trivia games . You can use tools like Kahoot! to make the game engaging! Maybe pick a theme that goes along with your class, or rather than quizzing on a particular topic, have a trivia game instead! Your students will have a blast getting out of the normal routine! Whatever you choose to do, trivia is a low-impact, simple thing to add to your schedule.

14. Map Challenges

Use a world map of your choosing, break students into groups and give them a certain amount of time to list as many states, cities, countries, etc. as they can in that map. If you’re a geography teacher, this would be an especially fantastic team building activity for your class!

15. Story Telling

Provide students with four or five different images. The students arrange them however they want and create a story that connects them together. It’s fun to see what direction students will take! Some will come up with funny stories, while others will go for the drama. Any time we can encourage students to tap into their creative, collaborative sides, we’re setting them up for success!

teen boy in hoodie using a laptop

16. Typing Speed Test

Do you have some competitive students? There are so many online options for typing tests that you can challenge your students to. See who has the quickest typing fingers in the class!

17. Shark Tank 

Chances are, you’re familiar with the show Shark Tank. In this activity, you’ll split your class into teams where they have to come up with a product or service to pitch to the sharks. This could be a fun opportunity to bring in some guests to the class to serve as the panel of sharks.

They’ll have to work together to come up with a logo, product, marketing strategy, etc. This activity will also help them grow in their public speaking skills! After everyone has presented, your sharks can vote on the best presentation.

Benefits Of Team Building Activities For Students

This has been an interesting year for teachers, parents, and students as everyone navigates the complexities of virtual and hybrid learning. Teachers have had to create innovative opportunities for socialization in their online classrooms. But educators know that dedicating time to online team building activities for students enables them to gain the following skills!

smiling teen girl with curly hair using a laptop

1. Creativity

According to Psychology Today, “creativity is the thinking that fuels innovation,” and “creativity is or is related to 9 of the top 10 skills that global executives say is essential for 2020 and beyond.”

It’s important in the academic years to show students that there are many different ways to be creative!

Online team building activities are an opportunity to make space for creative thinking, and equip students for success.

2. Collaboration

While students learn alongside peers, they often work on schoolwork by themselves. While independence and individual learning are important, it’s also necessary for students to learn how to work together and navigate group situations.

Choosing a virtual team building activity that requires groups to find solutions together is a great way to develop that collaboration muscle. 

3. Communication

Because of remote learning, students are missing the opportunities to socialize that are normally a part of school. It’s a challenge to get kids to build relationships online organically. Team building activities are a great way to spend some time learning those communication skills and making friends!

Remote learning isn’t often viewed as “fun.” But taking a break from the routine and participating in virtual team building activities is a great way to just have some fun and engage with your class! Students will want to engage in the work more readily when they’re not feeling burnt out by the constant computer time. 

online activities for college students

Anecia is a Nashville-based writer who believes in the power of team building. She writes a variety of content focused on creative corporate team building ideas, to help teams become more dynamic, unified, and successful.

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The Most Engaging Icebreaker Games for College Students

The start of a new semester can be a stressful time . These icebreaker games for college students can help alleviate some of the pressure.

online activities for college students

The start of a new semester can be a stressful time for college students, particularly first-year students who are fresh out of high school. Not knowing what to expect from their instructions, being unfamiliar with their classmates, and questioning their social standing, all those things and a whole lot more combine to put a lot of pressure on the shoulders of students regardless of their age.

Luckily, you can introduce some icebreaker games for college students that can help alleviate all or a considerable amount of that pressure. While the mere mention of icebreaker activities is often enough to induce a collective eye roll and/or a group sigh, bonding games and activities are still effective at putting everyone at ease. And, if everyone is honest, many will admit they secretly appreciate the effects of great icebreakers, and they’ll even go so far as to say they enjoy the activities.

Enjoy virtual games with global friends !

Going off to college is exciting, but one of the drawbacks is realizing that family members and friends you’ve been around for your whole life are now scattered throughout the country or across the world. Let’s Roam offers virtual game nights that are perfect for connecting with loved ones—no matter where you roam!

Icebreaker Activities and Games for College Students

Make no mistake about it. There are a lot of icebreaker ideas out there. The thing is, not all of those ideas are created equally. Some of them are geared for team members trying to bond in a professional setting while others seem to be more appropriate for young children.

To find an icebreaker that will resonate with the occupants of a college classroom, you should seek out an activity that has minimal social risk and is matched to your students’ comfort level and proficiency. Of course, it can’t hurt if the bonding exercise you choose is infused with a touch of silliness and humor, too.

You won’t have to look too hard to find icebreakers your whole class will love and be eager to participate in. That’s because we’ve put together a curated list of icebreakers that will resonate with college students regardless of their ages.

Icebreaker Questions and Statements

One of the easiest things you can do to put students at ease is to come up with a list of icebreaker questions and assertions. Rather than creating a list of declarations and open-ended questions, you should craft a list of questions and statements that have a this or that format. In other words, think of inquiries and statements that can be answered or responded to with a true or false or a yes or no.

Here are some questions and statements you may want to use:

  • True or false: I had breakfast this morning
  • Are you nervous about the coursework we’ll cover in this class?
  • True or false: I have at least one pet at home
  • Did you drive to today’s class?
  • True or false: I made my bed when I woke up
  • Do you speak more than one language?
  • True or false: I forgot to use deodorant today
  • Are you over COVID and the mandates related to it?

Before you start pelting your students with questions and declarations, designate one side of the room for students who’ll respond with false/no and the other for attendees who’ll respond with a true or yes. As you read your questions and statements, have students make their way to the side of the room that’s representative of their response. This simple exercise will help participants see that they have things in common with their peers.

Would You Rather

This activity is similar to the discussion of icebreaker questions just presented in the sense that it gives participants the choice between two things. With that in mind, instruct students who’d prefer the first option provided in a question to go to one side of the room and tell the rest of the group to go to the other side of the space.

Before you play this game, you need to come up with a series of questions that have a “would you rather…” format. Lists of questions are readily available online, but it’s often more effective and fun to create your own.

The more ridiculous your questions are, the funnier this exercise will be. No possibility or pairing is off the table when it comes to this game so feel free to engage your creativity. Possible questions may include:

  • Would you rather be a sloth or a tiger?
  • Would you rather have the ability to fly or leap tall buildings?
  • Would you rather be a wallflower or the life of the party?
  • Would you rather drink from a keg or a bathtub?
  • Would you rather go to the big game or a frat party?
  • Would you rather be the prosecutor or defense attorney in a criminal case?
  • Would you rather compete in the Olympics or perform with Adele in Vegas?

If it’s the first day of class, you can make this activity a one-on-one exercise. Divide your group into pairs and give each duo a list of questions. By separating group members into pairs, the duos can discuss why they’d prefer one thing over the other and get to know each other on a more personal level.

Two Truths and a Lie

Because this game involves people sharing some personal information about themselves, it’s best reserved for smaller groups rather than a large group. In this game, participants will share two facts and one lie about themselves in turn. Then, it’s up to the rest of the group to determine which statement is the untruth.

If you have a large group of students, you can still play Two Truths and a Lie. Just divide your group into smaller groups so students will be more comfortable sharing personal information.

Signatures is one of the classroom icebreakers that is so wonderful because it allows participants to express themselves without revealing all their dirty laundry. This exercise is best for small groups, so you’ll need to divide your students into small teams if your class is large.

For this game, each group should form a circle and pick someone who’ll go first and the direction the game will flow in. The first person should show off a signature move or sound, like a dance move, deep bow, or cough. Player number two should then repeat the first person’s move or sound before showing off their own. The next participant will repeat the moves of the first two players in sequence and then do their own, and so on.

If someone forgets a move or the proper sequence, the game should restart with that person or the player who initially went second. Participants should come up with different moves or sounds than they’ve already used, and no one should adopt another player’s move or sound as their own in the same round of play.

Name Game: Variant Number One

There are several ways to play this game, with one probably being familiar from the party scene. A popular way to play is to write down the names of famous or historical people on sticky notes. Each player will put a sticky note on their head without reading what’s written on it. Participants will then ask each other questions in an attempt to figure out the identity of the person whose name is written on their respective sticky notes.

Name Game: Variant Number Two

In this alliterative variant of the game, players should either line up or form a circle. The first person should say their name and then reveal something personal that starts with the same letter as their name. For example, the player might say, “My name is Jackie and I like jalapenos.”

The next person will repeat what the first player said and then share their name and a piece of personal information that starts with the same letter as their name. That means the second participant may say, “This is Jackie and she likes jalapenos. My name is Richard and I’m from Richmond, VA.”

The game should continue until everyone’s had an opportunity to introduce themselves. If someone breaks the sequence by failing to remember a name or a piece of information, the game should start over, with participants changing their positions and someone else kicking things off.

Guess who is a wonderful activity if you want to up the student engagement for your whole class. To play, larger groups will need to be split into smaller groups. Give each student an index card and have them write their name and three fun facts about themselves on their card.

If you have several groups, designate a leader for each team and have that person collect and then shuffle the index cards. The individual should then read one fact from a card, with the rest of the team trying to figure out who the fact is about. If no one guesses the identity of the person the card describes, the leader should read the second fact out loud and then the third. The subject of the card should share their identity if no one guesses who they are.

