Activities for first day of class online

[bento]

I create a "Coffee Shop: Introduce Yourself Here" in my Blackboard course site, and I give a few course points as an inducement.  (My online classes are asynchronous.)

Students are asked to say a few things about themselves: major/minor, career plans, favorite location/music for studying, pets, and finally to post a photo of something that is significant to them at this time.

I like that it is asynchronous, so no shyness-inhibitors; allows time for some thought about self-presentation, and can be referred back to as the course goes on & they get to know each other (helps me too with names).

I admit I too have a bad reaction to the idea of candy and snack rewards.  I also don't like the communal candy bowl at meetings, or candies at our places at conferences.  I think we all eat way too often, snack too much, and take in too much sugar.  And now with COVID, plural hands on anything edible just freak me out.  I much preferred a food-free meeting environment, back in the days when we had real meetings.