One easy trick is to use Reception Bingo. This is a quick way to get the class participants to know each other and always stimulates laughter which is a great aid in breaking down the barriers to learning.

Instructions:

Distribute the Reception Bingo form to everyone in the class.  Instruct the class to take five minutes to move around the room and meet as many people as possible using the Reception Bingo form. They must have the person they just met identify one of the squares that is factually true about themselves and, if appropriate, provide evidence (ex. 'a grocery receipt').  That person should then initial in the appropriate box.  Each person should do this
for the other before moving on to a new person.  Only one square on the grid can be signed by the other person during the first round.

(Note:  If the class is small, have them greet everyone in the room first and secure as many initials as possible.  If Bingo has not been won, you may instruct the group to go back and re-introduce themselves to someone they have already met and get another square initialed.)

Everyone in the game may initial the same square for the next person they meet, but again, they may only initial one square at a time before moving on again.  (ex. 'knows how
to ski' might be initialed by one person on six different participant's grids). 

Make sure you encourage the class to introduce themselves first and exchange some basic information (at a minimum their names and office or company) before discussing the grid.  The purpose of the game is to get people to know each other and have some fun!

The first person to call out Bingo and turn their form into the instructor wins.  How you reward that person is up to you.  It could be a candy bar, a 'star' on their name badge, or a small company giveaway like a key chain.  It is important to recognize the winner in front of their peers but the prize for this does not need to be large.

This entire exercise should take between 5 and 10 minutes, even with a large group.  It is a great energizer and breaks the ice, especially if the class participants don't know each other.

It is not necessary to debrief this exercise, however you may want to take a few moments and ask the group what they learned about each other.  This usually generates a few laughs and helps in getting the group to bond quickly and open the door to active participation during the class.  This technique is also called 'shaking it off' and brings the group back to focus so the class can begin.

Go to the Download Library and select Reception Bingo to begin.