Is your class is small? If so, you should act as the leader and read the cards. The exercise should continue until the last person participating has been identified or come forward.

Classmate Bingo

Bingo is a classic game that’s entertained generations of eager players. Rather than play a traditional version of the game, you can adapt the game into Classmate Bingo. You can find free bingo cards online, but it’s wiser to make your own so they’re relevant to the lives of your college students.

The idea of the game is for students to mingle and find people who fit the criteria delineated in each box on their bingo cards. Instead of using markers to block off fulfilled boxes, students should write the name of their peer who fits the criteria in a given box in that space. The first person who blocks off all the boxes on their playing card with appropriate names is the winner of the game.

If you’re wondering what criteria you should use to create cards for Classmate Bingo, you may want to use the following:

  • Has made it to the top of the Eiffel Tower
  • Would like to have a pet snake
  • Woke up later than planned this morning
  • Is allergic to bees or something else
  • Drank stale coffee for breakfast
  • Has three or more siblings
  • Prefers veggie burgers over burgers made with meat
  • Can’t name all the elements on the periodic table
  • Must wear glasses when driving
  • Is terrible at Jenga
  • Won’t toot in public
  • Will not sing a solo in front of others
  • Always sings in the shower or their car

Classmate Bingo is best reserved for a large group because there’s a wider pool of people who may fit the criteria you come up with. If your group is on the smaller side, you’ll need to get to know your team members pretty well so you can create criteria they’ll satisfy before you play Classmate Bingo.

Three of a Kind

Three of a kind is referred to as a set in poker. And that’s what this game involves, creating sets of students who have something in common. The thing is, sets can’t be formed based on obvious traits like hair color or whether they’re wearing eye classes.

To play, students should mull around and ask their peers about things they may or may not have in common. The idea is for students to find two other people with whom they have at least three things in common, such as being enrolled in another class together or having a black or brown dog at home.

Three of a Kind is a great warm-up for team-building activities that are based on your syllabus. The game is also one of the best icebreakers to get students to interact with each other.

My Favorite

My favorite is a quick and easy icebreaker that you can do as a one-off activity or on a weekly basis. In this icebreaker, each participant will take a turn identifying their favorite of something. Some categories of things you may want to use as a theme for this activity include:

  • Television shows
  • Song genres
  • International cuisines
  • Vacation spots

If you’re going to play My Favorite on an ongoing basis, challenge your students to recall a peer’s favorite thing from the last round of play before the person announces their favorite thing that falls into the current designated category. Doing that will reinforce the information students shared on a previous occasion and infuse your class with a lasting sense of familiarity.

Class in One Word

Class in One Word is an icebreaker that gives participants the chance to express their opinions about your discipline using just one word. Depending on the subject you teach you may hear students describe your field as:

  • Challenging
  • Philosophical
  • People-centric
  • Numbers-oriented

If you’re leading a class in a physical classroom, consider having your students sit in a circle. Pick someone to start and then have the rest of the class share their one-word opinions in succession. You can make the exercise quick by moving to the next student after the previous one shared their opinion or you can give each participant the chance to explain their perceptions.

Are your students remote? If so, they can share their thoughts in the order they appear in the Zoom tile view.

The point of the activity is for you to learn how students perceive your discipline so you can adjust your syllabus accordingly. More importantly, the dual objective of the exercise is to let students know that others may feel the same or relate to their viewpoints.

Class in One Word does have one significant drawback that is easy to overcome. Some students may be reluctant to share their honest opinion of your discipline because they fear retribution or they’re afraid their peers won’t agree with their perception. You can overcome that hesitancy by creating an anonymous survey and making a group activity out of sharing and discussing the results.

Philosophical Chairs

This game can be played separately or you can make it part of your icebreaker questions or a game of Would You Rather. With students lined up on either side of the room depending on how they responded to a question or statement, pick one or two students from each side and have them defend their positions. Allow the defenders to rely on other students who share their stances when they need more information or some advice.

Philosophical chairs can lead to some weighty debates about deep topics if the exchanges are the result of questions or statements about challenging topics like political issues. This game can also lead to debates about ridiculous subjects that are hysterical to observe and/or participate in. Can you imagine defending your choice to be a hippo against an onslaught launched by students who chose to be a rhino instead?

This icebreaker is a great choice if you’re trying to help the members of a new group of students get to know each other. If your class is small, you’ll need just one ball to play. For larger groups, you’ll need a ball for each subgroup you’ll create. Write getting-to-know-you questions on each beach ball you’ll use. Your questions don’t have to be too personal or serious. In fact, you may want to run with questions that are sure to garner amusing responses, such as:

  • What would you be if you couldn’t be a human?
  • How long can you hop on a pogo stick?
  • Can you ride a unicycle?
  • Have you ever owned a pet rock, Beanie Baby, or Chia Pet?
  • Do you believe there’s a pot of gold at the end of every rainbow?
  • Would you go on a hunt for ghosts?
  • Do you believe in Bigfoot?
  • What insect can you do without?

Have your class stand in a circle or ask each subgroup to do the same. Give a beach ball to one person in each circle and instruct that person to toss the ball to another participant. The individual who catches the ball should then answer the question located closest to their left thumb. Once they answer their question, the catcher should then toss the ball to someone else, and the group can continue repeating the process from there.

It’s fine if the same person catches the ball more than once since it will have so many questions scribbled all over it. In some cases, you may find that your group will create some unspoken pact where the ball is deliberately tossed to the same person over and over again. And that’s fine as long as it’s just some good-natured ribbing.

Scavenger Hunt

As an icebreaker, a hunt can teach participants some fun facts about their campus or the subject of your class. Alternatively, a hunt can teach students about their current hometown. Let’s Roam has scavenger hunts in more than 400 cities around the world , and we encourage you to look for an in-person, app-led adventure in a city close to your campus now.

We also offer virtual hunts . A virtual hunt is a great choice if your students are remote. Virtual hunts are just as much fun as in-person events and, depending on the circumstances, they can be more inclusive because people can participate from any location with an internet connection.

Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament

Who doesn’t like a good match of Rock, Paper, Scissors? You can take the game to the next level and make it into a tournament. To prepare, make a grid like the one that’s used for the NCAA’s season-ending basketball tournament. Your grid should be broken down into rounds, with the first round including pairs of students who’ll compete to move onto the next level.

Have each pair listed on one side of the grid play Rock, Paper, Scissors, in a two out of three format, with the duos from the other side of your grid acting as judges. As students win, list their names on the appropriate lines of the next part of your grid.

Next, have the pairs from the other side of the grid compete with the first combatants being the judges of each match. List the names of the winners on the requisite lines that show they’ve advanced to the next round of play. Continue in the same manner until the players who’ll compete in the championship are identified in the center of your grid.

You can have the championship on the same day your tournament started or you can stretch the whole thing out over a series of days or weeks, with each round of competition occurring every Monday or something like that. If you choose to let the competition play out over time, the tournament may become an ongoing topic of conversation in and outside your college classroom.

If you’re interested in fun icebreakers for your class, then Chain Link should be right up your alley. For this activity, choose someone to stand up, say their name, and start talking about the things they like. The person should pause briefly after they name something they like as the goal of the activity is for another student to link arms with the speaker when the speaker mentions something they also have an interest in.

From there, the duo will talk about their interests so that a growing number of people link arms with them. By the end of the exercise, the rest of the class should be linked with the original speaker.

What makes this activity so much fun is that everyone just chats away throughout the exercise. Things often become hilarious when there are only a few people who haven’t yet joined the growing chain. Students who are already linked arm-in-arm typically become increasingly desperate to convince the remaining holdouts to link up while the freestanding individuals continue to deny they have an interest in anything.

When the last person finally becomes a part of the chain, the individual must then find something they have in common with the person who started the chain. Once that’s accomplished, those two will link their arms to form a complete circle.

Supermarket

Supermarket is a fun icebreaker to do in any learning environment. To do this activity, divide your group into two lines, with the people in each line facing you in succession. Stand in front of the first individual in each line and announce that you’re going to the grocery store to get an item that begins with a certain letter.

The first of the two competitors to name an item that begins with that letter will go to the back of their line to play again while the other contestant is eliminated from the game. Continue the game in a similar manner until all the participants in one of the lines are eliminated.

You can make this fun icebreaker as easy or difficult as you want. To up the difficulty factor, you can announce that you’re going to a certain department of the supermarket or that you’re looking for a product manufactured by a specific brand before you share the letter the item must start with. If you want to make things easier, you can say that you’re going to shop for products that are a particular color.

Yes, Simon Says is a game that people play as individuals, so you may wonder why it’s on our list of icebreakers. The game made the list because it’s an icebreaker that unites people through physical activity, laughter, and competition.

Regardless of the size of your class, your group can play Simon Says together. The point of the game is for students to do what you say after the words “Simon says.” If you give a command without saying Simon says first and someone follows the instruction, the person is eliminated from the game.

