Google Meet’s Breakout Rooms feature recently launched for Enterprise customers. Teachers can now place students in small groups as part of remote instruction. Learn how this feature works and strategies for successful implementation.
Breakout Rooms for Google Enterprise Users
The native Breakout Rooms features is ONLY available to those Google for Education districts that have purchased the Enterprise version. You’ll know if you have this feature when you are in a Meet call and see the icon below. If you know your district has Enterprise, but don’t see this icon, contact your Technology Department so they can assign an Enterprise license to your account.
Click the Shapes icon in the right sidebar to access Breakout Rooms. Students will automatically be assigned to rooms but click the “Shuffle” icon to re-order groups or drag and drop to place students in groups. The classroom teacher can “join” one room at a time and move between rooms as needed. Check out the video tutorial below for an overview of this feature.
Tips for Successful Small Group Sessions
- Supervision: Plan ahead to place co-teachers, paraprofessionals or other staff that may be on the call into breakout rooms. Keep in mind that only the call organizer can move participants into groups. Circulate among the rooms to check monitor progress and provide support as needed.
- Roles: Assign each student in the group with a role. This helps provide clear guidance on how they will participate and contribute. Roles help to keep everyone on task. Preview group roles and clarify what is expected in advance.
- Time Limits: Keep the task clear and focused. Limit the time students are working in small groups.
- Tasks for Breakout Rooms: Consider tasks that are ideal for small group setting, such as Jigsaw, Peer editing, Choice boards, etc.
Additional Resources
- For educators using the free version of Google for Education, check out this Breakout Room Alternatives video from Eric Curts of Control-Alt-Achieve.
- Check out my newest Cheat Sheet for Google Meet
- Related Post: Optimizing Google Meet for Remote Learning
