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Defy Icebreakers: A 5-Goal Map for Intentional Introduction Activities
🔥 Icebreakers Are Broken. Learners are Freezing Up. Cut the Small Talk and Get to Large Learning.
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Course overview
From Wasted Time to a Winning Start—Impressions That Fuel Learning
Ditch the awkward, pointless introductions. Your first learning moments set the stakes for everything that follows. Done well, it creates buy-in, builds trust, and lays the foundation for transformational learning. Done poorly? Students lower their expectations—of your course, their own engagement, and their potential for transformation—before you even get to the good stuff.
This course gives you an evidence-based, high-impact 5-Goal Map for designing intentional introductions that serve your course—whether you’re teaching online, hybrid, or in person. Make this moment a launchpad for engagement, trust, and lasting knowledge.
This isn’t about short, shallow talk—it’s about building momentum from moment one to set your course up for success.
Why This Course Works (And Why It’s Different):
✅ It’s backed by research—not trends or fluff.
✅ It’s designed for any learning experience, online and in person.
✅ It gives you tools, not just theory—you’ll walk away with an activity and ready to build more.
✅ It defies outdated teaching norms—because better is possible.
You don’t need icebreakers to freeze out your learners. You need a framework that starts them on the right path.
Who this course is for
01
Educators of all levels who are done with outdated introduction activities that fail to connect—and are ready to spark everlasting learning.
02
Course designers and learning architects who need to build impact and community—by model innovation and learner-centered savvy.
03
Instructors in online, hybrid, or in-person settings looking to build rapport and thrive with structured, research-backed introductions.
What you’ll learn (Without the Fluff)
Create a high-impact, intentional introduction activity.
🔹 A research-backed 5-goal map to turn introductions into a foundation for deep learning.
Apply the evaluation tool to existing introduction activities.
🔹 A hands-on activity evaluation tool and activity builder process to transform icy responses into the warmth of connection to both content and peers.
Provide and receive feedback on your activity.
🔹Craft your own introduction activity through feedback and collaboration with other educators.
Translate evidence-based education theory into practice.
🔹 Authentic cases that have had real-world success.
What’s included
Live sessions
Learn directly from Dr. Stacy Greathouse in a real-time, interactive format.
Lifetime access
Go back to course content and recordings whenever you need to.
Community of peers
Stay accountable and share insights with like-minded professionals.
Certificate of completion
Share your new skills with your employer or on LinkedIn.
Maven Guarantee
This course is backed by the Maven Guarantee. Students are eligible for a full refund up until the halfway point of the course.
Course syllabus
3 live sessions • 11 lessons • 2 projects
Week 1
- ✍️
We're All Mad Here Introduction Activity
Submit by Jul 16 - 📄
Empathy + Embodiment
- 🧭
Goal 1: Create Buy-In
- 💰
Goal 2: Justify the Value
- 📄
Live Session Agenda
Jul
15
Session 1
Tue 7/158:30 PM—10:30 PM (UTC)- 📄
Goal 3: Establish Rapport & Tone
- 📄
Goal 4: Model Integrity & Quality
- 📄
Goal 5: Use Relevant Technology
- 📄
Live Session Agenda
Jul
16
Session 2
Wed 7/168:30 PM—10:30 PM (UTC)- 📄
State Your Framework
- 📄
Resources
- 📄
Live Session Agenda
- ✍️
Draft Your High-Impact Introduction Activity
Submit by Jul 18 Jul
17
Session 3
Thu 7/178:30 PM—10:30 PM (UTC)
Day 1: Introduce Yourself
Your goal is to become comfortable with the layout of the Maven course and the expectations. Unsurprisingly, that includes an introduction activity.
Tasks:
· Engage the Orientation module and its materials
· Complete the Introduction Activity
Day 2: Empathy and Goals 1-2
After we break down your fight, flight, or freeze responses to icebreakers, we'll rank what's most important to you for your activity.
Then we'll discuss the build tool and visit Goals 1 & 2 on the framework map and apply it to the course's introduction activity.
Pre-session:
· Engage the learning materials
· Prepare your "Ticket-In" for the very beginning of the live session
During the Session:
· Share your Ticket In
· Contribute to the interactions
· Rank your needs
Day 3: Goals 3-5 + Activity Evaluation Tool
We'll pick up our work with Goals 3-5. Then, after we discuss the assessment tool as it relates to the framework, we'll use it to evaluate introduction activities. You'll articulate your biggest pain point with your own introduction activities.
Pre-session:
· Engage the learning materials
· Prepare your "Ticket-In" for the very beginning of the live session
During the Session:
· Share your Ticket In
· Collaborate in the Case Studies
· Complete the in-session tasks
Day 4: Build Your Introduction Activity
We'll use the strategies in the learning materials to build introduction activities for your immediate needs. We apply the framework, share, and review them with the assessment tool.
Pre-session:
· Engage the learning materials
· Prepare your "Ticket-In" for the very beginning of the live session
During the Session:
· Share your Ticket In
· Complete the in-session tasks
· Build your Introduction Activity
· Review peers' activities using the assessment tool
Meet your instructor
Dr. Stacy Greathouse
Dr. Stacy Greathouse
I’ve got a PhD in pirates, pedagogy, and children’s literature—basically, the trifecta of “That’s flipping cool! But wait. What do you do with it?” Answer: I use it to blow ‘Normal’ out of the water.
The first schools for teachers were called “normal colleges.” Fitting, then, that I earned my doctorate at Illinois State University… in Normal, Illinois. The irony isn’t lost on me. But here’s the truth: Normal teaching isn’t good enough.
For over 30 years, I’ve taught ages 3 to 83 across K-12, higher ed, corporate training, non-profit, and community programs. I’ve been a curriculum designer, adjunct, teacher, career counselor, instructional designer, test scorer (don’t ask), academic accreditor, and more. My work with educators spanned 5 continents.
Through it all, one thing became clear: Education needs a mutiny.
Now known as Dr. Pyrate, I proudly wield my neurodistinct perspective to challenge outdated norms and build high-impact, research-backed learning experiences. If you're ready to plunder the best strategies, break free from traditional education, and design bold, learner-driven experiences anywhere, let’s defy normal and chart a new course.
Course schedule
4 days: 9 hours
Monday
~45 minutes
In the online course:
- Complete orientation
- Introduce yourself
Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday
45-minutes pre-work, 2 hour Maker
Pre-work in the online course:
- Engage learning materials
- Complete learning activities
Live makerspace session:
- Rank your needs
- Form your framework
- Apply the assessment tools
- Collaborate on case studies
- Create your introduction activity
- Share and receive feedback
High-Impact Introduction project
You'll have time to complete your own Introduction Activity using the 5-Goal Framework during the live session. Peer feedback based on the evaluation tool can continue after the session.
Learning is better with cohorts
Active hands-on learning
This course builds on live workshops and hands-on projects
Interactive and project-based
You’ll be interacting with other learners through breakout rooms and project teams
Learn with a cohort of peers
Join a community of like-minded people who want to learn and grow alongside you