As the game progresses, you should issue commands faster and faster. Increasing the speed of your commands will make it increasingly harder for participants to resist taking inappropriate actions because they’ll have less time to process what you’ve said.

Invariably, the game comes down to a few players who compete fiercely to win. Eliminated players enjoy cheering on the players that remain and everyone enjoys a shared laugh when someone gets eliminated over something silly. One of the best things about the game is that people laugh together instead of at one another.

To make things interesting, consider giving a prize to the winner of the competition. You may also want to give a “booby prize” to the “big loser” who’s eliminated from the game first. If you’re going to play Simon Says as a warm-up repeatedly throughout the semester, have previous award-winners bring their prizes to the next competition so they can be handed off the next winner and big loser. By rotating the prizes, they’ll become sought-after awards and bragging points that everyone wants to have.

Dance Party

Dance Party is sort of a variant of Simon Says. If your dance moves aren’t quite at the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers level, you may want to pick someone else to lead your group in Dance Party.

The point of this game is for students to mimic the dance moves of an assigned leader. Students who can’t keep up with the leader will be eliminated by an observing judge. Even after they’re eliminated from the competition, onlookers will get a kick out of watching their classmates bust a move.

Murder Mystery

It’s hard to think of an icebreaker that has “murder” in its name, but that’s exactly what Murder Mystery is. You can create your own Murder Mystery, which is a great idea if there was infamous murder committed in your school’s hometown. Alternatively, you can buy a kit or sign your class up for an event online.

While Murder Mystery is normally played in a shared physical environment, the game has obviously been adapted so people can play online from any location, including their homes. If your students are remote, consider alternative murder mystery games you can do from home .

The point of Murder Mystery is for your students to work together to solve a murder. If you have a larger group of students, divide your students into smaller teams. The teams can then compete to see which one can solve the crime the fastest.

Birthday Boggle

Birthday Boggle requires students to line up in chronological order based on their dates of birth. The catch is that your students will need to pull off that feat without speaking. Students can communicate with their hands to indicate their birthday month and day, and they can also use the supplies they have around them.

For example, if someone has a piece of paper, the person can simply write their birthday on the paper to communicate what their position in line should be. If a player’s birthday lands on December 25, the individual can use their smartphone to play Christmas music. A participant whose birthday is October 31 may want to use a piece of paper and a pen to draw a picture of a pumpkin if you’ve made it a rule that students can’t simply write down their birthdays.

Once everyone is lined up in chronological order, the exercise is over. To be sensitive to the different age groups that may be present in your classroom, you should play Birthday Boggle using participants’ birthdays without considering the years they were born in.

Comic Chaos

Comic Chaos is one of the best icebreakers for new groups. You’ll need to do some advance preparation for your students to play the game, but your hard work will pay off. You should start by finding some comic strips that are different from one another but similar in length. If you’re going to divide your group into teams of eight, you should have eight strips of the same comic for each team, with each team having its own comic title.

Mix up all the comics so they’re in a random order. When your class assembles on the first day, give a comic strip to each student. Then, task your students with finding others who have comic strips with the same title. Once the students with the same title have found each other, they should arrange their strips in order in keeping with the comic’s storyline. The team that assembles their comic in the proper order the fastest will win the competition.

Giant Jenga

People who’ve played Jenga know how much fun the game can be. While you may not realize it, the game can be adapted into an icebreaker that students of all ages will enjoy.

Order a giant Jenga set from a retailer like Amazon. When the game arrives, use a Sharpie to write a task on the backs of the game pieces, with each task being different from all the others. Needless to say, some of the tasks should be utterly ridiculous and while others should be less embarrassing.

Have each student remove a game piece in succession. When everyone has a piece, tell your group members that they each have to do the task that’s written on their respective pieces. If some people don’t want to do what they’ve been assigned, let them bargain with their peers to swap pieces.

The bargaining that many students will end up engaging in is often more entertaining and hilarious than the game itself. Everyone may be humorously surprised by what students are willing to offer to get out of doing something.

This game is best reserved for big groups of up to 52 people. To play Poker Hand, shuffle a deck of cards and give one card to each student. When everyone has a card, tell them to find four other people to make the best poker hand possible. The group that ends up with the best hand wins the game.

In case some of your students aren’t familiar with poker, it’s wise to create a chart of winning hands, from worst to best. Make sure the chart is in a visible spot that’s easy for everyone to see.

Poker Hand is an icebreaker that can be played multiple times in the same session. Between games, be sure you reshuffle and redistribute the cards so people don’t just run over to the people they know have cards that, combined, would create a great hand.

Questions Only

Do you remember the show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” from back in the day when Drew Carey was the host? If not, you should check out reruns of the show on HBO Max or Hulu Plus whenever you need a good laugh.

One of the games played on the show involved comedians communicating with each other using only questions. That idea is the basis for Questions Only.

Divide your group into two teams that line up across from each other face to face. Have the first person in each line start a conversation, with the caveat that they can only ask each other questions. When someone makes a statement instead of asking a question, the individual is eliminated from play and the next person in line steps into their place to continue the game.

Questions Only is a great icebreaker that generally yields a ton of hearty laughs. The game is so much fun to play that your students may request rematches, which will be great if you’re trying to make a six-pack out of your belly muscles.

Closing Thoughts

Once you’ve found the icebreaker games that work for your college students, keep them in your arsenal. They’ll help to captivate kids at the start of each semester or after breaks, when everyone seems to need a little nudge to get involved.

Need more icebreakers ? We’ve got special lists just for kids , students , teens , high school students , and more. Check out the full list of related posts on our Explorer Blog .

Use the comment section to let us know which activities you’ve used to start conversations in your classroom!

Frequently Asked Questions

While our list covers a lot of them, there are even more icebreakers you can find by doing a quick search on the internet

If college students are your audience, then it’s wise to come up with icebreaking questions with your students in mind.

A good group ice breaker is any activity that your students will want to participate in and that enables them to get to know each other better. Just be careful to avoid ice breakers that aren’t age-appropriate, such as happy hours for underage students.

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10 In-Person and Online Welcome Week Activity Ideas

online activities for college students

As students prepare for the new academic year, universities are gearing up to welcome new and returning students this Fall 2021. The pandemic, specifically the Delta variant, has been a cause of concern for many universities as they decide between predominantly in-person activities or hosting virtual events online .

Whether your college leans toward one method, we wanted to help your team plan for a hybrid. Here are ten welcome week activity ideas you can execute for your students who prefer to participate on campus or for your students who would like to join in the fun remotely.

1) Food Fest

In-person: Who doesn’t love a good food truck? Organize some of your favorite local food trucks for students to try and learn what nearby food options your area has to offer throughout the school year. And at the same time, support your local small businesses and community.

Online: Convenience and deals are always a win for college students. Team up with local restaurants that offer delivery options. It’s worth inquiring if they have special student discounts that you can send to students in a list that they can search and take advantage of in their own time.

2) Campus Community Resource Fair

In-person: Allow students to see what academic and social resources are available to them. Have different departments and student organizations table outside to promote their services and start igniting that on-campus community.

Online: Set up a virtual campus community resource fair where students can watch introductory videos, read about the different offerings, or direct message organizations that interest them. They can get to learn about their college resources even before stepping onto campus.

3) Movie Night

In-person: Bring out the projector, prepare some snacks, and invite students to bring a blanket for an outdoor movie night. You can even poll students to see what their favorite genre is through your campus portal . Help determine what movie the majority of the students will want to watch.

Online: There’s also a good ol’ modern Teleparty . Host a virtual watch party by sending out a link and enabling students to group chat and connect as they all hang out virtually wherever they are. Step up the virtual party even more by preparing watch party packages filled with snacks and goods that they can drop in and pick up from campus if they’d like.

4) Town Hall with the President

In-person: Introduce your students to campus leadership with a Q&A town hall session. Accept questions from students, cover pertinent topics such as health and safety on campus, or how your university is investing in more campuswide mental health resources. Demonstrate to your students that you listen to their input and care about their well-being.

Online: Host a virtual conference link or provide an AMA messaging channel to connect your students in a remote setting.

5) Live Concert

In-person: It’s been a long time since most of us attended a live show. If it’s within your budget, invite a guest performer to do a live performance and welcome back students to campus. We have no doubt that your students will be incentivized to check out the campus and participate.

Online: With live stream capabilities, host live shows online that your students can also enjoy!

6) Comedy Club

In-person: It’s highly likely students will make fond first memories as they watch local comedians share their best material.

Online: Kickstart the new academic year on a positive note with a virtual comedy club showcase. Rather than figuring out how many tables and chairs you’ll need to set up or have to cap off the number of audience members, expand your capacity online.

7) Talent Show, Open Mic Night

In-person: With new first-year students approaching, there’s bound to be extraordinary hidden talents. Invite students to sign up, perform, and make a fantastic first impression with their incoming class.

Online: With the power of hosting online, students’ production values can be as top peak as their heart desires. With access to their entire drum kit or the ability to take their camera to their local skatepark, your talent showcase will be top tier.

8) Scavenger Hunt

In-person: Empower students to explore their new campus with a series of entertaining tasks. Assign groups, pass out clues and maps and offer a prize at the end. They’ll not only get a crash course in locating their way around the campus, but it’s an opportunity to meet classmates and form new friendships.

