CPD for teachers – Why icebreaker games should be banned
Our undercover teacher explains why they loathe CPD icebreakers, and makes a case for getting rid of them completely…
We’ve all been there. A full day of CPD beckons.
It has its perks. It might involve a little lie-in compared to a school day, you can probably wear ‘non-uniform’, there’s often the promise of some lunch provided, a day away from the constant on-ness of school life and maybe, just maybe, you might learn something.
So, best-case scenario: The course starts at 9:30am, so you have a leisurely morning and make it to the venue (or the living room where your webcam is).
You find a seat – not too near the front, not too near the back – and if you are anything like me, you are in the perfect middle ground for not really being noticed. You grab a tea or coffee, hopefully a biscuit, and settle down at your table which is filling with unfamiliar faces.
The usual chat begins: What school are you at? What do you teach? Have you come far? This agenda looks OK, doesn’t it? Have you done any training like this before? Before you know it you’re practically bosom buddies with your new tablemates.
“Right, let’s make a start, thanks for coming everyone,” comes the call from the front. You lean back, settle in and get ready to be filled with knowledge and practical tips you’ll be eager to take back to school and implement straight away. Then it happens.
“I thought we’d make a start with a bit of a getting-to-know-you game.”
CPD hell
Your heart sinks and all keenness for the day is gone. What had started out so well is about to be ruined. I am an introvert by nature. Now, instantly, my defences have gone up and I’m feeling very uncomfortable.
What madness am I going to be asked to do now? Is it the bingo sheet of obscure things? Will I have to generate three interesting things about myself? Will we be throwing some string around? Am I going to be forced into some kind of role play?
Having just got settled will I now be asked to pick my stuff up and go and sit at another table? Or – the horror – will it involve post-its and pens?
Whatever it is, I’m pretty sure it isn’t going to be useful to the knowledge or skills the course is trying to deliver, it isn’t going to make me get to know people well enough to make a difference (let’s be honest, I’m probably not going to keep in touch with anyone afterward), and it definitely isn’t going to make me feel at ease.
I’ve spoken to plenty of people who have similar feelings. These games seem to instil a sense of dread, fear, or eye-rolling in almost everyone I speak to about it.
That’s why I am calling for a ban on icebreakers.
But seriously…
Being flippant aside, they are a waste of time, effort and money. A teacher’s time is one of their most precious commodities. Any that you can give back to them is the greatest gift you can imagine.
I’ve sat in training thinking of the hundreds of things I could be doing instead of playing this bingo game, or trying to guess what someone’s favourite song is based on three words that all start with the same letter.
The school or teacher has paid money to be there, plus the probable cost of supply cover for their class, not to mention the time and effort the teacher has gone to, to leave the appropriate work and make sure everything runs smoothly back at school.
Teachers are professional adults. We do not need to be mollycoddled and forced into faux relationships that will last no more than a few hours, and icebreakers won’t make our valuable time any more productive.
In fact, the opposite will be true. We are there to learn, and to improve our practice.
That’s why we signed up. We have given our time to the trainer and the least they can do is respect it and use it as wisely and productively as we would, not waste it.
In my experience, the best trainers are ones who have confidence in their material, sufficient knowledge of their material, and are well prepared to deliver it effectively and dive straight in, grabbing you with content, not claptrap.
That is how you get people on board first thing in the morning…
How to get professionals chatting, discussing and learning…
How to deliver proper professional development…
Down with icebreakers. And don’t even get me started on reading PowerPoint slides.
The writer is a headteacher in England. Find them on Twitter at @secretHT1.
