A Safe Space for Students

By Nefertiti Nzameyo | Published October 16, 2023

In an Advanced Public Speaking class, enrolled Kean students introduced themselves to the class by presenting cultural speeches. It was the second class meeting, and many students had not put names to the faces of their fellow classmates yet.

The culture speech provided the professor with an idea of each member’s speech abilities while also allowing the students to become familiar with one another.

The assigned speech opened the floor to members of the class to share communities they identify with and which they consider with great respect in their everyday lives. While few students demonstrated their pride in being from particular geographical settings, many others focused on interests or personal struggles they overcame.

Courtney Atkins, an Advanced Public Speaking professor said,“I’ve been in leadership and workshop roles throughout my lifetime, where icebreakers were an integral part of the process. I could probably present a full course on icebreakers. That would be fun.”

Adjusting to the start of a semester takes more than having the proper materials at hand.

According to the Harvard Health Blog, college students today appear to be more stressed than ever before.

Introductions invite students to connect and cultivate a safe space. Professors may exercise different methods to encourage engagement, from going around the room and having students briefly share details about themselves to a formal presentation assignment.

Lydia Kaplan, a Research and Technology professor, incorporated a unique version of icebreaker introductions during the first classes of the semester.

“You have to know your audience. I want them to feel in a warm, friendly environment. Icebreakers are a low-stakes activity, and yet students are making an important contribution to the class environment,” Kaplan said.

“It suggests that your voice is important and not everything in school is about grades.”

Kaplan’s approach consists of asking questions such as judging someone for having tattoos. After the students exchanged their thoughts, Kaplan clarified their role of remaining objective in their tasks. She said that the icebreaker leads to an academic feature while explaining to the class what lies ahead regarding the genre while fostering a sense of community.

By prioritizing the student’s need to interact with their classmates and professors, it opens up the possibilities for meaningful conversations within the classroom. Introductions set the scene for students to express their hearts and minds freely.

Ensuring students are at ease in the classroom environment can drastically alter their performance for the better. It demands significant qualities, including open-mindedness, consideration, and bravery from the students, contributing to a willingness to be proactive classmates.

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