Online: With a campus portal build your virtual scavenger hunt where students can explore the platform while learning fun facts about their university. You can still designate break-out groups to work together, connect and form bonds in this setting.

9) Bingo Photo Contest

In-person: Another easy activity to garner participation in the classic game of bingo! Create cards with tasks specifically highlighting your university. You can even take bingo one step further and turn it into a photo contest where students have to snap photos to prove their completed square. Such as, take a photograph with a student wearing a university hoodie or take a selfie with the school mascot. There are tons of fun and creative tasks to think of, and your team will have loads of fun brainstorming and planning it as well.

Online: A bingo photo contest can take place anywhere. With the power of mobile phones, create a printable scorecard that remote students can access and fulfill tasks from their location.

online activities for college students

10) Games Galore

In-person: From board games to trivia to sports, you can never go wrong with hosting different genres of participatory games. Plus, you can offer prizes like university merch or a gift card to the bookstore on campus.

Online : Last academic year, virtual computer games were all the rage, including Among Us tournaments or online trivia. Survey your new and returning students to see what games interest them and design activities based on their favorites.

Want to learn more? Book a quick 15 minute call with one of our Raftr Specialists.

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15 Fun Public Speaking Activities for College Students

Hrideep barot.

  • Public Speaking , Toastmasters

Public speaking activities for college students

Public speaking activities for college students offer invaluable opportunities to develop essential communication skills, boost confidence, and prepare for future academic and professional endeavors. These activities go beyond the traditional classroom setting, providing engaging and interactive platforms for students to refine their public speaking prowess. Whether it’s through exercises that focus on vocal modulation and storytelling or games that encourage friendly competition, these activities empower college students to become more effective and articulate communicators. In this guide, we will explore a variety of public speaking activities and their benefits, offering college students a roadmap to becoming more confident and proficient speakers.

What is Public Speaking?

“Speak in such a way that others love to listen to you. Listen in such a way that others love to speak to you.”  – Anonymous

Greetings, fellow wordsmiths and speech enthusiasts! If you’ve ever felt your heart race at the thought of addressing a crowd, or if you’ve found yourself tongue-tied when all eyes are on you, fear not! We’re diving headfirst into the exhilarating world of public speaking, where words wield power, charisma is your secret weapon, and confidence is your trusty sidekick. 

In this captivating blog, we’ll unravel the art of public speaking, demystify stage fright, and equip you with the skills to command any room, from a cozy gathering of friends to a roaring auditorium filled with strangers. Get ready to discover the hidden orator within you and embark on a journey that promises not just personal growth but also oodles of fun.

So, whether you’re preparing to ace that next presentation, dazzle at a social event, or simply want to boost your communication prowess, join us on this electrifying adventure. As we explore the ins and outs of public speaking, we’ll throw in some tricks, share tales of triumphs and fumbles, and sprinkle in a dash of humor to make the journey as enlightening as possible.

Can Public Speaking be learned?

Contrary to popular belief, not all great speakers were born with a silver tongue. The majority of captivating orators you admire today started as mere mortals who stumbled over their words and faced their fair share of stage fright. Let’s dive into the fascinating world of public speaking and explore how this skill is cultivated.

The Natural Born Orator: Myth or Reality?

While some individuals possess an innate knack for public speaking from a young age, they are the exception, not the rule. These “natural born orators” are like unicorns in the speaking world, rare and enchanting. They effortlessly command attention, spin mesmerizing tales, and leave audiences hanging on their every word. But here’s the kicker: there are a few of them around!

The Majority: Made, Not Born

The truth is, most of the world’s renowned speakers, from Winston Churchill to Oprah Winfrey, Malcolm X to J.K. Rowling, didn’t emerge from the womb delivering flawless speeches. They developed their skills through dedication, practice, and a willingness to learn from their mistakes.

Consider this: according to studies, around 75% of people suffer from glossophobia , which is the fear of public speaking. This statistic alone should reassure you that you’re not alone in your struggles. Even some of the greatest public speakers initially grappled with stage fright and stumbled through their early speeches.

The Power of Learning and Practice

So, how do these once-timid souls transform into magnetic orators? They embrace the art of public speaking as a craft that can be cultivated by immersing themselves in the intricacies of effective communication, learning about body language, voice modulation, and the art of storytelling. They attend workshops, take public speaking courses, and practice their skills relentlessly.

Moreover, they aren’t afraid to learn from their missteps. Every “um” and “uh,” every moment of nervousness, is seen as an opportunity for improvement. They analyze their performances, seek feedback, and refine their technique. The bottom line is this: public speaking is a skill, not a genetic trait. With the right mindset, determination, and a bit of guidance, anyone can become a masterful speaker.

Best Public Speaking Activities for college students:

A) public speaking games for college students.

Public speaking games are interactive and engaging activities designed to improve public speaking skills, boost confidence, and enhance communication abilities. Games are interactive and often competitive, making learning more engaging and enjoyable. Here are some examples of public speaking games:

  • 30 Second Speech 
  • Just A Minute Speech  
  • Debate Duels
  • Storytelling Relay
  • Public Speaking Bingo
  • Speech Speed Dating
  • Public Speaking Charades
  • Speech Olympics
  • Role Reversal

1. 30-second speech

What is the 30-second speech activity? Performing a 30-second speech in a classroom setting is a concise yet impactful way to communicate your ideas or present information. This activity typically involves standing in front of your classmates or audience and speaking for exactly 30 seconds on a chosen topic. The goal is to effectively convey your message within this short time frame while engaging your audience and leaving a lasting impression.

  • Introduction (5-7 seconds): Begin with an engaging opener, stating your topic’s relevance.
  • Main Message (15-18 seconds): Convey your core point concisely with supporting evidence.
  • Conclusion (5-7 seconds): Summarize or issue a call to action to reinforce your message.

Rules and Tips:

  • Manage time closely.
  • Speak clearly and at a steady pace.
  • Engage the audience with questions or prompts.
  • Use confident body language.
  • Utilize visual aids if allowed.
  • Stay calm by practicing and taking deep breaths.

By adhering to these steps and guidelines, you can confidently deliver a compelling 30-second speech in class.

2. Just A Minute speech (JAM)

What is the Just A Minute speech activity? The “Just A Minute” ( JAM ) speech activity challenges participants to speak on a given topic for one minute without hesitation, repetition, or deviation. It fosters improvisational speaking skills and quick thinking.

Preparation:

  • Topic Familiarization: Stay informed about various topics.
  • Practice: Hone spontaneous speaking abilities on diverse subjects.

How to Do It:

  • Selection: Participants are chosen randomly or in order.
  • Topic Assignment: A moderator provides a topic, and the speaker has one minute to discuss it.
  • Rules: Avoid hesitation, repetition, or deviation from the topic.
  • Scoring: Judges evaluate adherence to rules, fluency, and content quality.
  • The JAM speech activity is an enjoyable and educational exercise for enhancing public speaking and improvisation skills.

3. Debate Duels:

Activity: Debate duels involve organizing structured debates between two students or teams who argue opposing sides of a chosen topic. Participants present arguments, offer rebuttals, and conclude their case. The goal is to foster well-researched arguments and promote respectful discourse.

  • Topic Selection: Choose a relevant and debatable topic.
  • Research: Participants should research their respective positions thoroughly.
  • Format: Decide on debate format (e.g., timed speeches, cross-examination).
  • Roles: Assign roles such as debaters, moderators, and timekeepers.
  • Opening Statements: Each side presents its arguments.
  • Rebuttals: Teams respond to opponents’ arguments.
  • Cross-examination (if included): Teams question each other.
  • Conclusions: Summarize key points and restate positions.
  • Maintain respect and civility.
  • Use evidence and logic to support arguments.
  • Stick to time limits for speeches.
  • Follow the predetermined format.

Debate duels provide a platform for students to develop research, critical thinking, and communication skills through structured, respectful debate.

4. Storytelling Relay:

Activity: In a storytelling relay, teams of 3-4 students collaborate to create a narrative. It starts with one student providing an opening sentence, and each subsequent student adds one sentence to continue the story. The aim is to build a cohesive narrative with seamless transitions.

  • Team Formation: Divide students into teams of 3-4 members.
  • Topic or Theme: Decide if there’s a specific topic or theme for the stories.
  • Order: Determine the order in which students will contribute to the story.
  • Time Limit: Set a time limit for each sentence contribution, e.g., 10 seconds.
  • Opening Sentence: The first student in each team provides an opening sentence to begin the story.
  • Sentence Contributions: Each student takes turns adding one sentence to continue the narrative.
  • Transitions: Students must ensure their sentences connect smoothly with the previous ones.
  • Cohesion: Teams collaborate to maintain consistency and coherence in the story.
  • Maintain the predetermined order for sentence contributions.
  • Keep sentences concise and on-topic.
  • Ensure sentences flow logically from one another.
  • Encourage creativity and adaptability.

Storytelling relay is a creative and collaborative activity that fosters teamwork, creativity, and improvisation skills as students work together to build a compelling story.

