Live and Online!: Tips, Techniques, and Ready-to-Use Activities for the Virtual Classroom

Chapter 6. Breakout Room Exercises and Techniques

Breakout rooms can most closely be compared to small-group interactions in a traditional classroom. In these types of exercises, the small groups work together at their own table and the trainer moves from group to group to assist them. Often, each group has its own flip chart and markers to capture the results of its discussion. Someone in the group may be asked to be the scribe, and someone else may be asked to report back to the larger group. All of these features are available in online breakout rooms.

This powerful online feature allows, at the discretion of the trainer, small groups to meet and share information during a larger synchronous session. Generally, the same tools are available in ...