Classroom karaoke: A social and academic transition strategy to enhance the first-year experience of youth studies students

Abstract

An innovative icebreaker initiative - 'classroom karaoke' - was deployed at the beginning of a first-year undergraduate course in youth studies at an Australian university. The study used karaoke as a social and academic transition strategy to enhance students' first-year experience at university. Students responded positively to this lecture-based social integration tool and reported that it made the learning environment less threatening, reduced anxiety and encouraged student interaction.