5. Public Speaking Bingo:

Activity: In Public Speaking Bingo, bingo cards with different public speaking challenges in each square are created (e.g., “Use a compelling statistic,” “Maintain eye contact,” “No filler words”). During speeches, students mark off squares as they complete the challenges, aiming to achieve a bingo.

  • Bingo Cards: Create bingo cards with various public speaking challenges randomly placed in each square.
  • Topics: Prepare speech topics or allow students to choose their own.
  • Markers or Chips: Provide markers or chips for students to use when they complete a challenge.
  • Prizes (optional): Consider offering small prizes for students who achieve bingo.
  • Card Distribution: Distribute the bingo cards to students before the speeches begin.
  • Speeches: As students give their speeches, they mark off squares when they complete the challenges listed.
  • Winning: The first student to complete a row, column, or diagonal with marked squares shouts “Bingo!” and wins the game.
  • Challenges must be completed during the speech.
  • Challenges should be marked off honestly.
  • The winner should declare “Bingo” immediately upon completing a line of challenges.

Public Speaking Bingo is a fun and interactive activity that encourages students to focus on specific public speaking skills and techniques while delivering speeches, making the learning experience engaging and enjoyable.

6. Speech Speed Dating:

Activity: Speech Speed Dating involves pairing students and giving them 3-5 minutes each to introduce themselves or present a mini-topic. After each “date,” students switch partners. This exercise helps improve speaking under time constraints and fosters active listening skills.

  • Pairing: Arrange students in pairs.
  • Topics (optional): Prepare mini-topics or allow students to choose what they’ll speak about.
  • Timer: Set a timer for each speaking session.
  • Space: Ensure there’s enough space for students to move between partners.
  • Introduction: Students introduce themselves or present their mini-topic to their partner within the time limit.
  • Switch Partners: After the allotted time, students rotate to a new partner and repeat the process.
  • Repeat: Continue this cycle for multiple rounds, allowing students to interact with different partners.
  • Stick to the time limit for each speaking session.
  • Encourage active listening and engagement during each “date.”
  • Ensure students switch partners as instructed to maximize interaction.

Speech Speed Dating is a dynamic activity that enhances students’ ability to convey information succinctly and promotes effective listening and engagement in a fast-paced speaking environment.

7. Public Speaking Charades:

Activity: Public Speaking Charades involves creating cards with different public speaking scenarios or gestures (e.g., “Giving a TED Talk,” “Delivering bad news”). Students act out these scenarios without speaking, and the audience guesses what they’re portraying. This exercise enhances nonverbal communication skills.

  • Scenario Cards: Prepare cards with various public speaking scenarios or gestures.
  • Audience: Arrange for an audience or divide students into small groups to take turns acting and guessing.
  • Timer: Set a timer for each acting session.
  • Card Draw: One student draws a scenario card and acts it out without speaking.
  • Guessing: The audience or other students guess what public speaking scenario is being portrayed.
  • Rotation: After a set time or when the correct guess is made, a new student takes a turn.
  • No speaking or verbal cues are allowed during the charades.
  • Encourage creative and expressive gestures to convey the scenario.
  • Keep the game moving by setting time limits for each turn.

Public Speaking Charades is a lively activity that sharpens nonverbal communication skills and creativity while making public speaking scenarios more engaging and memorable.

8. Speech Olympics:

Activity: Speech Olympics is a structured competition where students participate in a series of public speaking challenges, which can include tongue twisters, impromptu storytelling, persuasive pitches, and more. Participants earn medals or points based on their performance. This activity provides a fun and lighthearted way to develop various speaking skills.

  • Challenge Selection: Choose a variety of speaking challenges that suit the skill levels of the participants.
  • Scoring System: Determine how participants will earn points or medals (e.g., judging panels or audience voting).
  • Materials: Prepare any necessary materials or props for specific challenges.
  • Medals or Prizes: Optional – acquire medals or prizes for winners.
  • Introduction: Explain the rules and challenges to the participants.
  • Challenge Rotation: Participants move through a series of challenges, competing against each other.
  • Scoring: Use the predetermined scoring system to assess performance and award medals or points.
  • Winners: Announce the winners and celebrate their achievements.
  • Participants must adhere to the specific rules of each challenge.
  • Judges or the audience score performances based on predefined criteria.
  • Encourage sportsmanship and respectful competition.

Speech Olympics is a dynamic activity that allows students to practice a range of speaking skills competitively and engagingly, making it an enjoyable learning experience.

9. Role Reversal:

Activity: In Role Reversal, students play both the role of the speaker and the audience. After delivering a speech, they switch roles, with the audience members providing constructive feedback to the speaker. This exercise helps students gain insight into the audience’s perspective and fosters effective feedback skills.

  • Speech Topics: Assign or allow students to choose their speech topics.
  • Feedback Guidelines: Prepare guidelines for constructive feedback.
  • Peer Evaluation Forms: Create forms or worksheets for audience members to provide feedback.
  • Speaker’s Turn: A student delivers a speech on their chosen topic.
  • Role Reversal: After the speech, the roles switch, and the audience becomes the feedback provider.
  • Feedback Session: The audience offers constructive feedback, focusing on strengths and areas for improvement.
  • Discussion: Encourage a brief discussion where the speaker can ask clarifying questions or provide context for their choices.
  • Feedback should be respectful and constructive, focusing on the speech’s content and delivery.
  • Encourage active listening and thoughtful feedback from the audience.
  • The speaker should be receptive to feedback and open to improvement suggestions.

Role Reversal is an interactive exercise that enhances students’ understanding of both the speaker and audience perspectives, promoting effective communication skills and constructive feedback within a learning environment.

B) Public Speaking Exercises for college students: 

Public speaking exercises are structured activities and practices aimed at improving public speaking skills. Exercises are structured activities that often focus on specific aspects of public speaking, such as breath control, diction, or body language. Each exercise typically targets a specific aspect of public speaking or communication. Here are some common public speaking exercises:

  • Breathing Exercises
  • Tongue Twisters
  • Mirror Practice
  • Storytelling Practice
  • Impromptu Practice
  • Emotional Vocal Modulation

1. Breathing Exercises

Diaphragmatic breathing is a technique that involves using your diaphragm, a muscle located below your ribcage, to control your breath. It is a fundamental exercise for improving vocal projection and managing anxiety during speaking or public speaking situations.

How to Do It: To perform diaphragmatic breathing, sit or stand comfortably with proper posture. Inhale deeply through your nose for a slow count of four, allowing your diaphragm to expand and your lower lungs to fill. Hold your breath for four counts without tensing your chest or neck. Then, exhale slowly and steadily through your mouth for another count of four. Repeat this breathing pattern regularly to strengthen your diaphragm, enhance vocal projection, and reduce anxiety associated with speaking engagements.

2. Tongue Twisters:

Tongue twisters are word or phrase sequences designed to be challenging to articulate due to their repetitive or tricky sounds. This exercise is used to improve pronunciation, diction, and speech clarity.

How to Do It: To perform tongue twisters, start with simple ones and gradually advance to more complex ones as your proficiency grows. Pronounce each word or phrase, emphasizing correct articulation, and gradually increase your speed. The goal is to challenge your tongue and mouth muscles, enhancing your ability to enunciate words clearly and improving your overall speech clarity.

  • She sells seashells by the seashore.
  • Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear; Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair. Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn’t very fuzzy, was he?
  • How can a clam cram in a clean cream can?
  • Unique New York, you know you need a unique New York.
  • Red leather, yellow leather.
  • Six slippery snails slid slowly seaward.
  • Betty Botter bought some butter but the butter was bitter, so Betty bought some better butter to make the bitter butter better.
  • Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. How many pickled peppers did Peter Piper pick?
  • Irish wristwatch, Swiss wristwatch.

3. Mirror Practice:

Mirror practice is a technique used to enhance your public speaking skills. It involves standing in front of a full-length mirror while delivering a speech or presentation. The aim is to closely observe and improve your body language, facial expressions, and gestures as you speak.

How to Do It: To perform mirror practice, position yourself in front of a full-length mirror, ensuring you have a clear view of yourself. Deliver your speech or presentation as you normally would, paying keen attention to your reflection. Focus on your posture, hand movements, facial expressions, and any other nonverbal cues you use while speaking. By actively observing yourself in the mirror, you can identify areas for improvement in your delivery and work on refining your public speaking skills over time.

4. Storytelling Practice:

Storytelling practice involves sharing personal anecdotes or stories with friends or peers while incorporating storytelling techniques such as creating suspense, infusing humor, and using vivid descriptions. This practice is aimed at refining your storytelling skills and making your narratives more engaging.

How to Do It: To perform storytelling practice, select a personal anecdote or story you’d like to share. As you share it with friends or peers, focus on the storytelling elements. Create suspense by building anticipation and keeping your audience curious about what happens next. Infuse humor by adding funny anecdotes or witty remarks where appropriate. Use vivid descriptions to paint a clear picture and evoke emotions. By practicing storytelling in this way, you can develop your ability to captivate your audience and make your narratives more compelling.

5. Impromptu Topics:

Impromptu topics practice involves regularly engaging in impromptu speaking by selecting random topics or prompts and delivering short, on-the-spot speeches about them. This exercise is designed to sharpen your ability to think quickly and articulate ideas effectively without prior preparation.

How to Do It: To perform impromptu topic practice, have a selection of random topics or prompts ready. These topics can be related to various subjects, such as current events, personal experiences, or hypothetical scenarios. Choose a topic at random and challenge yourself to deliver a brief speech or response to it without any prior planning or research. This exercise will help you become more comfortable with spontaneous speaking, improve your ability to organize your thoughts quickly and enhance your overall communication skills.

6. Emotional Vocal Modulation:

Emotional vocal modulation is a technique used to enhance the expressiveness of your speeches. It involves practicing the variation of your tone, pitch, and inflection to convey different emotions effectively. By modulating your voice, you can captivate your audience and convey a range of feelings and sentiments in your presentations.

How to Do It: To perform emotional vocal modulation, start by selecting a piece of text or speech. As you practice, deliberately vary your tone, pitch, and inflection to match the emotions or sentiments you want to convey. Experiment with different vocal techniques, such as using a higher pitch for excitement, a lower pitch for seriousness, or fluctuating tone for emphasis and engagement. Regular practice of emotional vocal modulation will help you become a more dynamic and compelling speaker, capable of engaging your audience on an emotional level.

Where to start Public Speaking?

Starting on the path of public speaking as a college student is a wise decision that can have a significant impact on your academic and professional life. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

1. College Public Speaking Courses:

College public speaking courses are an excellent starting point for students eager to develop their speaking skills. These courses typically provide a structured and comprehensive approach to public speaking. You’ll learn about speech organization, effective delivery techniques, and strategies to engage your audience. Instructors are often experienced public speakers who can offer valuable insights and feedback. 

Additionally, these courses offer a supportive environment for practicing your speaking skills. You’ll have the opportunity to present speeches in front of your peers, receive constructive criticism, and refine your abilities. As a bonus, college courses often provide resources like textbooks and access to speech labs to help you master the art of public speaking.

    “The best way to conquer stage fright is to know what you’re talking about.” — Michael H. Mescon

2. Join Public Speaking Clubs:

 Toastmasters and similar public speaking clubs are renowned for their ability to transform nervous speakers into confident orators. These clubs provide a supportive community of individuals who share a common goal: improving their public speaking skills. They offer a structured framework where you can gradually work your way up from short impromptu speeches to longer prepared presentations.

   What makes these clubs invaluable is the frequent practice opportunities they provide. You can refine your skills in a nonjudgmental environment, receive feedback, and witness the progress of fellow members. Joining such a club can be a powerful stepping stone in your public speaking journey.

   Toastmasters International has over 364,000 members in 16,200 clubs in 145 countries.

You can join our online community of Toastmasters for engaging in Learning and Group Discussions here.

3. Online Public Speaking Resources:

In today’s digital age, a wealth of online resources is readily available to aid in your public speaking education. You can find books, articles, videos, and courses dedicated to the subject. These resources cover a wide range of topics, from speech preparation and delivery techniques to managing stage fright.

The advantage of online resources is their accessibility and flexibility. You can explore these materials at your own pace, focusing on areas that need improvement. Whether you’re looking for expert advice, speech templates, or video tutorials, the internet offers a vast repository of knowledge to help you become a more effective speaker.

  Over 3,000 books on public speaking are available on Amazon.

4. Self-Practice and Recording:

Self-practice is a fundamental component of improving your public speaking skills. Whether it’s practicing in front of a mirror, recording your speeches, or rehearsing in an empty room, these exercises help you become more comfortable with your own voice and body language.

   Recording yourself is particularly valuable as it allows you to objectively assess your performance. You can analyze aspects like tone, gestures, and clarity of speech. By identifying areas that need refinement, you can tailor your practice sessions to address specific weaknesses and gradually build confidence.

    “Practice puts brains in your muscles.” — Sam Snead

5. Seek Feedback from Professors and Peers:

Constructive feedback is an essential component of growth as a speaker. Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors and peers for input on your presentations. Professors, with their expertise, can offer valuable insights into your content, organization, and delivery.

Additionally, peers can provide a different perspective and offer suggestions for improvement. Collaborative learning and sharing feedback within your academic community can enhance your speaking skills and help you gain a fresh outlook on your strengths and weaknesses as a speaker.

   In a survey, 94% of employees said they’d benefit from feedback, according to Harvard Business Review.

6. Volunteer for Speaking Opportunities:

Volunteering to speak in class or participate in campus events is a practical way to apply what you’ve learned. These opportunities allow you to gain real-life experience, helping you overcome nerves and improve your ability to connect with an audience.

Whether it’s delivering a presentation in front of your classmates or addressing a larger crowd at a campus event, each experience contributes to your growth as a speaker. The more you put yourself in these situations, the more confident and adept you’ll become at conveying your message effectively.

   Example: Delivering a class presentation on a topic you’re passionate about.

7. Study Renowned Speakers:

Studying the speeches of renowned public speakers is a powerful way to improve your skills. Analyzing speeches from figures like Martin Luther King Jr., Winston Churchill, Oprah Winfrey, or TED Talk presenters can provide valuable insights into effective rhetoric, storytelling, and engagement techniques.

By dissecting these speeches, you can learn how to structure your content, use persuasive language, and capture your audience’s attention. It’s a practical way to see proven strategies in action and apply them to your presentations.

   Example: Analyzing Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech for rhetorical techniques.

These seven options offer a diverse range of opportunities for college students to embark on their journey toward becoming effective public speakers. Whether you choose formal education, community support, online resources, or practical experience, remember that the key to success is consistent practice and a commitment to personal growth. Developing your public speaking skills will not only benefit your academic pursuits but also prepare you for future personal and professional endeavors.

Conclusion:

The world of public speaking holds endless possibilities for college students. It’s a realm where your voice, ideas, and stories can resonate and inspire. While the journey to becoming a confident and skilled speaker may seem daunting, the key is to remember that every great orator, from the classroom to the TED stage, started somewhere. 

The most crucial step is to just start. Put yourself out there, embrace the challenges, and dive into public speaking activities and exercises. As you navigate tongue twisters, engage in debate duels, or share personal anecdotes, you’re not only honing your communication skills but also building the confidence needed to succeed in academia and the professional world.

Don’t let fear or self-doubt hold you back. The first step may be the most challenging, but it’s also the most transformative. So, seize every opportunity, participate in these activities with enthusiasm, and let your voice be heard. With each word you speak and every audience you engage, you’re inching closer to becoming the confident, influential speaker you aspire to be. Start now, and watch as your public speaking journey unfolds, revealing the remarkable communicator within you.

To seek professional guidance and mentorship for public speaking or Toastmasters, you can reach out to us over here .

Hrideep Barot

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Online Jobs For College Students: 8 Flexible Positions To Consider

T o help pay for their education and day-to-day living expenses, many college students work while completing their studies. But it can be tough to find a job that fits around a busy study schedule.

Online jobs often provide more flexibility regarding location and schedule, making online work a great solution for many college students. In this article, we overview eight of the best online jobs for college students, including required skills and recommended resources for each.

Why Get an Online Job in College?

Unlike in-person jobs, a flexible online role can work around your college courses and study schedule. Below we highlight some benefits of working remotely while in college.

Pay for Day-to-Day Expenses

Loans, scholarships and grants typically pay tuition or campus housing costs and are not intended to subsidize day-to-day expenses. An online job that works with your schedule can help pay for daily expenses such as rent, groceries, meals, transportation and fun activities.

Schedule Flexibility

Between coursework, extracurriculars and social activities, college students are busy. An online job can provide excellent flexibility to work around an already jam-packed schedule. This flexibility can be especially valuable during exams, when learners need additional study time.

Location Flexibility

An online job means you can work from anywhere with an internet connection, whether you're traveling during a school break or working from your favorite coffee shop. Having the flexibility to work from almost anywhere means you don’t have to endure traffic to get to work. This can also save you on transportation expenses.

The Best Online Jobs for College Students

Below we explore several online jobs for college students, including tips on how to find these remote jobs . The roles described below do not require college degrees or extensive professional experience. All are available virtually, with many offering flexible hours. College students in these jobs can earn up to $25 per hour.

Audio Transcriber

Skills Required: Listening comprehension, English fluency, typing speed and accuracy

Recommended Resources: Rev , Ditto , TranscribeMe , Scribie

Job Overview: Transcriptionists convert audio files into text with precision. Of the many online jobs on this list, audio transcribing is one of the most flexible options available, allowing you to work as much or as little as desired. Audio transcribers are paid by the audio minute or by line. The compensation varies based on the transcription agency, but you can expect to earn between $5 and $20 per audio hour.

Customer Service Representative

Skills Required: Problem-solving, verbal and written communication, empathy

Recommended Resources: TTEC , Working Solutions , ZipRecruiter

Job Overview: Customer service representatives (CSR) work with customers to answer questions and resolve problems via phone, email, text or live chat. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that customer service representatives earn a median salary of $36,920 annually, which equates to $17.75 per hour. Duties may vary depending on the company. Positions may require full-time hours.

Data Entry Assistant

Skills Required: Typing speed and accuracy, attention to detail, database software proficiency

Recommended Resources: Flex Jobs , ZipRecruiter , Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) , Upwork

Job Overview: Data entry assistants input new or updated information into spreadsheets and databases. They also identify and correct errors. Full-time, part-time and freelance options are available for data entry assistants, with websites like MTurk and Fiverr offering task-based options. According to Payscale , you expect to earn around $36,000 annually, or roughly $15 an hour, working as a data entry assistant.

English as a Second Language (ESL) Teacher

Skills Required: Effective communication, patience, listening comprehension

Recommended Resources: Preply , Engoo , Cambly

Job Overview: ESL teachers support non-native English speakers in their English language development. Virtual teaching platforms allow you to tutor English learners remotely. Some employers provide curricula to teachers; others rely on teachers' expertise to facilitate language learning through one-on-one discussions. Many platforms allow teachers to make their own hours. Most virtual ESL tutors and teachers earn between $10 and $25 per hour.

Skills Required: Legible handwriting, fast and accurate typing, effective communication

Recommended Resources: Take Note , StudySoup , SimplyHired

Job Overview: A note-taker attends class with a student who requires accommodation, accurately recording and organizing essential details from the lecture. This role may take place in person or online, depending on the course. Check local job boards and online platforms for virtual note-taker openings, which often pay between $10 and $20 per hour.

Skills Required: Empathy, content knowledge, problem-solving, active listening

Recommended Resources: Tutor.com , VarsityTutors , Superprof , TutorOcean , TutorMe

Job Overview: Tutors work with individuals of all ages to facilitate learning. They tailor instruction to each student’s needs, including helping with homework, test preparation and teaching effective study skills. According to Payscale , tutors earn an average of about $40,700 a year, or $19 an hour.

Video Captioner

Skills Required: Grammar and spelling, attention to detail, listening comprehension

Recommended Resources: Happyscribe , Take1 , Vitac , Rev , Vanan Captioning

Job Overview: Video captioners transcribe speech and sound effects in real time or asynchronously. They also ensure that captions sync properly with a program’s audio and visuals. As with audio transcription, captioners enjoy lots of scheduling flexibility and can often set their own hours. Captioners can earn around $20 per hour.

Virtual Assistant

Skills Required: Time management, communication skills, organization

Recommended Resources: Belay , Upwork , 24/7 Virtual Assistants , Flex Jobs

Job Overview: The role of a virtual assistant often includes managing an executive’s calendar, organizing and responding to emails, and other administrative tasks. Virtual assistants often work part-time, though full-time jobs may be available. According to Payscale , virtual assistants earn around $44,700 a year on average.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Online Jobs for College Students

Which online job is best for college students.

The best online job for a college student is the job that best fits their interests, skills and schedule. For flexible hours and reliable pay, you might look into listings for online audio transcribers, video captioners, tutors and note-takers.

How can I work from home as a college student?

For many jobs, working from home as a college student requires only a computer and an internet connection. You may also need a high-quality webcam and microphone to tutor or teach English as a second language.

Online Jobs For College Students: 8 Flexible Positions To Consider

How to Select an Online College or University

Verifying accreditation can ensure the legitimacy of an online program, experts say.

How to Select an Online College

Happy young woman using laptop sitting at desk writing notes while watching webinar, studying online, looking at pc screen learning web classes or having virtual call meeting remote working from home.

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Some online programs are synchronous, meaning there is a live component where the professor and students are logged in together, but many are not.

Whether it's to pursue an associate, bachelor's or advanced degree , online programs offer flexibility for those whose life circumstances make attending in-person college classes impractical. Some online programs are also available at a fraction of the cost of brick-and-mortar colleges .

But it takes discipline and structure to succeed in an online format, experts say. Online courses generally are delivered through a learning management system – a virtual portal that serves as a classroom – where students can access course work and materials as well as monitor their progress on lessons and grades.

Some online programs are synchronous, meaning there is a live component where the professor and students are logged in together. But many are not and have little or no live aspect.

The flexibility of online programs is often what attracts people the most, but experts say it's crucial for prospective students to consider their own personality and tendencies when evaluating whether an online program is right for them.

“These flexible online programs often attract people who fare poorly with a lack of structure and more freedom," says Allen Koh, CEO of education consulting firm Cardinal Education. "For a lot of people, I really encourage them to think about structure a little favorably, especially since education costs so much. It could help them get out more quickly."

The next step, experts say, is to conduct thorough research on a variety of programs to determine the best fit. Here's what to look for.

Accreditation

When it comes to picking any degree program, legitimacy matters. Experts say a key indicator of legitimacy is accreditation , a process where an outside authority ensures that a school or specific degree program – whether on campus, online or blended – meets certain standards of quality.

Schools must also be accredited by a "nationally recognized" accrediting agency, such as the Higher Learning Commission or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, for students to receive federal financial aid, according to the U.S. Department of Education. It's a voluntary process, but a program that lacks accreditation is a red flag, experts say.

"Some programs operate without accreditation, focusing primarily on profit," Pierre Huguet, CEO and founder of admissions consulting firm H&C Education, wrote in an email. "A degree from a non-accredited college or university is often not valued as proof of competence by employers. Accreditation assures that the courses are rigorous and meet the standards of other institutions that grant similar degrees."

Colleges typically list their accreditation directly on their website, but prospective students can also verify accreditation of specific universities and programs through the Education Department's Office of Postsecondary Education accreditation database . The website also details whether a school is on probation or has lost accreditation, as well as their next accreditation review date.

For specific career paths, programmatic accreditations are crucial and can help immensely in landing a job, says Leah Pottle, director of online admissions for St. Joseph's College in Maine.

"Programmatic accreditation should also give prospective students extra comfort, since it serves as a secondary layer of quality assurance," she wrote in an email. "It says that it's not just the college itself that has been reviewed and approved by an external body, but the program too has been through a rigorous review process and accepted as meeting or exceeding quality standards."

Because online programs offer more flexibility for completing course work, one of the biggest misconceptions about them is that they're easier than traditional in-person courses, experts say.

"They are actually harder for many individuals because they require you to be very good at time management," Pottle says. "You must also be diligent about making time to study and do your assignments."

Accreditation at the university and program levels gives prospective students a good starting spot to determine curriculum quality, experts say. But prospective students should also take time to explore course offerings, meet with department heads and professors and talk with former students to get a sense of coursework rigor.

If students sense that a program will lack rigor and be “easy,” that may be a sign to avoid it, says Kristen Willmott, a senior private counselor and graduate school admissions director at admissions consulting firm Top Tier Admissions.

“If you’re going to go through the trouble of working on your application and paying that application fee and ultimately diving forward with an online program, you want to make sure that the one you select jives with what you’re actually hoping to accomplish," she says.

Job Placement

Another good indicator of an online program's quality is employment statistics of graduates. If the majority of graduates land jobs in their intended field, it's typically a good sign that the program is adequately preparing students and that students are getting a good return on their investment, experts say.

Prospective students can find this information on the university's website or from the admissions office. Experts also advise directly asking job-attainment questions of the schools of interest and alumni before deciding whether to apply.

If the degree is in a field that requires licensure or certification, such as nursing , education or psychology , prospective students should ensure the program meets the necessary criteria for professional practice in the state they intend to work, Huguet says.

"For instance, some schools offer general psychological education that doesn’t meet state requirements for licensure," he says. "For students who have gone through non-accredited, sub-standard programs, this could mean signing up for additional courses or paying out-of-pocket for supervised training from licensed professionals."

The price tag of an online college should be considered, including how the cost compares to attending a brick-and-mortar school. This information is generally available on the university's website. The tuition number shown may not always be the actual price, though. Experts caution prospective students to be aware of hidden fees when applying to online programs.

"Many schools will boast a lower tuition rate and then, after you commit to enroll with them, tack on a bunch of fees," Pottle says. "Fees are not necessarily a red flag , but you want to be aware of them, and a school should be happy to be transparent with you about them – what they're for, how much they are, and how they're added on. For example, are they per credit, per class or per semester?"

The low costs of some online programs can be attractive, but experts advise prospective students to be cautious. Something that seems too good to be true, such as earning a degree in a very short time or at an extremely low cost, could be a warning sign. If a program seems abnormally expensive, gather more information.

"Also, be cautious of programs that require large payments upfront," Huguet says. "Accredited programs must follow strict ethical rules regarding funding requests and offerings."

Scholarships and financial aid may be available, so prospective students should speak with the financial aid office and explore third-party scholarships. A common misconception is that there's less financial aid for online programs than in-person programs, but experts say it's mostly identical and that online students have the same access to federal financial aid and merit-based or need-based scholarships.

"Also, don't forget to check in with your employer about tuition assistance or reimbursement," Pottle says. "If your job does offer this, make sure to talk with your human resources department and your prospective school to see how you can best maximize that benefit and reduce your own out-of-pocket cost."

Student Services and Support

Online students don't have many of the advantages that in-person students have, such as access to physical spaces like computer labs and libraries or face-to-face meetings with professors and classmates. But many schools make some of these resources available digitally, such as copies of books or office hours with professors .

Part of the process of vetting a program is exploring what services and support are available for students.

"What does this school you're looking at have in place to help you reach your goals?" Pottle says. "Is tutoring available? What does that cost? Will you have an adviser that's specifically assigned to you? What kind of career support is there? These are all very valid questions to help you compare and contrast institutions and find the best college for you."

Trying to fund your online education? Get tips and more in the U.S. News  Paying for Online Education  center.

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Tuition rates and fees.

The Office of the Bursar provides monthly e-billing statements to each student, twelve times per year. Fall tuition expenses are billed in July, and spring tuition expenses are billed in January. To prevent enrollment holds and finance charges, tuition and fees are due by the billing due date.

Below is the table of  2023-2024 academic-year  tuitions and student activity fee rates. Various other departmental expenses, other than tuition, may include  housing , and  dining ,  fraternities and sororities ,  transportation ,  fitness centers ,  student health benefits , and  Cornell Information Technologies (CIT) services .

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IMAGES

  1. 12 Interactive Classroom Activities for College Students

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  2. 8 Fun Activities for Virtual Learning

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  3. 6 Interactive Classroom Activities for College Students

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  4. 7 Interactive Classroom Activities For College Students

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  5. 35 Fun Activities for College Students (interactive, team building

    online activities for college students

  6. 10 Best Online Teaching Activities For Your Classroom With Templates

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COMMENTS

  1. 20 Interactive Classroom Activities for College Students

    20 Interactive Classroom Activities for College Students [Plus: Free List of 45+ Activities] | Top Hat Blog Post Subscribe to the Top Hat Blog Join more than 10,000 educators. Get articles with higher ed trends, teaching tips and expert advice delivered straight to your inbox.

  2. Presence

    How can you connect with your students remotely and keep them engaged during COVID-19? This blog post offers 53 suggestions of fun and interactive activities that can be run and enjoyed through technology, such as playlists, dance parties, movie discussions, and more. Whether you want to support their academic or social well-being, these activities can help you create a positive online community.

  3. 21 Online Classroom Games, Activities & Ideas in 2024

    These activities may include online art classes, online group games, team building exercises for students, and video call games. Specifically, this list includes: fun games to play at school online online games to play at school online activities for students motivational activities for students online online class games

  4. 35 Fun Activities for College Students (interactive, team building

    1. Shark Tank Shark Tank is a great interactive team building game for college students. This is a great way for students to show off their leadership skills, presentation skills and creativity. Similar to the Shark Tank TV show, students in small groups will come up with a product, a pitch and a presentation.

  5. 12 Engaging Online Games for Higher Ed Classrooms

    1. Icebreakers Source: Poll Everywhere Works for: Online, in-person, and hybrid classes The start of a semester can be awkward for both instructors and students. Thankfully, icebreakers can transform a room full of strangers into a vibrant community of engaged, collaborative learners.

  6. 30 Virtual School Activities That Students & Educators Love

    1. Prodigy Math Game Price: Free. The optional Premium Membership provides extra in-game features for students and additional tools for parents, starting at $4.99 USD per student, per month. In or out of the classroom, math games are a great way to keep students excited about learning math — even when it comes down to tricky concepts.

  7. 50 Distance Learning Icebreakers & Games

    July 1, 2021. By Natasha Wilkerson. Are you struggling to engage students during distance learning? Here is a list of 50 icebreakers and games to keep students engaged and motivated during remote learning! Perfect for back to school, these activities also develop important 21st-century skills like communication, creativity, and collaboration.

  8. 17 Fun Interactive Games For Students in 2024

    1. Hangman Hangman is a fun and interactive game for students, which you can play in the classroom or online. When playing in the classroom, you will need an interactive display or a whiteboard. When playing online, you can use a virtual whiteboard app. Every student participates and takes turns guessing while the teacher draws on the board.

  9. Engaging Online Activities

    Engaging Online Activities | Teaching Commons Engaging Online Activities Varying activities can be an effective way to mitigate fatigue and make learning more engaging for students online. Consider these activity ideas to build interactivity into lectures, invigorate discussion sections, and create dynamic learning experiences. Breakout sessions

  10. 15 active learning activities to energize your next college class

    1. Think-pair-repair In this twist on think-pair-share, pose an open-ended question to your class and ask students to come up with their best answer. Next, pair learners up and get them to agree on a response. Get two pairs together, and the foursome needs to do the same thing. Continue until half the group goes head to head with the other half.

  11. 100 remote learning activities, templates and tutorials

    Here are over 100 remote learning activities, templates and tutorials you can use tomorrow: 10+ Graphic Organizer Templates. 10+ Creative Google Slides Activities. 10+ Digital Writing Activities. 10+ Video Project Ideas.

  12. 12 student engagement activities for online learning

    What is student engagement? Student engagement is "the degree of attention, curiosity, interest, optimism, and passion" students express during the class. In other words, it's their will and ability to get involved in the learning process. With online student engagement comes additional concerns. Will they turn on the camera during the lecture?

  13. 17 Best Virtual Orientation Ideas for Students in 2024

    1. Online icebreaker and ice cream social Icebreakers and college orientations go hand in hand. So, one of the most obvious virtual orientation week ideas is to host icebreaker sessions on Zoom, WebEx or other online conference platforms. To sweeten the deal, you can pair this activity with another welcome week favorite: the ice cream social.

  14. 12 Best Virtual Games for Classroom Fun & Learning

    3. Pop Up Quiz. The best way to analyze your students' performance in a fun way is by organizing a virtual pop-up quiz game. You can give a theme to your students for a quiz-like Disney, Math, Harry Potter, etc. You can use different props to make the quiz more interesting, like buzzers, timers, and costumes.

  15. 10 fun virtual team building ideas for students

    Virtual Book Club. 8. Remote Team Dinner. 9. Virtual Dance Party. 10. Rose/Thorn virtual icebreaker. Share: All groups needs a spirit of collaboration in which to thrive.

  16. 12 Virtual Event Ideas for College Students

    1. Virtual Crib Tour This has been the best idea we have seen work to learn about each other. A guided tour of your house is similar to MTV cribs. You get to show off your work or cool posters to create a personal connection. 2. Photo Contest Hosting a photo contest is a fun way to bring people together.

  17. 17 Fun Virtual Team Building Activities for Students

    1. Smithsonian Virtual Tour One of the most exciting parts of school is taking field trips! If you've got a remote classroom, you can still bring the joy of field trips to your students. The Smithsonian National Museum of History Virtual Tour allows groups to take self-guided tours through different exhibits either on a computer or mobile device.

  18. The Most Engaging Icebreaker Games for College Students

    Icebreakers • 18 mins Deborah Published March 17, 2022 The start of a new semester can be a stressful time for college students, particularly first-year students who are fresh out of high school.

  19. 10 In-Person and Online Welcome Week Activity Ideas

    As students prepare for the new academic year, universities are gearing up to welcome new and returning students this Fall 2021. The pandemic, specifically the Delta variant, has been a cause of concern for many universities as they decide between predominantly in-person activities or hosting virtual events online.. Whether your college leans toward one method, we wanted to help your team plan ...

  20. Baamboozle

    Baamboozle Inc. Join millions of students and teachers playing educational games for free! Forget about devices and simply play from a single screen, in class or online.

  21. 15 Fun Public Speaking Activities for College Students

    Focus on your posture, hand movements, facial expressions, and any other nonverbal cues you use while speaking. By actively observing yourself in the mirror, you can identify areas for improvement in your delivery and work on refining your public speaking skills over time. 4. Storytelling Practice:

  22. Colleges need a deliberate online strategy to better serve first

    A majority of college students, around 70%, are now enrolled in at least one online course, signaling a promising shift that could benefit learners who have historically been let down by traditional education models.. Most students are readily embracing this tech-enabled future, according to new research from WGU Labs, the research and innovation arm of Western Governors University.

  23. For Parents

    Student Search Service™ helps colleges and scholarship programs find students. Encourage your child to sign up, it's free and easy. ... Real Talk is a career and college exploration initiative designed to connect Black students and families with Black professionals and representatives from colleges and access organizations across the country.

  24. Online Jobs For College Students: 8 Flexible Positions To Consider

    Between coursework, extracurriculars and social activities, college students are busy. An online job can provide excellent flexibility to work around an already jam-packed schedule.

  25. How to Select an Online College or University

    Whether it's to pursue an associate, bachelor's or advanced degree, online programs offer flexibility for those whose life circumstances make attending in-person college classes impractical.Some ...

  26. Tuition Rates and Fees

    Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree, and Law School students: $200: College of Veterinary Medicine and SC Johnson Graduate School of Management students: $75 . Other Tuition Fees. Fee Type Per Credit; Fall 2023 and Spring 2024: $1,750: Winter and Summer Sessions 2024: $1,750: M. Eng. Distance Learning (Fall 2023, Spring 2024)

  27. 7 Research-Focused Virtual Summer Programs For High School Students

    Location: Virtual. Dates: 8/12-8/23/2024; Monday through Friday from 9-10:30 am and 1-3 pm ET.. Cost: $500. Age requirements: Students must have completed a high school-level biology course ...